Let's Get Clinical

When you experience mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, you may want to seek out prompt treatment for them. You do not want to suffer another day with your debilitating symptoms.

However, you might want to forgo taking medication for them, if possible. Before you resort to taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, you might first undergo professional registered clinical counselling. 

Frequent Meetings

When you opt for this type of treatment for your mental health challenges, you may benefit from frequent meetings with your therapist. In fact, when you first start going through this service, you might meet with your therapist on a weekly basis, if not more frequently. This frequent contact can be critical for keeping you calm and focused as you work to overcome or manage your symptoms.

Frequent appointments can also be critical to minimizing your suicidal ideation and preventing you from harming yourself. Your therapist can check in with you every few days to make sure you are remaining calm. They can also give you a chance to vent your emotions in a safe place and provide objectivity on why you should not harm yourself.

Coping Mechanisms

Your registered clinical counseling can also involve learning coping mechanisms to manage your symptoms. You may want to learn how to avoid panic attacks when you are out in public, for example. Your therapist can teach you to use diversions, such as listening to music or using ice packs on the back of your neck, to calm your panic attacks and force your brain to focus on something else.

Further, your therapist may have you keep a journal to note what you are grateful for each day. This gratitude journal can be an effective way to combat depression. It can be critical for lifting your mood and helping you out of depressive episodes for which you may prefer to avoid taking medication.

Referrals

Finally, your therapist can serve as a catalyst for a referral to a psychiatrist. Your therapist might refer you to one of these medical providers if they believe you need medication to curb some or all of your symptoms. Your therapy treatment can pair with your psychiatric medical care.

Registered clinical counseling can benefit you when you suffer from mental health challenges. You might meet with your therapist frequently and learn coping mechanisms to manage your symptoms. You also may get a referral from your therapist to a psychiatrist.