<!--www.crestaproject.com Social Button in Content Start--><div id="crestashareiconincontent" class="cresta-share-icon fourth_style"><div class="sbutton crestaShadow facebook-cresta-share" id="facebook-cresta-c"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplemindfulness.com%2Fhow-to-find-the-therapy-you-need%2F&;t=How+To+Find+The+Therapy+You+Need" title="Share on Facebook" onclick="window.open(this.href,'targetWindow','toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200');return false;"><i class="cs c-icon-cresta-facebook"></i></a></div><div class="sbutton crestaShadow twitter-cresta-share classic-icon" id="twitter-cresta-c"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How+To+Find+The+Therapy+You+Need&;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplemindfulness.com%2Fhow-to-find-the-therapy-you-need%2F&;via=SimpleMindfulns" title="Share on Twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href,'targetWindow','toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200');return false;"><i class="cs c-icon-cresta-twitter"></i></a></div><div class="sbutton crestaShadow linkedin-cresta-share" id="linkedin-cresta-c"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplemindfulness.com%2Fhow-to-find-the-therapy-you-need%2F&;title=How+To+Find+The+Therapy+You+Need&;source=https://www.simplemindfulness.com/" title="Share to LinkedIn" onclick="window.open(this.href,'targetWindow','toolbars=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,width=640,height=320,left=200,top=200');return false;"><i class="cs c-icon-cresta-linkedin"></i></a></div><div class="sbutton crestaShadow pinterest-cresta-share" id="pinterest-cresta-c"><a rel="nofollow" href="javascript:void((function()%7Bvar%20e=document.createElement(&apos;script&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;type&apos;,&apos;text/javascript&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;charset&apos;,&apos;UTF-8&apos;);e.setAttribute(&apos;src&apos;,&apos;https://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r=&apos;+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)%7D)());" title="Share on Pinterest"><i class="cs c-icon-cresta-pinterest"></i></a></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><!--www.crestaproject.com Social Button in Content End--><p>When readers leave comments here on Simple Mindfulness asking for help or advice, I do my best to share what I know that may help. In some cases, that’s enough. In others, it’s clear that the reader needs more in-depth help than I can offer in a comment. In those cases, I frequently recommend that the person seek professional help – a licensed therapist of some sort.</p>
<p>But how does one go about seeking such help? What are the steps? What can you expect?</p>
<p>Then there’s the stigma that’s wrapped around needing help. By asking for help it’s as if you’re saying, “There’s something wrong with me.” And wrapped around that are all kinds of negative labels that our society doles out.</p>
<p>When I was a kid, my mother asked me if I wanted to see a therapist. She could tell that I wasn’t feeling right but didn’t know how to help. My initial reaction was, “There’s nothing wrong with me.” She never explained how a therapist could help, even if it was just someone safe to talk to.</p>
<p>I didn’t see my first therapist until things had gotten bad enough in my second marriage, and I knew something had to change. I was tired of feeling depressed and repeating all my old patterns. I didn’t know how to make my life – me – different.</p>
<p>My first therapist helped me with all this. She helped me to get back on my feet and gave me new ways of seeing myself and my relationships which helped immensely.</p>
<p>A few years later I needed help again and found a new therapist. Working with her for a few months helped me to move further along toward better understanding myself and how I contribute to how my life plays out.</p>
<p>Now that I’ve worked through some bigger issues with the help of some great therapists, I have many more tools to help myself when things go awry (which I write about and share with you here). Even with that, I still sometimes need an objective person to bounce things off whose job it is to help me see where I’m off and what I can do to get back on track. It’s like getting a tune-up.</p>
<p>These days I’m the head of finance of a large community behavioral health center. Basically, I’m in the therapy business not as a therapist but as an administrator who helps to ensure that people get the help they need.</p>
<h2>The Marriage of Mental and Physical Health</h2>
<p>Most insurance companies in America try to match everyone they insure with a PCP (primary care physician) whose job it is to monitor the physical health of their patients. I think the system is missing half the picture. Everyone should be matched with <em>both</em> a therapist and a PCP to ensure that they have someone they can call, regardless of whether their needs are physical or emotional.</p>
<p>I’ve written a few articles (<a href="https://www.simplemindfulness.com/4-simple-ways-mindfulness-can-relieve-your-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemindfulness.com/heal-trauma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.simplemindfulness.com/restoring-the-mind-and-body-with-yoga-the-yapana-way/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>) about how emotional issues create or contribute to physical issues. Healthcare costs along with lots of time and emotional energy could be saved if people worked with a therapist while working with their doctor to address their overall health issues.</p>
<p>At the medical clinic that’s part of the behavioral health center where I work, people can come in for their physical health needs. If the doctor they see senses that there might be other issues going on (i.e. depression, anxiety, substance abuse, etc.), the doctor can call in one of the behavioral health specialists (aka &#8211; therapist) to address that issue on the spot. It’s amazing how much this helps people in their overall health and happiness.</p>
<p>Why is it that people have no problem sharing their physical ailments with everyone around them but don’t feel the same about emotional issues? People will share that they’re going to the doctor for a checkup, procedure or consultation but won’t share that they’re seeing a therapist about anything.</p>
<p>This double standard needs to end, and I recently discovered a therapist who is doing her part to end the stigma around getting the help you need.</p>
