The psychologist Peter A. Levine once stated, “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.” A person’s history of trauma can inform how they go about their daily lives. That history can affect relationships, work, home life, cognition, behaviors, and feelings. It can even affect the body. Someone who has been traumatized may spend their hours trying to avoid distress instead of trying to attain peace and joy. But trauma doesn’t have to play on repeat throughout one’s life. Instead, it can be faced head-on in a safe space. It can be processed in a healthy way. And that energy can then be turned toward something positive.
Licensed psychologists at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL work everyday with people who have experienced trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that can impair daily functioning. Clinical counseling can help lift the burden of suffering for people who are weighed down by maladaptive feelings and behaviors that aren’t serving them anymore. The mental health professionals at Thriveworks can give clients the support they need through their insights and expertise.
Should I Consult a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist?
If you are experiencing the symptoms of a potential mental health condition and you don’t know whether to consult a psychologist or a psychiatrist, that is okay. At Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL, these providers are on the same staff and they can refer clients to one another if necessary. For clinical purposes, the main difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is that a psychiatrist can prescribe medication and a psychologist cannot. This is because a psychiatrist is a doctor of medicine (MD) who graduated from medical school while a psychologist has a doctorate degree in psychology.
Psychologists (usually PhDs or PsyDs) can be clinical psychologists or counseling psychologists. Like psychiatrists, they can diagnose, treat, and help prevent mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. To accomplish this, they use a wide variety of psychotherapies (talk therapies).
In addition to psychiatrists and psychologists, Thriveworks employs these additional fully licensed mental health providers:
- Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), who provide solution-based counseling
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), who provide therapy/counseling services and social services support
- Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), who provide relationship support through couples counseling and family therapy
- Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), who can prescribe medication for mental health conditions
What Are the Best Treatments for Depression?
Psychologists, mental health counselors, and other mental health providers have a wide variety of therapies at their disposal for treating people with depression. At Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL, providers may have expertise in any of these evidence-based treatment approaches:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Strength-based therapy
- Person-centered approaches
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive restructuring
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
- Existential therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Psychoeducation
- Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
- Rational emotive therapy
- Humanistic/client-centered counseling
- Behavioral activation
- Holistic treatments
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Narrative therapy
- Affect regulation
A depressed client may also benefit from psychosocial interventions targeting family dynamics or relationships. They could need substance use disorder (SUD) counseling or anxiety therapy as well. Each client at Thriveworks receives a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized treatment plan.
What Are Some Examples of Psychological Problems?
Mental health conditions are usually classified as such because they interfere with daily functioning. This means that there’s a mismatch of some kind between a person’s thoughts or behaviors and their environment. The goal of professional psychology is to ease distress and help people achieve their goals. Treating mental health conditions in targeted ways is a major component of that purpose. Individual therapy may seek to help relieve symptoms like the following:
- Excessive fears and worries
- Obsessions and fixations
- Repetitive behaviors
- Manias
- Overwhelming feelings of sadness
- Extreme self-consciousness
- Problematic eating behaviors
- Panic attacks
- Addictions
- Existential crises
- Attention difficulties
Talk to an Exceptional Psychologist at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL
The licensed psychologists at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL can meet with new clients quickly, usually within 24-48 hours of booking. They can see clients in-person at the modern office, or virtually through secure, HIPAA-compliant online counseling sessions.
All mental health providers at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL are fully licensed and recruited from the top 4% of applicants. This means that clients get access to the best providers in the area. In addition, Thriveworks accepts most major health insurance coverage, helping to keep premium mental health support affordable for all who need it. Clients paying out-of-pocket also benefit from competitive self-pay rates.
Thriveworks providers pride themselves on their compassion, insights, and accessibility. Clients can reach them by phone or email between sessions.
Whether you’re experiencing trauma, marital difficulties, or just need someone to talk to who isn’t a friend or family member, Thriveworks can help. We look forward to hearing from you!
