1、Empowered Healthcare:An Introduction to Mental Health SupportAly Becker,MA,tLMHC,NCCFinancial Disclosures No DisclosuresLearning Objectives1.Viewers will better understand the potential value of therapy and the therapeutic relationship with tips for accessing care.2.Participants will learn about com

2、mon themes addressed in therapy when working with chronic illness patients including personal identity,self-efficacy,grief,and body image.3.Participants will leave with a practical understanding of what therapy may look like in application through the discussion of specific interventions.Deliberate

3、decision to focus on application and real-life experienceI want viewers to leave with the ability to picture themselves engaged in therapyWhat exactly is therapy or counseling?Professional and collaborative relationship(Professional counselors,psychologists,marriage and family therapists,social work

4、ers)Talk or dialogue based,values education and learning Wellness based,biopsychosocial and spiritual emphasis Prioritizes reducing distress related to lived experiences,thoughts,emotions,and behaviors Proactive and preventative approach,for everyone!Intersection of chronic illness management and me

5、ntal health wellness:1.Personal Identity 2.Self-Efficacy 3.Grief4.Body ImageI will use my personal health journey and my professional identity as a therapist to demonstrate how these concerns may present in daily life with a chronic illness.I am only scratching the surface.My experience is just one

6、experience.Personal Identity-Who Am I?Personal IdentityPersonality TraitsInterests and DislikesSocial Identities(Race,Culture,Religion)AppearanceHobbies and ChoicesBeliefs and ValuesRelationshipsCareer,Profession,RolesPersonal Identity and Mental HealthHealthy sense of identity requires balance and

7、a consistent sense of self Your ideal identity matches your lived experienceAn integrated identity,stable self-concept,creates purpose and meaningAny disconnect between a persons desired sense of identity and their actual lived reality expressed in roles,actions,and values will create dissonance and

8、 impact mental health wellness.Personal Identity and Chronic IllnessIllness identity refers to the degree to which a chronic illness is integrated into a persons sense of identity.Limited integration of illness identity or a lack of balance between components of identity can cause distressTherapy ai

9、ms to assist individuals with finding balance in which an individuals illness is not removed from identity nor the dominating force in identity.Therapists recognize that personal identity is present in all themes.Therapy can help with identifying and developing strengths,interests,and values that ma

10、y not be fully utilized.Identity Integration-Personal to Professional Relevance School/Academic minded Take the lead Empathic Close support system Strong verbal and reading skillsInterests,Values,Personality Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis(EGPA)Mast Cell Activation(MCAS)Symptoms Interv

11、entions(TPN for 11 years)NOT just physicalPatient Identity Gaps in care experienced Rare-medical system not made for me Partnering with others affected and providers Speaking on patient experience Systems advocacy Patient Advocate Understanding professional identity Understanding skillset of counsel

12、ors Lived experience Meaning making Professional CounselorSelf-Efficacy and Disease Management Self-efficacy refers to an individuals belief in his or her ability to succeed in achieving a goal and reflects confidence in ones ability to exert control over ones own motivations,behavior,and environmen

13、t.Encompasses confidence and empowerment as well as the ability to acquire necessary skills,support,and tools to succeed.Often related to adherence to medical routines,participation in appointments,advocating for personal goals and priorities in relation to care,willingness to engage in skill traini

14、ng,and trust with helpers and providers.Self-Efficacy and the reality of chronic illness managementSelf-efficacy and Healthcare Decision-making*NOT patient-centered careTherapy promoted self-efficacy byhelping me break goals into manageable parts that felt possible.Therapy also helped promote self-e

15、fficacy bypromoting empowerment with role-playing and the use of helpful cognitive or mind mapping tips.GriefGrief is a natural response to loss and is a universal experience.Described as deep sorrow and as the emotional suffering experienced when something or someone you love is taken away.Grief ca

16、nnot be ignored.Grief can be sneaky,is a process,and has a time component.Many emotions exist beyond sorrow-reality of multiple emotions Grief can be experienced repeatedly-complex or compounded griefGrief looked like the loss of favorite activitiesGrief also looked likemissed milestonesbeing forced

17、 to WATCH peers graduate rather than walking WITH them.Grief included the loss of friends to the same illnesses I was fighting.Haley Royko,1992-2018Processing and coping with grief in therapy looked likeadvocating for making enjoyable activities possible and finding meaning in participating.Processi

18、ng and coping with grief in therapy looked like“When I walk around all the streetsWhere I grew up and found my feetThey cant look me in the eyeIts like theyre scared of me.I try to think of things to sayLike a joke or a memoryBut they dont recognize me now In the light of day”being supported in find

19、ing ways to make sense of and express my pain and loss.“I know Im not the only oneWho regrets the things theyve doneSometimes I just feel its only meWho never became who they thought theyd beI wish I could live a little moreLook up to the sky,not just the floorI feel like my life is flashing byAnd a

20、ll I can do is watch and cry”-Million Years Ago,AdeleProcessing and coping with grief in therapy also looked likefinding ways to honor Haley,her life,and the things she valued.Body ImageDescribed as how an individual sees their body and their feelings associated with this perception.Closely tied to

21、identity and social constructs/pressuresKnown connection to mood states and trauma experiencesWeight and scars are often part of body image strugglesBody image can be affected by a limitless list of factorsBody image struggles can also include“invisible illness”biasBody image struggles can greatly a

22、ffect self-esteem and a persons perception of their value or acceptanceMy struggles with body image included feeling insecure with the reflection in the mirror.Sometimes NOT looking sick made me struggle even more with body image.“Look at you!You are doing so well!”“Lets get you out of here.You look

23、 too nice to be here in the ER.”“How dare you use a handicap sticker!You should be ashamed of yourself!”Body image struggles can affect my view of myself as a professional.Time and energy placed into trying to mask my illness.My thoughts can run wild when I feel I may have shown evidence of my healt

24、h status in sessions.“Did my client see my dressingdo they know that I am sick?”My thoughts can then spiral into doubting my abilities as a therapist-imposter syndrome.I worry that I will be distracted and that I am not the best provider for my client.Therapy helped me cope with body image concerns

25、byTriggerAutomatic ThoughtNew ThoughtNoticing a change in eye contact/look“They definitely saw my dressing and now they are going to worry about me.A therapist doesnt cause worry.”“I dont know why they are looking away.Even if they see my dressing,they are not going to know my illness.Im not showing

26、 concern.”Feeling wetness on my stomach around my tube“They definitely can see my entire shirt is wet.They will think Im a slob and not professional.”“It feels bigger than it looks.I dont know if they have noticed.I didnt spill in front of them.Im professional.”helping me to identify and reframe unh

27、elpful and often distorted thoughts.What makes the therapeutic relationship special?How it differs from other support relationships Professional expertise with knowledge of normative psychosocial challenges Safe holding place for thoughts,emotions,and distress Welcomes support system participation N

28、OT advice giving Empowers self-answers are within Wealth of practical interventions Prepared for advocacy across systemsThe power of therapy resides in the unique relationship!Tips for Accessing Therapy Services:Speak with your current medical team,particularly social workers,palliative care teams,a

29、nd primary care providers Insurance often will cover sessions(typically requires referrals)Many therapy providers offer financial assistance with sliding pay scales Ask about pro bono options-those who reach out generally receive these spots Consider asking if there are any intern providers available Explore online options including telehealth and group options Explore directories-I recommend REMEMBER:One size doesnt fit all.If a provider doesnt feel like the right fit,that is okay!Alliance is the most important factor in predicting success.Try another provider.