Bipolar Disorders and Mood Swings
By · CommentsBipolar disorder (the new name for manic-depression) refers to experiencing mood swings that cannot be explained by a person’s reacting to something happening around them or to ideas they are having. It refers to “two poles” or extremes of mood from being “up” to “down and depressed.” When “up,” often times the person feels more energetic or happy than seems justified by their situation and the feeling can include so much energy that the person doesn’t seem to need rest and feels that they can “do anything” and “lick the world” at the same time they don’t “have a care in the world.” Our staff of licensed therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
At those especially energized times, the person may do something that they seriously regret later. The person’s mood may then swing rapidly to feeling depressed, like sinking on an elevator into a dismal basement of a building, and then experience very negative thoughts about themselves, their life and their future.
This feeling “down” is unusually severe and doesn’t go away as quickly as would be expected if a person simply had a bad experience, like the loss of a relationship, and was able to get going again quite soon. The swings in feelings can happen fairly rapidly, even within a day, or they may take days, weeks or months. Although everyone experiences some swings in mood, they are usually related to events in the person’s life and may not be as extreme.
With a bipolar disorder, the mood swings seem to be unlinked. Drinking and recreational drugs, irregular eating and sleeping patterns, and unpredictable activity patterns can make these swings much worse.
Attention Problems in Children and Adults
By · CommentsThere are many causes of attentional problems. Examples include attention-deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, and dementia. Most frequently, attentional problems are assessed by using behavioral rating scales. Although these are helpful in describing the presence and frequency of behaviors that are often exhibited by individuals with attentional problems, they are not a direct measurement of attention and they cannot determine the cause of attentional problems (for example, ADD vs. depression) or how best to treat them. Neuropsychological testing, in conjunction with rating scales, can usually answer these questions. Our staff of licensed therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Anxiety and Nervousness
By · CommentsAnxiety (sometimes called stress or worry) is common to everyone, to one degree or another. Anxiety is a state of apprehension or fear about the possibility of something negative or undesirable happening. At times a person cannot even determine exactly why they are anxious or afraid. Avoidance of feared situations often results from intense anxiety, which then can lead to restriction of choices and experiences. There are several disorders which include anxiety as a central feature, including: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Our staff of licensed Chicago therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Alcohol and Substance Issues
By · CommentsWe offer help for those with substance abuse problems by assisting with the psychological and relational aspects of recovery. For initial treatment of substance problems, we are happy to provide assessments and referrals to substance abuse treatment centers. Our staff of licensed Chicago therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Agoraphobia
By · CommentsAgoraphobia is the fear and/or avoidance of places or situations that tend to bring on unpleasant physical sensations that may range from nervousness to a panic attack (including rapid heartbeat, nausea, sweating, etc.). Also, these feelings are often accompanied by the fear that escape from the situation or getting help may be difficult or embarrassing. Our staff of licensed Chicago therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Aging
By · CommentsMany changes occur with the aging process which each person can learn to appreciate and adjust to. Some of the changes are positive and some are experienced more as losses. Noticing changes in our bodies, our relationships, and our social environment, accepting those changes and maximizing our satisfaction in living is an ongoing process that can lead to a very fulfilling and creative lifestyle, irrespective of one’s age. Our staff of licensed Chicago therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Adjustment to life changes
By · CommentsAdjustment problems involve distressing emotional reactions to life’s difficult moments—adjusting to the loss of a job, a marriage, or a life dream, or adjusting to the addition of something, such as caring for an elderly parent, or an unexpected pregnancy. Treatment is generally focused on helping the person cope with the situation and adjusting to the new life circumstance. Our staff of licensed Chicago therapist and counselors can help you achieve solid footing as you travel the stepping stones of healthy change.
Preventing Teen Suicide
By · CommentsPreventing teen suicide and self harm
Children and adolescents are impulsive. When they are frustrated, angry or fearful they may act out or feel hopeless. This is dangerous. As parents, you must be alert to the possibility that your troubled child or adolescent may purposely harm him or herself.
