By : Cina Huston
Information provided by : Page, Ryan – https://coastalcarolinapsych.com/
Introduction
Now, more than ever, the younger generation seems to be lost between the constant draw of phone screens, and the daunting task of deciding a “life plan” before the age of 18.
To illustrate this problem, I asked 20 classmates what their plans were after high school, and the outcome? Only 2 had a clear pathway in mind, while the others produced no concise answer.
To combat this issue, this is part 1 of the career interview series, giving the younger generation a peek into real-life career pathways, along with insight from professionals about what it’s really like to work in the present.
The Growing Statistic
As the conversation surrounding the topic of mental health continues to be publicized, there is a growing assurance that one seeking therapy is not, in fact, “broken,” but instead experiencing normal struggles—especially with people still trying to adjust to the post-COVID world.
You would think that this reassurance would lead many to seek the help they need to flourish in this day and age, but surprisingly, statistics say otherwise. According to a poll by Forbes, almost 50% of Americans believe that attending regular therapy sessions is a sign of weakness. In addition to that statistic, 65% of regular therapy-goers state feeling embarrassed or even scared to share with others about their ongoing sessions. This translates to the fact that, unfortunately, the stigma of mental health and therapy is not as widely publicized and accepted as one would hope.
To explore this issue further, I reached out to the Coastal Carolina Neuropsychiatric Center (CCNC) and had the pleasure of interviewing licensed therapist Ryan Page, who helped translate how the therapy world is working to combat these troubling statistics.
Here’s What I Found…
The “Stigma”
The stigma surrounding the topics of mental health is nothing new, especially among teenagers. Being in high school myself, I feel as if mental health is more of a joking matter among my peers than an actual medical issue. Almost every day, I hear someone say, “I’m so depressed” and most of the time, no, they are not really depressed—just bummed out over a lousy test score. But this ability to trivialize something so serious has caused the topic to lose some of its meaning among the youth, leading to the line between teenage emotions and actual mental disorders to become very blurred and, unfortunately, more quipped upon.
Keeping this in mind, Dr. Page helped abbreviate the question, “How is CCNC helping alleviate the stigma around mental health?” His answer: “By providing a non-judgmental approach to integrated care. In my sessions, I often tell clients that they are not broken.”
This emphasis by Dr.Ryan on non-judgment is crucial, especially when dealing with the younger generation, who face heightened levels of criticism though social platforms. In a therapy setting, it is vital to maintain an open mind through understanding and empathy, as it can help people tackle their challenges efficiently, and without the additional burden of lingering judgment that is already plaguing their daily life. A compassionate therapist will refrain from contributing to that dynamic and is invaluable in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health care.
The Toolbox of the Brain
Everybody is different, which is why having multiple perspectives on one concept and diagnosis is important. Therapists such as Dr. Page helps convey this idea by being involved in creating a so-called “Toolbox” of coping skills to help clients face some of their daily struggles, and allowing said clients to access these coping skills whenever they may feel overwhelmed. In a therapy setting, this concept of a toolbox can be portrayed by “Understanding a cluster of symptoms that an individual is experiencing, so a treatment plan can be tailored to meet their individual needs. This helps the quality of functioning in their daily life by building resilience…”
By taking a more neurological perspective here, I want to refer a quote which can be found across all my platforms – “35% of rare brain disorders don’t get diagnosed in the first 5 years of viable symptoms.” Knowing that brain disorders are some of the most impactful and degenerative, this idea helps illustrate how crucial it is that a medical professional treating such cases be able to quickly refer to a “handbook” of symptoms to conduct a quick and efficient diagnosis. It is important to keep in mind that to form a toolbox for managing a disorder, it has to starts with the ratification of the problem.
“The Block“
When writing this article, I refereed back to the one time I went to therapy, where I was so overwhelmed by the whole concept that I pretty much cried the entire time, not having much luck translating my troubles into comprehensible words. After that experience, I can’t lie and say that I’m not afraid to go back, not because I don’t trust my therapist, but because being in a state where one feels so overwhelmed can be a huge mental block. This underscores the importance of building a trustworthy and understanding relationship with clients, as one misstep or trigger can damage that connection, potentially creating more issues than those initially presented.
This concept of open communication is one of the key factors I noted when researching CCNC, as their offered telecommunication system allows clients from all over NC to access help without actually having to step foot in the office, helping alleviate that mental block of having to face a therapist in an in-person setting. This can also be a great first step in getting the help you need, as it opens the door to a small sector of the therapy world, and may present a more comforting way to ease into the therapy scene.
On the contrary, the ability to read body language and small ticks in a person’s persona is lacking in this virtual setting. I delved deeper into this concept with Dr. Ryan, where he explained, “I am not a fan of technology being used in a therapeutic setting because of the lack of human connection and my ability to observe the ‘whole person.’”
Overall, the option of telecommunication may be great for some in remote areas, or people facing the mental block of stepping into a medical environment, but it is important to remember that words are not the only thing being picked up in therapy sessions, and that outside cues may lead to a quicker and more efficient diagnosis. It is essential for one seeking medical help to weigh both options and decide for themselves what they think the best approach. As someone who is working in the medical field, it is important to remember that some help is better than no help.
The Starting Line
Becoming a therapist is not an easy stride, as it requires a unique set of skills and an unwavering passion for helping others. On a daily basis, you will face people at their lowest, as you need to possess the quality of being able to professionally navigate the feelings presented at hand, helping the client form a treatment plan to return to a normalcy the best they can.
It is necessary to mention that some mental disruptions cannot always be prevented, and clients may find themselves extremely frustrated when trying to overcome a hump that was not there previously, or has no apparent cause. This is why it is vital to not only aid in keeping your clients’ mental state steady, but your own too, as it will aid in providing solidified patients and understanding when faced with difficult situations, alleviating the feeling of wanting to give up.
Bringing these concepts together, I asked Dr. Page one final question that resonated deeply with me: ‘What advice would you give to young people aspiring to pursue this career path?’’
His response was truly moving,
“You will be influenced by the thoughts and opinions of others your whole time. Stand on your beliefs and values. Know what you want to do, and don’t compromise. Clinical social work is one of the most rewarding things I have done, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Loving what you do is extremely important, especially in fields such as therapy, where self-security is crucial to assisting with your clients needs.
In the end, some help is better than no help—and in therapy, even small steps forward can lead to life-changing growth.
My gratitude goes out to Coastal Carolina Neuropsychiatric Center, and Ryan page for partnering with me to make this article possible.