<h2>Are u ok?</h2>
<p><img data-amp-lightbox="true" lightbox="true" class="alignleft wp-image-5310 size-full" src="https://media.simplemindfulness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02115916/Kati-Morton-2.jpg" alt="" /></a>Her name is <strong><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/katimorton" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kati Morton</a></u></strong> and she recently released a book called <strong><u><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are u ok? A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health: How to Know if You Need Help &; Where to Find It</a></u></strong> which I highly recommend if you’re not sure about the whole therapy thing, if you’ve had a bad experience with it, if you’re just curious, or you know someone who could benefit from therapy.</p>
<p><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-5311" src="https://media.simplemindfulness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02120049/Are-u-ok-book.jpg" alt="" /></a>Kati is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who has built a global mental health online community and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/katimorton" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u><strong>YouTube channel</strong></u></a>. Here’s more from the book’s back cover:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Everyone struggles with mental health issues from time to time, but the greatest level of misunderstanding comes from knowing the difference between mental health and mental illness, figuring out whether we need professional help and, if so, how to find it. <em><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are u ok? </a></em>walks readers through the most commonly asked questions about mental health and the process of getting help. From finding the best therapist to navigating harmful and toxic relationships and everything in between, Kati clarifies and de-stigmatizes the struggles so many of us go through and encourages readers to reach out for help. What are the red flags of a mental health issue? How do you go about making a first therapy appointment? How do you know if your therapist is a good fit for you? What are the best ways of talking about mental health with your family, friends, and colleagues? There are so many questions and concerns, and in the down-to-earth, friendly tone that makes Kati Morton so popular on <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/katimorton" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a></u>, <em><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are u ok?</a> </em>informs and remind us that we can get through the difficult times and we are never alone.</p>
<p>If you think that less-than-optimal mental health isn’t common, consider that 20% (one in five) of all children and adults are affected by mental illness. Whether it affects us or someone we know, it’s much more common than you think. And this statistic is only from reported cases. It doesn’t consider the multitudes that suffer in silence, too scared or embarrassed to get the help they desperately need.</p>
<p>I love this quote from the book which addresses what I was saying about the differences between seeing a physical health doctor and a therapist:</p>
<blockquote><p>Why, in real life, when we trip and fall do we get back up so quickly, yet when we emotionally fall down, we allow ourselves to lie on the ground for weeks, possibly years?</p></blockquote>
<h3>Anxiety</h3>
<p>Here&#8217;s an excerpt that shows how intertwined physical and mental health issues can be as it relates to anxiety:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Anxiety can stop us from eating, sleeping, and concentrating. Anxiety symptoms can vary from person to person, even expressing themselves physically like they do for Alice:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 80px;">First, I start breathing harder and get panicky, and then I feel angry, and I just lie on my bed wanting to cry or scream. I’m also very irritable recently, yet I know I shouldn’t yell at anyone, so I bottle it all up inside. Is this all part of my anxiety?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">The truth is, yes, all those symptoms can be part of our anxiety, but since many of these symptoms mimic those of a physical illness, people with anxiety are three to five times more likely to wind up at their doctor’s office or hospital.</p>
<p>And I’ve seen this with people I’ve personally known who swear they’re having a heart attack or other physical problem. When taken to the emergency room, the doctors declare them perfectly healthy physically but emotionally, they’re having an anxiety attack. Their anxiety makes them feel like they’re dying.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.simplemindfulness.com/calm-free-course" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-5556 size-full" src="https://media.simplemindfulness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/31102543/Calm-Free-course-2.jpg" alt="Calm &; Free Course" width="600" height="200" /></a></p>
<h3>Depression</h3>
<p>Kati’s descriptions of depression are also very accurate (as I’ve dealt with depression through much of my life):</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Something to remember about depression is that it’s <em>episodic</em>, meaning it comes and goes. We can have episodes of depression that last for a few weeks up to months, and then they go away like they were never there. I believe it’s because of these episodes that people don’t reach out for help. All of those terrible “I can’t get out of bed” feelings go away, and we think maybe we were making it all up, or it’s really not that bad and we work through it on our own. Then they come back, and we go through the same cycle all over again, possibly not getting help for years.</p>
<p>That was me for decades. Until I got tired of the cycle happening over and over again and decided that I actually needed help.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">The truth is that depression doesn’t always show itself in the way we expect. It can be quiet, sneaky, and shift over time. Some of the most common symptoms I have seen, which are not listed on any diagnostic criteria, follow:</p>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Feeling like you are walking through water: everything is harder, and you feel like you’re moving so much slower.</li>