Do NOT take this lightly
Do NOT ignore or underestimate the youth’s ability to up the ante if you are changing the house rules, putting into place a challenging Behavior Management System, setting new limits, or restraining yourself from getting into familiar power struggles. You, as parents, must collaborate and agree to support one another in this process. Talk with your child, be understanding, do not blame, preach or threaten.
What to Watch For
Be alert for warning signs:
- talking or joking about self harm
- statements of hopelessness
- sudden mood changes
- messages of “goodbye” to you or others
- self destructive behaviors (cutting, drugs, etc)
- risk-taking behaviors (walking in traffic, sitting on window sills, jumping off things)
- obsession with knives
- stockpiling pills
What to Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Safety:
When you see the above warning signs…
- assure your youth that he or she is not alone
- create a safe environment and eliminate unsafe situations (remove weapons etc.)
- observe behaviors, actions, watch for symptoms
- know who to call (therapist, psychiatrist, medical doctor, trusted friends, family)
- stay in touch with people who support you
- if you feel that they are in imminent danger of attempting suicide, or if they have made an attempt, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room
With the support and guidance of caring professionals, friends and family, you are more likely to be able to give your child the support he or she needs, when he or she needs it.
What to Expect in Counseling
By · CommentsIf you haven’t been in therapy before, you might have some questions about what to expect.
Each therapist and office has their own approach to getting you started in therapy. Here is a description of what you can generally expect at Hoover and Associates, although it may vary from client to client, based on your needs.
Setting up a Counseling Appointment
Usually a client will call us (708-429-6999, ext. 229) to schedule an appointment, although some clients contact us through our website contact page. When you first call, our screening clinician will ask for a very brief overview of your concerns, to confirm that counseling sounds appropriate, and to recommend one of our ten clinicians for you to work with. We will also ask for your phone number, what insurance you’ll be using, how you heard about our services, and when you are available. If you have any questions, this is also a good opportunity for you to ask them, and to get directions to our office.
At Hoover and Associates, the screening clinician usually does not schedule the appointment for you. Their primary role is to recommend which of our clinicians would be most appropriate for your issues. Once a recommendation is made, the recommended clinician will be informed that you would like to schedule an appointment, and will call you to do so, and to answer any further questions you may have.
If for some reason we conclude that we cannot help you, then we will assist you in finding someone who can.
What to Bring to Your First Session
When you come in for your first appointment (at 16325 S. Harlem Ave, Suite 200, in Tinley Park), you will need to bring:
- Your insurance card(s) or a way to pay (cash, check, or credit card) if you are not using insurance.
- Contact information for your primary care provider, psychiatrist or anyone else you’d like your clinician to communicate with.
- A list of medications that you currently take (medication name, dosage, prescribing doctor).
- Your calendar or planner so you can schedule future appointments.
Opening Paperwork
When you first come to our office you will need to be here about 10-15 minutes early, so that you can fill out our opening paperwork. There’s actually not very much to fill out. Most of the opening packet is made up of disclosures for you to read.
Usually there will be a receptionist who can call your clinician to let them know you have arrived. If there is no receptionist, then you will find the opening packets to the left of the receptionist window, on the wall. Make sure you pick the right packet for your needs: for “adults”, “children” or “testing.” Go ahead and fill it out, and your clinician will come get you at your scheduled time.
Helping You Feel Comfortable
It is important to us that you feel comfortable while in our office. At Hoover and Associates we have a spacious reception area with a large screen TV, playing relaxation and educational DVDs; as well as a patient library from which you can check out books, and plenty of magazines for you to read while you wait. If you are waiting in the reception area with children, there are a few toys for them to play with. Also, if waiting while someone you brought is in session, you can request to see specific educational videos, some designed for adults and some for children ages 6 and up.
On your way from reception to your clinician’s individual office, you can choose from a variety of snacks and drinks. And in our offices you will find comfortable arm chairs, couches, and pillows. We have made an effort to create and aesthetically soothing space, and we use white sound machines in the hallways of the suite to ensure your privacy.
First Session
At some point during the first session, your clinician will want to make sure you are in agreement about payment arrangements, have the necessary forms signed, and that you get answers to any questions you may have about counseling in general.
