For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | January 2016
Benefits of
Counseling
Many people respond to
therapy for problems of all
types
By Jamie Lober, Staff Writer
People of all ages are taking advantage of local counseling services.
“People come to us for a variety of
reasons, including academic stress,
the transition into college and figuring out how to prepare for their
classes,” said Dr. Megan Marks, senior
staff psychologist and outreach coordinator at the University of Kentucky
Counseling Center. “[They come] for
personal reasons, like transitioning
away from home or families, which
for some is actually a good thing if
they have a difficult home life. Or
they may be coming to discuss relationship issues.” Other reasons people
seek counseling include depression,
anxiety and serious mental health
concerns. “Anxiety is actually the No.
1 concern among college students
currently,” Marks said.
Who is a good candidate for counseling? “Counseling is for folks who
have started to notice they are not
feeling like themselves, or maybe
some specific incidence happened
in their lives that is impacting either
their personal relationships, work or
academic life,” said Marks. “It takes
strength and courage to come in for
therapy. I want folks to know therapy
is effective. We can help people feel
better, and they do not have to suffer
alone.”
The center offers individual as well
as group counseling. “Group services
are eight-week programs that use a lot
of the tenets of acceptance and com-
mitment therapy,” Marks said. “We
have a lot of relaxation workshops
to help with anxiety and a cognitive
behavioral therapy to help people
understand the root of their anxiety,
whether it is generalized or social.
Then we help them cope.”
Stress is a reality in everyone’s life,
and there is no shame in getting help
to deal with it. “A lot of folks feel
ashamed if they think they cannot
handle a life stressor, whether it is
a relationship ending or the loss of
a loved one,” said Marks. “One way
to counteract shame is to talk about
what is going on, so having a therapist that can help you navigate and
problem solve can help with reducing
shame.”
It is essential to find the format
that makes you feel the most comfortable. “Group therapy can be really
helpful for understanding [you] are
not the only one going through these
concerns,” Marks said. “It will help
normalize what people are going
through. Therapy can help people get
an understanding of their behavioral
and mental health and the roots of
their symptoms.” People also learn to
identify and work with their triggers
and stressors, finding strength, resilience and new coping skills.
Everyone can benefit from counseling. “People worry their problems
are too small or too big for the counseling center or if their problem can
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be helped with counseling,” Marks
said. “Most people who engage in
therapy will experience benefits within about six sessions and then feel
they are okay without therapy.”
Therapy is advantageous for overall
wellbeing. “We can help folks find
balance and sleep and we can help
with overall personal health,” Marks
said. “Therapy often leads to a reduction in their symptoms.”
Issues change at different points in
people’s lives. “In marriages, money,
sex and in-laws tend to be some of
the common areas of conflict,” Marks
said. “With students it is more about
values and communication patterns.”
For optimum mental health, you
want to be mindful of your lifestyle
choices and keep balance in your
life. “How we take care of our bodies
impacts general mental health,” Marks
said. “For instance, sleep allows us to
cope with everyday life stressors better. Through exercising, endorphins
help overall mood. Play and laughter
are important to help us connect with
others.”
All services at the center are confidential unless clients indicate they are
at eminent risk of hurting themselves
or others. For more information, call
(859) 257-8701.
859.543.9449
www.libertyridge.com
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