Just a few years ago in 2018-19, around 40.2 million adults in the United States had received counseling or some form of mental health treatment. Now, with all of us living in a pandemic, amongst various other stressors, it is understandable as to why this number has continued to increase. There are several reasons to seek out a therapist and begin counseling. Chris Illiades, MD, says, “Seeing a therapist is not just for people with a serious mental health issue. Talk therapy—or psychotherapy—can help anyone who feels overwhelmed by emotions or life events. A mental health therapist can help you get through tough times”. Illiades adds that when someone is overwhelmed by sadness, helplessness, worry, anxiety, or struggling with stressors, then seeking out a therapist is an important step in the right direction. In the article called Benefits and Options for Therapy, published on Healthline, Sara Lindberg discusses more reasons that people consider therapy, which include; when someone is facing a crisis, dealing with depression & anxiety, or has complex family dynamics. Listed above are reasons to consider seeing a therapist. But what will you gain from therapy? Coping skills Improved communication skills Better management/expression of emotions Assistance with depression, anxiety, amongst other mental health conditions. A safe, warm space to open up and talk through the thoughts and feelings you have. The list only continues. It is important to mention that there are multiple options for therapy; talk therapy, individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, online therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Each of these types of therapy have their own respective advantages, which depend on your comfortability and your reason for pursuing therapy. It takes an immense amount of courage to reach out and ask for help. If you have any further questions, reach out to us at 314-942-1147. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health practice located in Creve Coeur. The practice specializes in working with children, teens, and families. More information about Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is available at: https://www.stlmentalhealth.com.
4 Myths About Mental Health Therapy I don’t need a therapist. I’m smart enough to solve my own problems. We all have our blind spots. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. A good therapist doesn’t tell you what to do or how to live your life. He or she will give you an experienced outside perspective and help you gain insight into yourself so you can make better choices. Therapy is for crazy people. Therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and want to learn tools and techniques to become more self-confident and emotionally balanced. All therapists want to talk about is my parents. While exploring family relationships can sometimes clarify thoughts and behaviors later in life, that is not the sole focus of therapy. The primary focus is what you need to change unhealthy patterns and symptoms in your life. Therapy is not about blaming your parents or dwelling on the past. Therapy is self-indulgent. It’s for whiners and complainers. Therapy is hard work. Complaining won’t get you very far. Improvement in therapy comes from taking a hard look at yourself and your life, and taking responsibility for your own actions. Your therapist will help you, but ultimately you’re the one who must do the work. From HelpGuide.org —— Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. The practice provides counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples and families. Specializing in anxiety, stress management, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues. The practice has five experienced LCSW therapists. More information available at www.stlmentalhealth.com.
St. Louis therapy practice Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates (www.STLmentalhealth.com) has 10 things you can do to be more mentally and physically healthy. 1). Get a good night sleep. 2). Pursue a passion or interest. 3). Have a belly laugh at least a few times a day. 4). Help a charity or do something to better your community. 5). Eat fresh and healthy foods. 6). Set goals and challenge yourself. 7). Try to live in the now. 8). Walk, jog, run or do anything that gets you out of your seat. 9). Let go of grudges or other items that make you angry or stressed. 10). Listen to music, read a book and write (anything). Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a therapy practice in St. Louis, MO that provides individual, couples and family therapy and counseling. The practice specializes in depression, anxiety, stress management, relationships and other mental health related issues. The practice is located in Creve Coeur, Missouri and online at www.STLmentalhealth.com.
St Louis therapy practice, Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates, is offering training sessions this Spring and Summer for educators and parents. More information will be posted when available to www.stlmentalhealth.com. The topics include – child trauma, stress management, school anxiety, oppositional and defiant behaviors, and other mental illness related topics. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates provides therapy and counseling services to individuals, couples and families. Specializing in depression, anxiety, stress management, relationships and other mental health issues. The practice is located at 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.