Part of the opening paperwork is for you to sign any releases of information. This is voluntary except in the case of Medicare, which requires us to communicate with your primary care provider. It is customary for psychologists to communicate with their clients’ primary care providers, psychiatrists, and/or pain management doctors (only with your written permission of course). If there is anyone else you would like your clinician to communicate with, you would need to give your written permission for that as well. Therefore, it would be helpful if you had their contact information with you.
Once this sort of paperwork is done, you can start in on your intake evaluation.
Intake Evaluation
During the intake evaluation, your clinician will start getting to know you and your needs. They will ask for an overview of what brings you in, and how you are coping with it. They may ask about your current stressors, symptoms, and coping methods. Then they may move on to more general information about you, your relationships, and your background.
The intake evaluation can take anywhere from one to four sessions, depending on your communication style and the complexity of your issues. If you are coming in for couples therapy, the intake may include joint sessions as well as individual sessions. Also, if you have brought your child in for treatment, the intake process may involve not only your child, but also you (depending on your child’s age and some other factors).
From the intake evaluation, your clinician can make an initial diagnosis and recommendations. And please remember, if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask them during any session.
When you’re done with the intake evaluation, you and your clinician will decide on a treatment plan.
Treatment Planning
Clinicians vary in their approach to this. Some are relatively formal, using structured/written treatment plans. Others are relatively informal, making a verbal agreement and plan.
This is your opportunity to express your priorities about what needs to be addressed, to talk about how you’d like to approach your problems in therapy, and to set goals. This is also when you will agree on how often you want to meet, and how long you intend to work together. Length of treatment depends on the nature and severity of your issues and on your preference. Usually a therapist and client will plan to check in about their progress in a given amount of time (they will do a periodic treatment plan review) at which point you can decide whether and how to continue.
Keep in mind that all services are voluntary, and you can decide to stop at any time. However it is usually necessary to attend at least 6-8 sessions to see meaningful results. Often, more time is needed. For issues that have been developing over a lifetime, and for chronic mental illness, treatment may last years.
Treatment
Because each person (or couple, or family) is unique, the psychotherapy treatment provided will be individually tailored. Clinicians draw on many psychological theories and use a variety of techniques, depending on what they believe is most appropriate and effective in each case. You can get a flavor of each clinician’s approach to therapy by reading their profiles on this website.
Keep in mind that treatment is a collaborative process. It is not something that the therapist does to you or for you. It is something you and the therapist do together. Indeed, much therapy work happens between sessions, as you observe yourself, think about things, and apply ideas and suggestions from therapy. Also, it is helpful if you have an idea of what you’d like to focus on in each session.
Treatment Plan Review
After the agreed upon time, you and your clinician will review your treatment plan, check in about your progress, and adjust your goals or approach if necessary.
For many people, the problems that bring them into therapy have been developing over many years, if not their whole life. Therapy does help, but it is usually a gradual process and it may take time. Most people go through several treatment plans before they feel they’re ready to stop. If you have been in therapy for a long time, and feel that you want to continue but need a break, you can arrange a “therapy vacation” for a pre-determined amount of time, like a month, or season.
The treatment plan review is also a good opportunity for you to give your therapist feedback about their work. It is always okay (even important) to let your therapist know if you are uncomfortable with their approach or suggestions. Also, let your therapist know if they are focusing on something that is not a priority for you, or if they are not supportive enough or challenging you enough. When you give your therapist feedback, it helps them to adjust their therapy style so that it is more helpful to you.
Ending Treatment
As you start to feel better, get control over your life, and need less support, you will reduce the frequency of treatment. Usually people start out meeting weekly, at some point they switch to every other week, then possibly have a few sessions at once per month, and then stop treatment. If you prefer not to take this gradual approach, and decide to suddenly end treatment, it is a good idea (and it is customary) to meet one last time for a closing session, and talk about your reasons for stopping, what you’ve gotten out of therapy so far, what other support systems you have available, and how you plan to manage your issues independently.
