People who are experiencing personal difficulties are sometimes referred to psychiatrists. This may be worthwhile and extremely helpful for those who are suffering more serious forms of mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Anyone who has been to see a psychiatrist knows that commonly, after undergoing an assessment, the “patient” is diagnosed with some type of “disorder” and given a prescription for medication. In the right cases, medication can relieve distress and improve functioning.
In other cases, a different approach is called for. At Park Bench, our focus is on the person, not the “disorder.” This approach is sometimes referred to as “Person-Centered Therapy.”
It’s actually very simple. When people come to Park Bench seeking help with problems of everyday life… whether they are worried, sad, ashamed, angry, or frustrated… we take these issues very seriously. We don’t really believe there is “a pill for every problem.” We don’t believe in “the quick fix” for problems of everyday life.
Instead, at Park Bench we spend time listening. In some cases, lots and lots of time. We listen to the people we care for very carefully because we believe that in order to help them properly, it is critical to understand the person themselves and really comprehend, in detail, the challenges they are facing in life.
Some of the key questions at the outset are:
- What exactly is going on?
- When did this problem first begin?
- What are the underlying roots of this problem?
- What factors may be contributing to making this person feel upset or unhappy?
- What has this person tried to do to help themselves? How is that working?
- What are this individuals’ strengths? What resources can they call upon for support?
- How bad is the situation? How discouraged are they?
- How can we help this person to feel better and gain more confidence and self-esteem?