Beth Cook, LPC
What brings people
to therapy?
What brings people
to therapy?
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
- Carl Rodgers
Depression
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- Sleep Disturbance
- Irritability
- Loss of Interest in Pleasurable Activities
- Feelings of Sadness, Hopelessness, and Worthlessness
- Excessive Appetite or Loss of Appetite
- Difficulty Focusing or Concentrating
- Decreased Energy Levels
- Physical Aches and Pains
- Suicidal Ideation and Intent
The good news is that depression is a treatable illness. I use a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based techniques to work with people who have depression. A client with severe depression may need evaluation to determine if there is a need for medication. In this case, I will refer them to one of several psychiatrists in my network.
Anxiety
Anxiety
Many forms of anxiety can impact a person’s daily life: social anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. In the book The Mindful Way through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life, the authors describe anxiety like this:
“Fear and anxiety are like a pair of overzealous bodyguards. Instead of issuing sensible warnings about potential danger, they scream alarms or nag incessantly….they commandeer your attention until everything seems like a potential threat, making it hard to pursue what matters most to you.”
Working with anxiety disorders involves identifying sources and triggers and changing negative thought patterns that escalate anxiety. From there, a person can learn skills that reduce the intensity of anxiety and increase their ability to tolerate unpleasant and difficult emotions.
Issues With Self-Image
Issues With Self-Image
Feelings of shame, unworthiness, self-doubt, and self-hatred are among the most common concerns that people bring to therapy. Rather than focus on the idea of improving a person’s “self-esteem,” which is more about what we do, accomplish or achieve, I start with the idea of “radical self-acceptance,” which is more about who we are.
The only way to end the downward spiral of shame and self-hatred is to offer ourselves compassion. This doesn’t mean we don't hold ourselves accountable when we are wrong or that we cannot change behaviors that are harmful to self and others. It means that we start from a place of allowing ourselves to be who we are in this moment, and from that acceptance and compassion, grow into the authentic, whole person we are meant to be.
Relationship Problems
Relationship Problems
Sometimes when a couple is experiencing difficulties in their relationship, the most effective way to address these issues is by working together in treatment. Couples therapy can be a great tool for improving communication and gaining insight into the dynamics of the relationship. In other instances, one or both partners may need to work in individual therapy – to address symptoms of a mood or anxiety disorder, for example, or to gain insight into their own habitual patterns of behaving or responding that create tension or alienation.
Major Life Changes and Transitions
Major Life Changes and Transitions
“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really
get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again.
It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen:
room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
-Pema Chödrön
Change is a given in life. It can be big or small, expected or out-of-the-blue, pleasant or devastating. Sometimes we can utilize our natural resilience and coping skills to help us effectively navigate periods of change and transition. And at other times, we can get stuck or lost, uncertain how to move forward, and possibly develop symptoms of depression or anxiety as a result. Therapy can help with the process of recovery and healing during periods of loss or change.