Child mental health counselor during counseling session.

Finding the Right Therapist: How to Choose a Child Mental Health Counselor

There are lots of reasons that children can benefit from talking to a counselor. Whether to treat a mental illness or to simply build up self-esteem, talking with a mental health professional is a simple step that can make a big difference. However, it’s also important to know how to choose a child mental health counselor, because not every professional is a good fit!

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Label for prescription Suboxone.

What Is Suboxone? Options to Treat Opioid Use Disorder

What is Suboxone? It’s the brand name for a prescription medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone, and it is used to treat addiction to opioid drugs or narcotic painkillers. It’s important to note that Suboxone isn’t meant for treating pain unrelated to an opioid addiction problem. Subutex, by comparison, is a similar branded product (but without naloxone in it); it’s just buprenorphine with none of the other ingredients found in Suboxone. Read more

Patient receiving a physical exam.

What Happens During a Physical Exam?

An annual physical exam is the best way for both you and your primary care provider (PCP) to stay informed and up-to-date about your overall wellness. During this checkup, your PCP is able to review your health status, updates in personal and family history since your last checkup, performs a general medical exam, which usually includes different tests depending on your age (along with other risk factors, like family history of health issues).

Here’s what to expect when you go to the doctor’s office for your physical exam.

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Mental health provider sitting with client.

Who Can Benefit From Mental Health Services?

People often make assumptions when it comes to mental health needs. But, the truth is that anyone can experience a form of depression or anxiety at some point in their lives — even when they look like they have it all together.

So, who benefits from mental health services most? Why do some people need more support than others? Learn more about the risk factors for mental health problems and how talking with a mental health professional can positively impact a variety of concerns.

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Mental health professionals.

What Is Mental Health and Why Is It Important?

Mental health is a term we hear a lot. But what is mental health, and why is it important to our overall wellness

Mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness; it’s your emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Like physical health, mental health can change over time and should be maintained throughout your life. People with good mental health can cope with daily stressors in a healthy way, work productively and contribute to their communities. 

Mental illness, on the other hand, is a diagnosable illness that significantly impacts daily life. This can include changes in mood, personality, personal habits, or social withdrawal. 

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Parent practicing skills for how to nurture a child's mental health.

How to Nurture Your Child’s Mental Health for a Happier, Healthier Life

If you’re a parent or guardian, chances are that you have worried about your child’s mental health at one point or another. Whether you’ve had concerns about anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, eating disorders, or other problems, in the end you just want to rest assured that you can positively impact your child’s ability to grow and thrive.

The good news is that many adolescent mental health conditions can be successfully treated, especially when identified early on. The sooner you seek help for your child, the better chance they have to overcome their challenges and avoid more serious issues in the future. Read on to learn more about how to nurture your child’s mental health.

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Patient receiving treatment from his primary care physician.

How to Choose a Primary Care Physician

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the foundation of the U.S. healthcare system, serving as the entry point to all other health care services, including specialists and hospitals. (Over 200 million visits to PCPs occur in the United States every year!)

In most cases, people visit their PCPs more than any other medical professional, which makes it important to choose a doctor you feel comfortable with. Why? Because research shows that patients who have strong relationships with their PCPs (aka patient-centered care) have better outcomes!

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Child at a counseling session.

Signs That Can Mean Your Child Needs Counseling Support

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between normal growing pains and a serious emotional struggle. Children who are depressed, anxious, or dealing with other mental health concerns often know that something feels wrong, but find it difficult to get the help they need.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 children (aged 2-8 years) have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.  Sadly, pediatricians and parents often mistake the early symptoms of childhood depression for normal moodiness or other behavioral problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). So, the importance of early detection and treatment for children with mental health issues cannot be stressed enough.

If you think your child is struggling but you’re not sure if he or she needs professional help, you may want to take a closer look at their day-to-day behavior. Below are some of the most common warning signs that your child needs therapy support.

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Patient talking with a counselor as part of their addiction treatment.

What Are the Most Common Addictions & Abused Substances?

Addiction is a chronic mental illness that about 23 million American adults struggle with, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It’s a disease that ultimately affects every aspect of a person’s life, from their relationships and families to work and hobbies.

Addiction is not just a craving; it’s an inherent need to partake in that action or substance, despite any negative consequences. People can form addictions to illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine, social media, and gambling, among many others. Learn more about the most common addictions and abused substances.

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Therapy session for mental health concern.

Symptoms of Depression: How to Spot the Signs and Get Help

Depression isn’t about simply having a “bad day.” It’s not a failure of character. It’s not because you’re lazy or tired. Depression is an illness, and there’s treatment out there! That’s why it’s so important to recognize the symptoms of depression as soon as possible.

Nobody wants to talk about it, but a shockingly high number of Americans suffer from depression every year. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It’s a real medical condition that affects many people. So, what is depression, and how can you spot it in yourself or a loved one?

This blog will take you through a basic understanding of depression and common characteristics of the disorder. If you recognize these symptoms of depression, do not self-diagnose and seek help from a professional. *If this is an emergency, please call 911 or reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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