Part 2: Exploring Distance Between Neurodivergent Community and Mental Health Practitioners
Bridging The Gap in Understanding
Article by Nicolas Meza, Edited by Carrie Cantrell
DISCLAIMER: The information provided within this article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. This article and connected broadcast is in no way an endorsement or recommendation of the services discussed herein. For professional advice accessible to PCC students and staff, please request counseling services and other resources from the PCC Counseling team. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor from the national organization Crisis Text Line. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Is therapy right for you?
Neurodivergence exists on a spectrum and spans many experiences. With this understanding, there are many ways that individuals can approach their healthcare needs. This can range from medication to support groups to psychiatry or counseling or much more. To help you find what kind of care would be right for you, we have put together a list of indicators and resources for our readers to learn how to approach the topic of mental health care in an empowered and positive way.
To figure out which therapy might help you best, ask yourself: what are you working with? Do you have depression? PTSD? Autism? ADHD? BPD? Dissociative Disorder? OCD? ED? These are a few of the many diagnoses out there. Keep in mind that you don’t even need an official diagnosis to seek support. General counseling is available for crisis support and overall stress management.
What type of therapy is right for you?
There is an idea that there is only one type of therapy. Often what comes to mind is the traditional sit down with someone and talk. But while perhaps effective, this is only one of many different therapeutic methods, each with its own approach and required qualifications. Below is a list of therapies that offer distinct experiences for the individual based on interests and needs. This list is by no means exhaustive or an endorsement of any kind. Seek advice from a licensed care team when deciding what type of therapy is right for you.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, better known as CBT, is usually practiced in a one-on-one session that tackles problems that can be found in the present moment and focuses on the client’s cognitive distortions. Clients will discuss life situations and difficult feelings to identify what struggles they have and learn to change and redirect their thought patterns and reactions to stress.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Known also as DBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy has a focus on what is called emotion regulation skills. This is the practice of learning to tolerate extreme distress, learning to regulate emotions, and working on communication to better help others understand one's struggles. DBT can be practiced in one-on-one or in group sessions.
- Art Therapy
Art Therapy is a way of expressing all of your emotions through artistic means. This can be drawing, painting, coloring, or collaging. Using these kinds of art helps you find old memories and find a new way to process the conditions one is having.
- Animal Assisted Therapy
Using any animals ranging from horses to dogs, to birds to rabbits, and more. Animal-assisted therapy can help combat loneliness and boost social support with both humans and animals alike. Bonding with an animal is said to boost self-worth and trust, help with emotional stabilization and improve self-regulation. One added bonus is that depending on the animal, Animal Assisted Therapy can also get people to be more physically active
- Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy is the practice of associating books and other literature into your therapy. Bibliotherapy is used as a means to help someone recognize that they are not the only person experiencing their struggles. On average there are four stages to bibliotherapy.
- Identification: You connect to a character in the book you are reading
- Catharsis: You experience and relate to the character's emotions in a safe and removed way
- Insight: You recognize the character's struggles to your own and use think of decisions and actions to help the character and you
- Universalization: You realize you are not alone, and you recognize others have struggled with you and you now have the means to improve yourself.
- Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy
ERP is a tricky therapy. It involves exposing oneself to stimuli that generally invoke fear or extreme anxiety in an effort to, in the end, learn therapeutic techniques and prevent harsh or violent responses.
- Music Therapy
Music Therapy, as its name suggests, utilizes music to help people manage physical pain, reduce stress, and even complement treatments for problems with cancer and dementia. This happens because music has the ability to raise someone's mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate depression.
This is just a short list of many different styles of therapy. We found our information on PsychologyToday.Com.
What does “Good Therapy” look like?
No matter the choice of therapy you choose, therapy will largely rely on the relationship between you and your therapist or practitioner. Elianna and Amanda offered these considerations.
Are your values shared with your therapist?
Consider what values you have. Do you come from a religious background? Are you liberal? Queer? More conservative? Elianna describes a negative experience from her past when her values and her counselors did not match up.
“I was also getting bullied because I wasn't a Christian and she wore a cross and she was the school counselor for my grade at this middle school, which had about a thousand children per grade.”
However today, as an adult, she is more aware of her choices.
“ ‘cause there's good doctors, there's bad doctors. And the whole thing with, you know, therapy is you need to find someone you gel with. So it's like you shop around.”
Do you each have the same priorities for your therapy sessions?
What are you hoping to get out of your therapy? A diagnosis? A prescription? Are you looking for a group or community? Amanda Antell describes her requirements for mental health professionals.
“Listen to what I'm saying and take what I'm saying seriously is all I kind of need from a therapist. Being willing to help actually improve my life through whatever therapeutic strategies we can come up with, you know? Like work with me as a team kind of thing, you know?”
Are your concerns being addressed?
Describe what your idea of a healthy relationship is. Is there a safe space for you to be? Is there a place for you to build trust, mutual respect, and kindness? Think about it as Elliana puts it,
“There's only so much that therapy can do for you if you're not in an environment that's conducive for peace and stability and getting the help that you need.”
In Summary
The lists provided hopefully will assist you in better understanding yourself and what type of therapy would best benefit you. Keep in mind the first step is to talk to a professional and your support network. For counseling resources at Portland Community College go to pcc.edu/counseling.