Hello and welcome to FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy’s Monthly Newsletter!
In each issue we will address a different topic surrounding mental health, highlight a treatment perspective from the field, as well as showcase a few of our own clinicians. Our hope is that this newsletter helps to raise awareness, begins conversations around tough topics, and instills hope.
Mental Health Support for the LGBTQIA+ Community
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. A month to celebrate people’s sexual diversity while promoting their equal rights, dignity, and increasing awareness of the challenges they may face. To this day, discrimination, prejudice, harassment, and family rejection are unfortunately still common within the LGBTQIA+ community. These individuals remain marginalized because of how they identify. If they also have any mental health conditions they find themselves even more on the margins. Seeking early intervention, ongoing therapy, and possibly family therapy can all be key to helping individuals within this population live more mentally healthy lives.
Statistics show:
- LGBTQIA+ adults are more than twice as likely to experience a mental health condition as heterosexual adults.
- LGBTQIA+ people are at higher risk than the general population for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.
- LGBTQIA+ teens are almost five times more likely than heterosexual teens to attempt suicide.
See more statistics/information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) here.
These are staggering numbers and there is much pain associated with them. As an LGBTQIA+ ally, FamilyMeans is here to assist individuals work through any type of past hurt, trauma, stigmatization, or family conflict they have endured, and help clients to see a better and brighter tomorrow. During this Pride Month, if you or a loved one, want to work through any past hurts or mental health symptoms give us a call, 651-439-4840 or visit us at FamilyMeans.org.
Treatment Perspective: Family Therapy
Family Therapy is where any combination of family members may come together in session to discuss concerns and find resolutions. Clinicians who are trained in family therapy think systemically by looking at the whole family unit rather than just an individual. Throughout family therapy clinicians identify patterns of interaction between family members and suggest making improvements.
Frequently, families come in to work on their communication skills. When working with a family on communication we often refer to the metaphor of dancing. In dancing there is a song and steps. The song is the topic of conversation, whereas the steps are the different things each person does within the discussion. Regardless of what the discussion/argument is about, most people instinctively follow the same pattern each time they talk with the same person. The pattern of interaction, or the dance, is what needs to change, not that they disagree/argue. You are human. Arguments will happen. But, how do you argue well? Clinicians help families develop new steps in their dance, and they practice these new steps until it feels natural. Once the new steps are in place the family members are able to engage in a different way that is more productive, or helpful, to the discussion so it moves the conversation forward.
Family therapy can be utilized for many different reasons. Surprisingly, we often recommend family therapy when a child or teen is coming in to work on their own issues. We may do this so the child or teen can work with their family to build better communication between them or increase support and understanding around a topic. We have many talented clinicians on staff who provide family therapy and can help your family improve as well!
Clinician Spotlight!
.jpg)
Meagan Betts, MA
Meagan has her master’s degree in Adlerian Counseling with an emphasis in Art Therapy. She believes that therapy is a collaborative process and guides clients to increase self-awareness, gain new perspectives, decrease symptoms, and increase personal strengths to have a more meaningful life experience. She has specialized training in using the creative process to explore the conscious and unconscious, discovering feelings and experiences where there are no words. With the focus being on the process and materials, art therapy does not require art skill or experience. She creates the space to safely process, without judgement, and nurtures the courage to be imperfect. Meagan enjoys working with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and is LGBTQIA+ friendly.
Meagan typically meets with clients in our Stillwater clinic. Although at this time is meeting clients using tele-health technology.
.jpg)
Toni Price, MA
Toni holds a Master’s degree from Adler Graduate School, and is working toward her Marriage and Family Therapist licensure in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has experience in the areas of anxiety, depression, self-esteem, PTSD, dissociative disorders, trauma, spirituality, life transitions, and relational problems. She is passionate about helping individuals, families, and relationships of any kind to help people more wholly connect with themselves and others.
Toni works from a systemic, collaborative, strengths-based therapeutic approach to help clients acknowledge the various unique contexts which impact their lives, connect with their strengths, and learn new ways to live in wholeness. Her empathy and warmth help to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can process and heal. She utilizes various therapeutic approaches including family systems, attachment-based, and Adlerian theories.
Toni typically meets with clients in our clinic locations, as well as in the Prescott High School and Middle School. At this time, like all FamilyMeans Clinicians, Toni is using tele-health technology to provide support.