http://saynotostigma.com/2010/03/practicing-what-we-preach-the-mental-health-of-mental-health-professionals/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=practicing-what-we-preach-the-mental-health-of-mental-health-professionals a blog of The Menninger Clinic Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:19:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://saynotostigma.com/2010/03/practicing-what-we-preach-the-mental-health-of-mental-health-professionals/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Donna Henn, M.S., LPC Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:00:30 +0000 http://saynotostigma.com/?p=322#comment-74 Yes, I agree that there is still a significant mental health stigma, and believe that as individuals we can affect each other's emotional/physical energy levels. The therapeutic relationship, for me as a therapist, is a collaborative effort. Effectiveness in my role in this collaboration is directly related to the balance I create in taking care of my own needs. Together, we are even stronger in transcending traumatic experiences from the past and releasing rather than continuing to be emotionally and physically affected from having "internalized" the traumatic experience. The individual interpretation or memory of trauma experiences can maintain the body's stress response pattern that can result in chronic pain or a progressive illness. A diagnostic label represents a specific set of symptoms that are a common "reaction" to past trauma, not a negative identity to be embraced. Therefore, with a new committment and acknowledgement of what we really do have the power to change, the healing process begins and the creation of a desired and deserved life is within our grasp. Therapists cannot most effectively support a therapeutic relationship without balancing, securing our own foundation. Yes, I agree that there is still a significant mental health stigma, and believe that as individuals we can affect each other’s emotional/physical energy levels. The therapeutic relationship, for me as a therapist, is a collaborative effort. Effectiveness in my role in this collaboration is directly related to the balance I create in taking care of my own needs. Together, we are even stronger in transcending traumatic experiences from the past and releasing rather than continuing to be emotionally and physically affected from having “internalized” the traumatic experience. The individual interpretation or memory of trauma experiences can maintain the body’s stress response pattern that can result in chronic pain or a progressive illness. A diagnostic label represents a specific set of symptoms that are a common “reaction” to past trauma, not a negative identity to be embraced. Therefore, with a new committment and acknowledgement of what we really do have the power to change, the healing process begins and the creation of a desired and deserved life is within our grasp. Therapists cannot most effectively support a therapeutic relationship without balancing, securing our own foundation.

]]> http://saynotostigma.com/2010/03/practicing-what-we-preach-the-mental-health-of-mental-health-professionals/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Mary DuParri, MA Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:05:38 +0000 http://saynotostigma.com/?p=322#comment-70 I am a therapist who applauds your views on practicing what we preach. I have been working for a number of years now from the Internal Family Systems model of therapy in which all parts of Self are welcome, including parts that are judged as negative or considered stimatized. IFS training strongly recommends that therapists engage in their own therapy and in peer support groups we admire colleagues who own their own fears and uncertainty as pathways to healing themselves. We are unlikely to make a dent in stigma about therapy until we can embrace and heal the parts within ourselves that we stigmatize. I am a therapist who applauds your views on practicing what we preach. I have been working for a number of years now from the Internal Family Systems model of therapy in which all parts of Self are welcome, including parts that are judged as negative or considered stimatized. IFS training strongly recommends that therapists engage in their own therapy and in peer support groups we admire colleagues who own their own fears and uncertainty as pathways to healing themselves. We are unlikely to make a dent in stigma about therapy until we can embrace and heal the parts within ourselves that we stigmatize.

]]>