About Therapy by Dr. Beverly Pedroche

Overcoming The Mental Illness Stigma 5 Ways You Can Help One in five Americans, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), experiences a mental illness in their lifetime and one in twenty-five experiences a a serious mental illness that interferes with or limits one or more life functions. Despite these numbers, according to www.mentalhealth.gov, only 44% of adults with a diagnosable mental illness and less than 20% of children and adolescents receive treatment. While there are many reasons for this gap in care, one of the most commonly reported reasons for not receiving treatment is the stigma.  What Is Mental Illness Stigma? Mental illness stigma occurs when someone views a person in a negative way because they have a mental health disorder. It is a mark of disgrace that differentiates one from others, a negative belief system and negative behaviors that creates a prejudice which leads to damaging actions and discrimination. Stigma has been described ...

Reasons NOT to Use Your Insurance for Psychotherapy So, you're interested in getting some therapy and you have insurance. Perhaps you've even selected a therapist. What else is there to think about other than scheduling, right? Well, keep reading... A Psychologists' Perspective I believe that they duration of treatment (number of sessions), what is addressed in treatment, and the type of treatment provided should not be dictated by your insurance company (people who have never met you and may not even be medical professionals). These decisions should be made jointly by you and your therapist. Unfortunately, insurance can become a hindrance to obtaining effective, specialized mental health treatment. A Clients' Perspective As the recipient of therapy, here are just some of the reasons to consider not using your insurance for therapy: Control of Treatment You may choose the professional who you believe is the most competent to treat you. If you use your ...

Yet Another Blog Post about Gratitude (Read this One) It’s that time of year where every other blog post is about gratitude.  ‘Tis the season, right?  According to David Steindl-Rast, a Catholic Benedictine monk, scholar, and author, who has inspired generations with his inspirational messages about finding gratitude in every moment of life, "The root of joy is gratefulness."  Well, who doesn't want joy?  But how does one do about becoming more grateful? The Stack of Blank Gratitude Journals Most people have heard of a gratitude journal.  Oprah kept one daily for a decade and recommended that we all follow suit.  But if you can barely remember or find time to brush your teeth before bedtime, you may find it hard to consistently keep a gratitude journal.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great idea with many benefits. I have a collection of lovely journals including several attractive ones with motivational quotes on the cover that I just had to h...

What is Psychotherapy? Good news!  You don’t have to lie on a couch and blame your mother for all life’s problems. Psychotherapy is the process of meeting with a therapist, if it’s with me – a psychologist, to resolve problematic issues through talk-therapy. Through therapy, you will gain improved understanding of your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors, learn skills to cope with your difficulties, and obtain guidance.  It’s different from just talking to a friend because therapists are trained to utilize scientifically validated techniques to help you live a healthier and more content life.  It’s an interactive process and depending on the therapists’ orientation (a fancy term for the way the therapist understands and treats your problems), both you and the therapist will be talking to some extent.  For many people, just having a place to share their feelings openly, without fear of judgment, is helpful.  What To Expect in a Psychotherapy Sess...