One Big Reason People Don't Seek Help
As we begin Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s not only spread awareness and work to reduce stigma, but also acknowledge one of the common reasons people do not seek help: the lack of mental health practitioners with adequate training and experience in evidence-based methods.
The State of Mental Health in the United States
My home state of Florida ranks 49th in access to mental health services in the US. This means that you are extremely unlikely to get the most helpful treatment with your first provider or interaction with the mental health system.
This is not the fault of the providers, though some do practice their forms of therapy or psychiatry as a “cure all.” I would argue it is more the fault of the system. Most therapists are well intentioned, but just lack access to training and ongoing supervision.
Finding the most helpful provider or introduction into mental health services is not unique to Florida; I experienced this problem in New York City, a hub for mental health services, training and research. In both states, I continually heard the same thing, "I went to several therapists before I found you and nothing worked until this," or “none of this was explained to me as clearly as you did.”
This begs the question: How or why should we expect people to trust us, or even seek help, if providers don't offer them or at least educate them on the most effective methods of care?
Effective Psychotherapy & Advocating for Change
The goal of my practice and career has been not only to be an effective psychotherapist, but an advocate for change (thank you social work training!). For example, after my short phone consultations with potentially new clients, I regularly refer to the therapy or services I think are going to be most effective for them, while also providing choices or ways to make it accessible if they have limited resources. You have to be creative with little to work with, and you can only do so when you are informed.
This kind of transparency is simply the right thing to do and aligns with our professional values and ethics. You would expect the same guidance and researched-based recommendations from an oncologist or pediatrician and mental health treatment should be held to the same standard.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and related interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are backed by decades of scientific research that indicates their effectiveness over and over again at treating numerous mental health issues. It should often be the first or second line intervention someone receives, but frequently, it is not.
The practitioners in my group and my peers outside of it (again, I am not qualified for everything!), specialize in using CBT and related interventions to help people overcome the most common mental health issues people experience - anxiety disorders like OCD or phobias, depression, chronic pain, substance use disorders and perinatal mood & anxiety disorders.
As part of our practice values, my staff and I make a commitment to reserve a portion of our caseloads for people who qualify for a sliding scale or to use their insurance.
At CBT of Central & South Florida, we treat anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and more using cognitive behavioral therapy. To seek help with our practice, schedule an appointment by completing an online form.