THINKING ALOUD ALLOWED.

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.

Whatever form of anxiety you have, treatment can help.

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Addiction is an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior even though it may cause psychological or physical harm. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences. People with SUD have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s) such as alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs, to the point where the person's ability to function in day-to-day life becomes impaired. People keep using the substance even when they know it is causing or will cause problems. The most severe SUDs are sometimes called addictions.

Couple Therapy or Couple’s Counseling is psychotherapy in which both partners in a committed relationship are treated at the same time by the same Therapist. Couple Therapy is concerned with problems within and between the individuals that affect the relationship. For example, one partner may have undiagnosed depression that is affecting the relationship, or both partners may have trouble communicating effectively with one another. Individual sessions may be provided separately to each partner, particularly at the beginning of therapy; most of the course of therapy, however, is provided to both partners together. 

Counseling for College Mental Health refers to the Therapist helping the college student deal with issues related to time management, academic adjustment, social skills, being away from home for the first time, getting used to living with other people and, as time goes by, choosing a major and career path. The age range when most people go to college (late teens to early 20s) is also the age at which serious mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia often appear. College is also a time when many people choose to begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which can lead to substance abuse problems. College Mental Health Therapy provides students with a sense of intention, hope, and guidance for the future, enabling them to persist in facing obstacles and challenges. 

Therapy directed at Men’s Issues refers to providing counseling services to address any number of concerns men might face, including anger-management, addiction, intimacy issues, domestic violence, mid-life crises, grief, or loss, in addition to mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Contrary to the oft popular and cultural belief, men cry, men break down, men suffer with eating disorders and body dysmorphia, men have suicidal thoughts, men suffer with mental illness. Men’s Issues psychotherapy attempts to help men break down these cultural barriers and give them license to accept their struggles as normal, so they no longer have to suffer in silence. 

Grief counseling refers to advice, information, and psychological support to help individuals whose ability to function has been impaired by someone’s death, particularly that of a loved one or friend. It includes therapy for the grieving process and practical advice concerning arrangements for the funeral and burial of the loved one. This type of therapy or counseling is provided to individuals who are experiencing loss following the death of a loved one. The therapy may address issues of separation, grieving, and carrying on with life. Terminal Disease or Terminal Illness Coping Therapy refers to the work focused on equipping individuals to live healthy, meaningful lives throughout their life span after having learned they may have a disease that cannot be cured or treated.