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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2000)
26 Ju s t a u t * decomber 1. 2000 Help is out there: A guide to choosing a therapist by H eron oes your heart sink every time you even think about the holidays? Do you dread facing homophobic Uncle Henry? Does your holiday menu include lots of unresolved issues? Do you really need to suffer through it alone? No. Many services are available to help you make it through hard times or maybe even improve your whole outlook on life. And because Portland has such a huge gay and les bian population, many of those services are designed especially for us. Many people turn some shade of blue dur ing the holidays, while others wade through Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately known as SAD. If you suspect your depression is triggered by gray winter weather and decreas ing daylight, check out the special clinic at Oregon Health Sciences University, where much pioneering research has been done on the subject. Or are you seriously depressed? Depression is so common in our society, it’s called the common cold of mental illness. But depression can be life threatening— if your thoughts are turning toward suicide, get help immediately. Any area emergency room can provide immediate assessment and get you set up with services. Fortunately, depression is treatable. A psy chiatrist or a specially prepared nurse practi tioner can prescribe antidepressants that can improve your mood by altering your brain chemistry. So, before you throw yourself off a bridge, get help. However, rarely will a psychiatrist have time to explore your issues, such as how to cope with your brother George’s habit of trying to save your soul over Thanksgiving dinner. Most so-called talk therapy is done by counselors. What can you expect from a counselor? Counselors can help you understand yourself and others. They can help you gain insight, recognize repeated patterns in your life, develop coping mechanisms and become a happier person. with talking candidly to a stranger. If you decide against a particular therapist, do tell them why and ask for their referrals. They want a good match as much as you do, and they often can suggest a colleague better suited to your issues. Ask yourself what kind of feedback you want: someone who talks a lot and gives plenty of suggestions and/or advice; or perhaps you really just want someone to listen while you around you have been through similar times. vent; or is it sympathy you really seek? If so, “Holidays are the hardest times for all of you might be better off crying on a friend’s us," Haines says. “Holidays often bring us in shoulder, as counselors are by their nature contact with families and religious institu trained to help you “fix” your problem. tions that may not be supportive of our At your first meeting, be prepared to ask a queer lives.” lot of questions. Therapists use stun- Women’s Therapy Northwest, locat ed in Portland, has prepared a It IC C tn rtlin n ningly diverse methods to counsel. II lb blUl I liny Go to that first meeting ready membership directory, A Guide for Women and Men Seeking and important to note with a list of your concerns. Therapy. This free book lists •L a n I J ± How does the therapist that Oregon law does not propose to help you? How 109 local counselors as well long should you expect to as their qualifications, areas require licensing for people wait to see results? Will of interest, theoretical ori entation and prices. offering counseling services, you do all or most of the talking? The directory is avail although many colleges One therapist I explored able at area stores and restaurants. To find one near statewide offer degrees for this article includes Gestalt, hypnotherapy, mindful you, call 503-756-3248. . ». - Many periodicals, including Just Ifl COUflSBIUlCJ. ness, Jin Shin Jyutsu and artwork ortland counselor Mary Beth Haines, as her theoretical orientation. Anoth Ph.D., M.A., offers some advice on Out, contain large sections of ads from er lists contemporary rational psychoanalytic finding a therapist. She works with the therapists, which can be a good starting place. Gay Mens Counseling Service. psychotherapy, movement desensitization and For such an important decision, consider Haines suggests asking a trusted friend or co reprocessing. Whew! Before agreeing to open auditioning counselors. Many therapists offer a worker to recommend someone. She points out free first consultation and often mention that your wallet and your wounded heart to anyone, that whatever your problem, you are probably not in their ads. you owe it to yourself to know what to expect. alone, and you might be surprised to find others It’s a great way to evaluate your comfort level A big problem in psychotherapy are clients who fail to advocate for themselves. Ethical counselors agree you should be in T h e follow ing is a list o f degrees and credentials included in A Q uide for Women and M en Seeking T herapy : control of your own therapy. Haines suggests two to four meetings before you decide to A.C.S. Approved Clinical Supervisor M.F.C.C. Marriage, Family, Child Counselor - California change therapists unless, of course, you hate A.C.S.W. Academy of Clinical Social Workers M.F.T. Marriage, Family Therapist - California them immediately. A.D.T.R. Academy of Dance Therapists, Registered M.P.S. Master of Personal Studies Degree “It’s important to find a good fit,” she A.T.R. Registered Art Therapist M.P.W. Master of Process Work explains. If you are not satisfied, say so. “Stand B.C.D. Board Certified Diplomate (Social Work) M.R.E.T. Master Rapid Eye Technician up for yourself if it’s not working, but call and C.A.D.C. Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselor M.S. Master of Science Degree let them know if you are not coming back, out C.C.M.H.C. Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor M.S.W. Master of Social Work Degree of courtesy,” she recommends. C.G.P. Certified Group Psychotherapist M.S.W.A.C. Master of Social Work, Addictions Counseling Keep in mind, though, you will be starting C.H.T. Certified Hakomi Therapy N.A.C.C.M.H.C. National Association of Certified over from scratch with someone new. C.M.H.C. Certified Mental Health Counselor - Washington Clinical Mental Health Counselors Should you seek out a gay or lesbian thera C.S.W. Certified Social Worker - Washington N.A.CF.T. National Academy of Certified Family Therapists pist? If the therapist’s gender or orientation is C.S.W.A. Clinical Social Work Associate N.C.C. National Certified Counselor important to you, you might be on your own in L.C.S.W. Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Oregon N.D. Naturopathic Doctor paying the bill. LM.F.T. Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist - Oregon P.A.C. Certified Physician's Assistant Your insurance might limit who you can L.M.T. Licensed Massage Therapist - Oregon Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist - Oregon, Washington, California see and might not have a gay or lesbian L.P.A. Licensed Psychology Associate P.M.H.N.P. Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner - Oregon counselor available or might be unwilling to Licensed Professional Counselor - Oregon L.P.C. Psy.D. Licensed Doctorate of Psychology offer that information. Kaiser Permanente, Master of Arts Degree M.A. R.N. Registered Nurse - Oregon for example, will allow you to seek a thera Master Addictions Counselor M.A.C. R.N.C.S. Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist pist by gender but declines to divulge a ther M.Div. Master of Divinity Degree R.P.T.-S. Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor apist’s orientation. However, Kaiser does M.Ed. Master of Education Degree R.S.W. Registered Social Worker - Washington offer some specifically queer group therapy. And, yes, in this computer age, you even m Columbia County’s Premier Real Estate Resource. Country living only 20 minutes from downtown Portland. 3ohn C. Scott R FA t FSTATF □ <=> M iW No problem. PIP can handle it. Need a quick run of a color brochure? Or mass quantities of manuals and sales materials? Call us. We can take the heat. www.columbiacountyhome.com jenniferpugsiey# johnlscott.com 503-543-3751 (o ) 503-313-8130 (c) The Right Printer. 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