<li>Reading and rereading the same thing. Concentration is very hard to come by.</li>
<li>Everyone around you is just so freaking irritating!</li>
<li>You can’t help but replay everything you have ever done wrong in your life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">I know these symptoms may seem too vague or as if they can be applied to many illnesses, but it’s important to highlight just how varied depression can feel. It’s not always about feeling sad or struggling to sleep; it can look and feel very different person to person. Just remember that however you feel, if you don’t feel like yourself and find that you are less and less interested in things you used to like, please get help.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">The lack of energy that comes along with depression is always my largest concern. Many people who come into my office or reach out online tell me they just couldn’t muster up the energy to reach out any sooner.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">That’s why depression can hold people hostage for so long. When we have the energy to get up and out of the house, we don’t think we feel bad enough to need any help or treatment.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">By the time we actually do feel bad enough and believe we need to get some help, we physically and mentally can’t. This is why we need to not only to do our best to check in on our own mental health, but also to have supportive people in our lives who can help us when we can’t help ourselves. This could be having that friend make the call to see a therapist or driving us to our appointment and waiting with us. However we can make it happen, it’s important that we have a plan to get back up and keep fighting.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5320" src="https://media.simplemindfulness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02115727/How-To-Find-The-Therapy-You-Need-p.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<h3>Other Reasons to Read <u><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are u ok?</a></u></h3>
<p>In addition to helping you identify if or when you should seek professional help, the book also covers:</p>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>The difference between different mental health professionals (i.e. what’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?)</li>
<li>Preparing for your first appointment</li>
<li>Figuring out if your therapist is a good fit (hint: You might have to try out a few before you find one that works for you.)</li>
<li>What are toxic relationships and ways to get out of them?</li>
<li>Communication: The key to a happy, healthy life</li>
<li>Avoiding common mistakes and healing broken relationships at home, work and in life</li>
<li>How to get more help if you’re in therapy and still struggling</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Whether you think you need this book or not, I recommend it. If you’re one of the few not struggling with anxiety, depression, <a href="https://www.addictions.com/drug-alcohol-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">addiction</span></a>, or some other issue that’s preventing you from living your best life, I’m sure you know someone who is and who could benefit from the information in <strong><u><a href="https://amzn.to/2uascFM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are u ok?</a></u></strong>.</p>
<p>Therapy truly is for everyone, just as support with physical health is. There’s nothing wrong with you if you reach out for help. 911 isn’t only for physical emergencies.</p>
<h2>But I Can’t Afford Therapy</h2>
<p>If you don’t have insurance, there are many ways to find a therapist online, most of which run from $10 to $80 per week. Below is a list and <a href="https://www.e-counseling.com/online-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>here is a great article at eCounseling.com</strong></span></a> that compared many options and reviews their top choices.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><u><a href="https://www.talkspace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TalkSpace</a></u></strong> offers email and text therapy for a monthly fee.</li>
<li><strong><u><a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BetterHelp.com</a></u></strong> offers messaging, chat, phone and video therapy.</li>
<li>If your company offers an EAP program, take advantage of it.</li>
<li>Teledoc, one of the best online sources of medical advice, also offers online therapy.</li>
<li><strong><u><a href="https://www.e-counseling.com/online-therapy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This link</a></u></strong> and <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/best-online-therapy-4691206" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>this link</strong></span></a> summarize some of the top online therapy resources currently available.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you&#8217;re looking for a support group, check out <a href="https://7chairs.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>7Chairs</strong></span></a>. They provide online, professionally facilitated support groups on a variety of topics including anxiety/depression, cancer, grief, psoriasis, divorce, infertility, and more. Each small group (up to 7 members) meeting occurs at a specific time and day and lasts for several weeks. The groups are facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and are designed to provide emotional support for those dealing with major emotional or physical health issues or life crises.</p>
<p>Many therapists offer sliding scale fees based on how much money you earn. Most areas have community-based resources that are available for free. In Colorado, where I live, the state offers a free crisis line where people can call or text to get the help they need for free. Do some online searches to see what’s available in your area.</p>
<p>If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health issue, which includes substance use issues, help is available and it’s probably closer and cheaper than you think.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve had good experiences with therapy and can offer helpful advice and encouragement to others, please leave a comment below.</p>
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How To Find The Therapy You Need