Resuming Treatment
After finishing therapy, you may at some point feel the need for a “booster session” or two, just to help keep yourself on track with your goals. Or, you might run into a tough situation, and need a little extra support for several weeks. Also, some people find it helpful to have several “rounds” of therapy throughout their lives. Different issues may come up in different circumstances, or you may see things from a new perspective as you grow and learn throughout life.
At some point, it may be helpful to see the same therapist again, even years after your initial treatment, simply because they already know you. But then again, a new therapist might be able to approach your issues from a new angle. Knowing that it is normal to participate in therapy more than once can help people feel comfortable with seeking therapy when they need it.
The kind of work people do in therapy is never really done. People continually strive to cope with challenging situations, to grow, to resolve old issues, and to find satisfaction and wellness in life. Much of this kind of work is not necessarily done in therapy. There are many other sources of guidance and inspiration as well. It is our sincere hope that your therapy experience with us will be one of the many ways that you can move your life in a positive direction.
In Conclusion
We hope this gives anyone new to counseling an idea of what to expect. If you have any further questions, or to make an appointment, feel free to call us at 708-429-6999.
Individual Therapy
By · CommentsThe clinicians at Hoover and Associates offer individual therapy as one of their treatment options. If you would like to start in individual therapy, just call 708-429-6999, extension 229. Our screening clinician can recommend which of our ten therapists would be best qualified for your particular issues. Feel free to call if you have any questions as well.
What is individual therapy?
Individual therapy is probably the most common type of therapy, in which one individual meets with a therapist on a regular basis to discuss that individual’s issues.
The therapist helps the patient to feel better, to change bad habits, to understand themselves and others, to cope more effectively, to make difficult decisions, to improve their relationships, and to set and work toward goals, etc. Each patient is unique, and therefore each patient’s therapy experience will be unique.
What to expect when starting therapy:
Therapy usually starts with an intake evaluation, lasting one to three sessions. The therapist will ask you questions about your stressors, current and past symptoms, coping methods, relationships, lifestyle, and medical history, in order to clarify your strengths, concerns, and various factors that may be affecting you.
Once the issues are clear, then the you and the therapist will develop a treatment plan. You will set specific goals to work toward, decide how often you want to meet (most people start out weekly), and for how long. This is a collaborative process, as is all of therapy. The therapist and the patient work together, rather than the therapist doing something “to” the patient.
Once the treatment plan in in place, then the meetings will focus on your efforts to achieve your goals, to cope with week to week stressors and events, and to improve your life-satisfaction. As therapy continues, it is helpful for the therapist to know when something was particularly helpful or not helpful. Your feedback will helps to guide therapy in a productive and positive direction.
At the previously agreed upon time, you and therapist will review your progress on the treatment plan. You can then decide whether to continue, how often, for how long, and whether you want to make any changes in your goals or approach to therapy.
“What if I decide I don’t like it after all?”
If for any reason you are not satisfied with the therapy you are receiving, the first step is to let your therapist know. Often, by working together and communicating openly, you can resolve whatever wasn’t working, and you can get a lot more out of the therapy experience.
If you feel that you and your therapist just don’t click, then you can ask for a referral to another therapist. Although it can feel a little awkward to ask for a referral, this is absolutely appropriate and okay to do. The most important thing is that you get the services you need from a therapist you feel comfortable with. And remember, therapy is voluntary, so you can decide to stop at any time.
Wrapping up individual therapy:
Once you feel that you’ve made enough progress, then you have several options for wrapping up therapy. It is customary to do at least one closing session when you decide to stop therapy. During this session you can review your progress, and discuss how you can continue working on your issues outside of therapy.
Some people like to stop gradually, by meeting less and less frequently until they are ready to stop altogether. Others like to schedule a follow up appointment for one month down the road, so that they can check in and makes sure they’re ready to stop. And , of course, you can just stop.
Sometimes, if something stressful comes up later on, a patient may call up their therapist whom they used to see, and schedule a booster session, or a short series of sessions. This can help them to remember the skills and strategies they learned in therapy, and can give them a little extra support through a stressful situation.
Questions?
Again, please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions about therapy. There is no obligation, and we’re happy to help answer your questions. You can reach us at 708-429-6999. The screening specialist is at extension 229.
