The topic of diagnosing comes up frequently. In fact, I recently helped contribute to an article about diagnosis and how difficult it can be at times. I am big on the idea that I don’t treat the diagnosis, I treat the symptoms. Two people can come to me for treatment and I can provide the same diagnosis, but their symptoms are very different. That’s because the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is in its 5th edition (DSM-5) has a list of several criteria for various disorders, and depending on the disorder, not all criteria need to be met.
Let’s face it, therapy can be scary. Before you even set foot in the room, you have to make that call. Actually, even before making that call, you need to find someone you think might be a good fit. Unlike other providers for services, therapy is a little more intimate. The relationship between therapist and patient is a unique one, unlike any other relationship you may ever have. You want to make sure that the person you are sitting across from each week is someone you fit with.
I really had to think about some of my favorite things I use in sessions. There tend to be a lot of different items I use, and sometimes I use the same item for different things. However, I pulled out my phone and walked around my office to figure out what really are my go-to items. These items are in no particular order and if you decide to try some of them out, they are not to substitute or be a continuation of therapy services.
When people think of fireworks, they might remember an event they went to for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or really any summer event. Some might think of beautiful, bright colors popping up in the sky. For others, especially individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism-Spectrum Disorder, other medical and mental health disorders, or veterans, fireworks might not be associated with positive memories or feelings.
