September 2007

In this newsletter:
1) Fast Help: Career Satisfaction
2) Therapist Q&A: Male or Female?
3) Clinic Announcements

1) Fast Help: Career Satisfaction
How satisfied are you in your current career? To some workers, their profession is an important part of who they are and are satisfied with what they do for a living. Others may look at what they do for a living as only a job, and it provides a paycheck to pay the bills. The professions we choose are an integral part of our lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 67% of American workers want to change careers.

Job and career satisfaction is important due to the fact that we spend a large portion of our lives at work. Being unhappy in your job can have a negative impact on the other areas of your life, such as families and interpersonal relationships, including your social life, and can also impact your mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Many people considering a career change only fantasize about such a change, as they believe the risks are too overwhelming and outweigh the benefits of making such a change. However, changing careers might not always require a major overhaul such as having to sell your home to afford to go back to school. The process may not be this scary, but may merely involve transferring the skills you may already possess to fit those required of a new career opportunity.

Take an online survey that matches how well your work matches your personal values.

If you feel you are at a career crossroads, our office offers a variety of career and personality assessments, which, combined with a thorough clinical assessment, can provide you with detailed feedback as to which careers might suit your personality, interests and abilities. Career uncertainty can be difficult, but can also be an exciting time as you learn more about yourself, your interests, and your needs. Call on one of our experienced staff today to initiate a consultation that can be part of a process that may just change your life.

2) Therapist Q&A
Is a male or female psychotherapist right for me?

This is a very important question and one that we are asked often. There is no hard and fast rule on this and depends largely on the individual seeking therapy as well as the reason he or she is seeking therapy.

First and foremost, a therapist (whether it be male or female) should be someone you can feel comfortable with and can open up to. If you feel you cannot open up to a female at all, it may be best to select a male therapist. At times, however, it is important to move out of one’s comfort zone. If a male is having difficulty relating to females in his life, it can be very therapeutic for him to address these issues with a female therapist who can provide feedback from a female perspective. For very complicated issues, such as abuse, it is very important that the correct therapist be selected, so that a strong, trusting therapeutic bond is created as early as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that it usually takes a handful of sessions for a therapeutic relationship to build and to feel you can trust the therapist. If you feel that you are not getting the kind of results you hoped for, it is important to discuss this with the therapist so that you will be on the same page and treatment goals can be discussed. If it not a good match, the therapist can refer you to someone who can better meet your needs. Don’t be afraid that you will offend the therapist.

If you are looking to initiate therapy and don’t know who might be best for you, a phone call or an email to a professional to inquire who might be best can be an appropriate first step. Most professionals would be happy to assist you in selecting the appropriate therapist, even if you don’t elect to see that particular therapist. At our office, we pride ourselves on client satisfaction and would be happy to guide you in making the best decision when it comes to your mental health care.


3) Clinic News
We are accepting new clients at this time. If you know of anyone who you think would benefit from counseling or a consultation with us, please have him or her give us a call. We thank you in advance for any referrals you provide.