After Mary graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she thought she had it made. She immediately started a great, high-paying job. She loved her friends and kept a busy social schedule on the weekends. She’d even started dating a cute guy at work. But then Mary’s mom was diagnosed with cancer.
Mary and her mom were extremely close and the diagnosis was heartbreaking. Mary knew that she wasn’t coping well. She felt scared all the time that her mom was going to die. She was having trouble sleeping. She was grieving for all the time she and her mom might not get together. And she’d begun to convince herself that she had cancer too, even though her family physician said she was healthy. Mary knew it was time to reach out to a mental health provider for support.
Through her online research, she found an exceptional grief therapist at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign and could begin to get the help she needed.
What Can a Mental Health Counselor Help Me With?
A mental health counselor is a trained, licensed professional who can help all kinds of clients navigate their life issues. In Mary’s case, she needed someone to help her manage the grief and depression she felt after her mom’s diagnosis. She also needed resources to help prevent her hypochondria from getting worse. Psychologists, psychiatrists, family therapists, and other Thriveworks mental health providers in Champaign, IL can treat clients for a wide variety of concerns:
- Sleep disturbances
- Obsessions and compulsions
- Anxiety disorders
- Family issues
- Midlife crises
- Trauma
- Bereavement
- Christian marriage problems
- Family conflict
- Depression
- Mania
- Addiction
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign can help steer clients toward safer, healthier life outcomes by using proven therapy techniques. You only have one life, and it’s okay to ask for help.
3 Examples of How Counseling Can Help
Kim’s Therapy Story
Kim is working too hard and putting too much pressure on herself. All of her friends are telling her to slow down. She feels like she’s headed for a mental breakdown, but she can’t seem to find her “off” switch.
Kim schedules an online appointment with a psychologist at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign. Her psychologist works with Kim on learning how to accept herself even when she’s not overachieving and running herself ragged. Kim also learns practical techniques to slow down her anxious mind when she’s in overdrive.
Charles’s Therapy Story
Charles used to drink with his friends, usually only on the weekends. But lately, he’s been feeling depressed and has been self-medicating with alcohol. He drinks alone at night and doesn’t stop until he passes out. Sometimes he’s too sick to go to work, so he starts drinking at noon to make himself feel better, and the cycle continues. Charles knows he’s spiraling into addiction, but he feels powerless to stop it.
When Charles calls the Thriveworks counseling office in Champaign, IL, he’s matched with a therapist who specializes in substance abuse and depression. She refers him to a Thriveworks telepsychiatrist to treat his depression and then helps him set—and keep—small goals for himself during his recovery from alcohol abuse.
John and Lucy’s Therapy Story
John and Lucy’s teenage son won’t talk to them anymore. Something is clearly bothering him because his eating and sleeping habits have changed drastically over the past few months. But no matter how many times John and Lucy ask their son what’s going on, he refuses to give them meaningful answers. John and Lucy are starting to feel the strain of their son’s behavior, both on their marriage and on their family as a whole. Their 8-year-old daughter is even beginning to act out at school.
John and Lucy make an appointment to see a licensed marriage family therapist (LMFT) at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign. The therapist meets with the whole family in order to understand everyone’s perspective. He gives them tools to improve the way they communicate at home. After a few productive sessions, the therapist recommends individual counseling for John and Lucy’s son, whom she has diagnosed with depression.
The Benefits of Online Psychiatry
Talking to a psychiatrist is most likely an independent decision that you’ll need to make on your own. However, anyone can benefit from talking with a mental health professional, including a psychiatrist. If you’re not familiar with what a psychiatrist is, they’re unique in that they:
- Are medical doctors, in addition to often being licensed mental health professionals
- Can prescribe helpful medication that assists clients in managing the harmful symptoms of mental health conditions
- Often the preferred treatment method for emotional or behavioral conditions such as major depression or ADHD
Not everyone who talks with a psychiatrist will be prescribed medication; your treatment will depend on your own preferences and needs. By talking openly about what’s bothering you, you can help to provide your Thriveworks psychiatrist with the information they need to help you manage your mental health challenges.
You may also consider our psychiatric services if you’re suffering from the symptoms of:
- ADHD
- PTSD
- Eating disorders
- OCD
- Depression
- Social anxiety
- And many other mental health conditions
Schedule with Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign
You don’t have to be in crisis to schedule an appointment with a mental health provider at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign. You just need to be human. Therapy can help prevent crises from happening in the future. A great counselor can also keep you from spiraling into unhealthy behaviors when you first notice signs of trouble.
When you enroll with Thriveworks, you receive multiple benefits in addition to your sessions with top-rated mental health providers. For instance:
- 5-hour cancellation policy
- Online and virtual therapy options
- Acceptance of medical insurance
- 240+ brick and mortar locations
It’s never too early or too late to address your mental health concerns. We look forward to hearing from you at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Champaign.