Mental Health Links
The following links are listed to provide you with additional online mental health care information and counseling resources.
Addiction
and Recovery
Alcoholic's
Anonymous
Center
for On-Line Addiction
SAMHSA's
Substance Abuse/Addiction
SAMHSA's
Treatment and Recovery
Web
of Addictions
Anxiety
Disorders
Answers
to Your Questions About Panic Disorder
National
Center for PTSD
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), Mayo Clinic
International
OCD Foundation
Calm
Clinic
Associations
& Institutes
American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American
Counseling Association
American
Psychiatric Association
American
Psychological Association
Association
for Psychological Science
Canadian
Mental Health Association
Center
for Mental Health Resources
National
Institute of Mental Health
Mental
Health America
Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
ADDA
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder, NIMH
Child
Abuse and Domestic Violence
Childhelp
USA®
Questions
and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse
SAMHSA's
(Women,) Children and Families
SAMHSA's
Protection and Advocacy
The
National Domestic Violence Hotline Website
Chronic
Fatigue
Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
Depression
Bipolar
Disorder News - Pendulum.org
Depression
and How Therapy Can Help
Depression
Screening
Depression
Test, Symptoms of Depression, Signs of Depression
Developmental
Disorders
Asperger's
Disorder
NeuroWeb
Yale
Autism Program
Diagnosis
DSM-IV-TR:
Diagnoses and Criteria
Dissociation
and Traumatic Stress
Sidran
Traumatic Stress Institute
Eating
Disorders
Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics
Something
Fishy
Journals
& Magazines
ADHD
Report
Anxiety,
Stress and Coping
Autism
Childhood
Contemporary
Hypnosis
Dementia
Depression
and Anxiety
Drug
and Alcohol Review
Dyslexia
Early
Child Development and Care
Eating
Disorders
Educational
Assessment
Journal
of Gambling Studies
Journal
of Happiness Studies
Journal
of Mental Health and Aging
Journal
of Sex & Marital Therapy
Journal
of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Journal
of Substance Abuse Treatment
Language
and Cognitive Processes
Loss,
Grief & Care
Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
Metaphor
and Symbol
Neuropsychological
Rehabilitation
Parenting
Personal
Relationships
Personality
and Individual Differences
Psychiatric
Bulletin
Psychology
of Men & Masculinity
Psychology
Today
Stress
and Health
Substance
Abuse
Trauma,
Violence & Abuse
Medications
and Health Supplements
Drug
Interactions, Drugs.com
Drug
Interactions, DIRECT
Medical
Dictionary
Medications,
FDA
Medications,
PDR
Medline,
Comparison
Multivitamins
Mental
Health Care General Links
CounsellingResource.com
Mental
Health Counselor Resources, About.com
Mental
Help Net
PsychCentral.com
University
of Michigan Health Library
Personality
Disorders
Mental
Help Net - Personality Disorders
Suicide
Awareness and Hotlines
SAMHSA's
Suicide Prevention
Suicide
Awareness Voices of Education
Suicide:
Read This First
Additional
Mental Health Care & Counseling Resources
Disaster/Trauma
HIV/AIDS
Interpretation
of Dreams
Keirsey
(Myers-Briggs) Temperament Sorter
Signs
of Menopause, Symptoms of Menopause
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly). It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”.