St. Louis Therapy Practice Working to Help Teens with Depression, Anxiety and Stress Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates (www.STLmentalhealth.com) created a promo video on youtube to help catch the attention of teens who are dealing with depression, anxiety and stress. The practice hopes that the teens and their parents contact a mental health therapy or counseling facility to receive services to avoid the potential negative impacts of mental health related issues. The video is available below or at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNILAUUk95Q Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. The team of five therapists works with individuals of all ages, couples and families. They specialize in depression, anxiety, stress management, relationships, and other mental health related issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNILAUUk95Q
St. Louis Therapy Practice Adds Four New Therapists and Opens Mental Health Clinic Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates (www.STLmentalhealth.com) expanded by adding four new licensed therapists to the practice and opens a clinic at 655 Craig Road in Creve Coeur: Debra Johnson, LCSW Debra Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with a part-time practice in the St. Louis area. She has been a social worker for 35 years and comes with a unique and versatile background. Debra uses a client-centered approach to focus on the needs of the person. She is able to help with a gamut of concerns including: Depression, Anxiety, Anger Management, Parenting issues, and Work related conflicts, to name a few. She specializes in crisis intervention and utilizes an eclectic range of modalities for treatment. She is able to work with individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. Her approach involves partnering with clients to help them more effectively meet their needs and ascertain intentional goals. Daniel Leeman, LCSW Daniel Leeman attended Valparaiso University studying Psychology and Criminology and later went on to attain a Masters in Social Work. Daniel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has experience working with at-risk children, adults, parents, and families in an inpatient and outpatient setting. An effective therapist, Daniel can help with anxiety, depression, family issues, post-traumatic stress, and schizophrenia. Like Lena, Daniel has worked with adults in a forensic setting, Fulton State Hospital, and has a special knowledge of the Criminal Justice System. Daniel wishes to understand his client’s story and with them, come to a deep understanding of experiences, emotions, relationships, spirituality, and the sometimes irrational mind; the goal being to reach peace, harmony, and to attain the fullest potential each of these things has to offer. Jason Stahnke, LCSW Jason Stahnke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has helped adults in a variety of settings over the last fifteen years. Jason received his Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) in 2002 in Denver, Colorado where he worked with two-parent families focusing on improving their family stability while attaining financial self-sufficiency. Jason then worked with families and their loved ones who experienced a developmental disability through Positive Behavior Support and Applied Behavioral Analysis techniques. Earning his Masters in Social Work (MSW) in 2009 from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, Jason has spent the last 9 years training those in the Human Services field about a variety of topics based on a broad spectrum of theories all focused on improving patient care and treatment. Additionally, Jason has spent several semesters as an adjunct faculty member lecturing at the Community College level. Jason is a proven motivator, a helper who is open-minded and non-judgmental. Creating a safe place where everyone can feel comfortable to share, at their pace while better tailoring each individual’s therapeutic experience and how together we can achieve that is what he prides himself in most. Tracey White, LCSW Tracey White is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis. Tracey has over 14 years in the field of social services. She enjoys helping the underserved.
St. Louis Therapy Practice Targets Childhood Trauma There is a student who has and is enduring some major life challenges. She has seen things that we hope nobody ever has to see. She has been abused in many ways and completely neglected. I know her and her situation very well. She is passed back and forth to different caregivers. Best case scenario is that she believes her mom is very busy. A more likely scenario is that she knows that her mom does not care about her at all and does everything possible to have nothing to do with her. Adding to this situation is the fact that the other caregivers don’t care very much for her either. They feed her and put a roof over her head (most nights), but they too want very little to do with her. Her home existence is one of little contact with others, no love or support. The little contact she gets is negative reinforcement – which includes a great deal of yelling, frustration, and punishments. She struggles with academics. She struggles with behaviors. She is very hard to manage in a school. She is dying for even the smallest amount of attention, love and kindness. Somehow this student gets out of bed, takes an hour bus ride to school, and walks into a school every day! This student is one of the major reasons why our practice is so committed to helping children who have endured traumatic experiences. We train teachers, counselors, educators, and relatives. We also provide specific counseling and therapy sessions for children who have been traumatized. Please learn more about our practice and services at: www.STLmentalhealth.com.
St. Louis therapy practice launches new website. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates new website is designed to provide information and resources to individuals, couples, families and the St Louis community seeking more information about depression, anxiety, stress management, adhd, ocd, relationships, and other mental health related issues. The practice is located at 655 Craig Road, Suite 300 in Creve Coeur. The new site is: www.STLmentalhealth.com.
It was an honor to co-present to school counselors and administrators in St. Louis recently about trauma in children. The focus was helping school staff members to know what to do with children that have experienced abuse, loss or other stressors. Some of the strategies and suggestions that we recommended were: -Look for ways to provide accommodations -Team approach and outside resources –Routines are critical –Don’t paint children into a corner – provide choices –Provide an increased level of support and encouragement -Set clear, firm limits –Provide a safe place to go -Work to find replacement behaviors for undesired choices -Warn children in advance of any changes or other items that may cause them to be stressed We have been asked to present again on this topic at several other local schools. We are also looking forward to presenting on teacher stress, teen anxiety, working with challenging parents, and helping everyone to achieve to their highest potential. Our team is made up of five therapists (who handle the counseling and therapy angle) and an educator. — Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a mental health therapy practice in St. Louis, Missouri. We provide therapy and counseling services to individuals, couples and families. We specialize in depression, anxiety, stress management and relationships. More information is available at www.stlmentalhealth.com or 314-942-1147.
We will be a part of the Parkway School District “Risky Behaviors” conference tonight. This event is an educational opportunity for parents to learn about challenges and problems that teens encounter – drugs, self-harm and cyber-safety. The event is at Parkway Central Middle School in Chesterfield, MO tonight from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. More information is available at: http://www.parkwayschools.net/files/_NFL4I_/f076e553f30a6af23745a49013852ec4/Risky_Behaviors_Flyer.pdf If you have any questions either in advance of this advance or in general about teens, addiction, mental health service or other related issues, please contact us at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or visit our website at: www.stlmentalhealth.com.
