Psychological Therapy, or Psychotherapies, is forms of treatment which involve talking to a trained therapist to help you overcome your difficulties. Within all the different modalities of psychological therapy, it is agreed that it is the relationship between therapist and client which most influences the progress and outcome of treatment.
Some of the most common procedures are briefly described below:
Behavior Therapy
The way we feel influences the way we behave. If we can, therefore, learn to behave differently in a particular situation, this will help to reduce the complicated feelings. They are particularly useful for anxiety related problems.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Similar to Behavior Therapy, but in addition to looking at how our feelings affect our behavior, CBT looks at the links between our thoughts (cognitions), feelings and behavior. If we can change the way we think about something, this will help us change the way we feel, and the way we behave.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) are part of the new or “third wave” Cognitive & Behavioral Therapies.
Counseling
Involves the client talking about their difficulties with a counselor, who plays a listening and supportive role, and may sometimes provide practical advice on problem-solving. Person Centered Counselling or Psychotherapy is based upon the work of Carl Rogers, who advocated the establishment of a therapeutic relationship between client and therapist, which includes genuineness, unconditional positive regard (non-judgmental), empathic understanding and active listening. It is these attributes of a client-therapist relationship upon which all other modern psychotherapies are based.
Systemic Therapy (‘Family Therapy’)
This therapy focuses on how people get on as part of a group or system. This is often their immediate family but might also include their community or school/workplace. Systemic therapists often see problems as being in a group of people (or ‘system’) rather than in one person (the client). If you see a systemic therapist, you may, but not necessarily, see them with other members of your family or social group.
Thrive Video: the power of evidence-based psychological therapies
Speakers: Professor David M Clark, Professor Lord Layard, Andrew Marr
(Brief) Solution Focused Therapy (BSFT)
Solution-focused therapy is a talking therapy that is brief and efficient. It can be brief because it is future-focused and because it works with the strengths of those who come to making the best use of their resources, and it can bring about lasting change precisely because it aims to build solutions rather than solve problems. Rather than focusing on a person’s problems, the therapist, and client work together to identify the goal, what the client want to achieve, then use various techniques to reach this objective. Click for more about Solution Focused Therapy.
Group Therapy
Several people with similar problems meet. Group Therapy can vary, with the group facilitators or leaders using any of the therapies listed above. Most group therapies last 1 – 1.5 hours, for weekly sessions. Some groups are ‘closed’ – being attended only by those who are invited, and no new members can join. Closed groups run for a certain amount of time, typically several weeks. Open groups are those that are run at the same time each week, and are open to anyone to join at any time (although group members are expected not to be late for the start of a session, nor leave early).
Some group therapies can be ‘led’ by a group leader, perhaps in an educational-type method, or in Inter-Personal Group therapies (Yalom); the group itself is the therapist. The group member gains (Yalom’s Curative or Therapeutic Factors): support from other group members, the installation of hope, ability to identify with others and lessen feelings of being alone, exchange of information, help each other (each group member gains from giving as well as receiving), the group can resemble a family and the group members take on various roles which all can discuss and provide feedback on, improve social and interpersonal skills, trust and openness.
Group CBT is time-limited and usually psycho-educational. See here for more information about CBT open group therapy.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is simply a method of deep relaxation, which enables the therapist to use any of the psychotherapeutic approaches in a more efficient way. In a deeply relaxed state, our conscious mind – while still being aware of what is happening, being said, and being fully able to ‘wake up’ – is less likely to resist the therapy with negative thoughts. The subconscious mind is also more receptive to the therapeutic intervention, which it is considered makes treatment more effective.
Home Health Facilities – Providing Expert Health Services To Seniors
It is a given fact that we all will age.
Old age is the most difficult phase of our life, physically, mentally and emotionally.
As people get older, health care becomes the primary issue presenting unique challenges.
It is due to the fact that the immunity system becomes weak and the ability of fighting diseases decreases.
At this age, people are in need of more tentative health care and affection.
For some individuals, the decline in mobility and drastic change in the way they live may cause various self-esteem issues.
Some seniors may need to be treated just like a baby.
They often times become dissatisfied and get irritated rather quickly due to the mental stress they are suffering.
Some individuals may feel lonely and/or neglected.
Therefore they need to be handled just like a juvenile and shower them with as much care and affection as possible.
Due to the busy lifestyles we lead, family members may not be able to provide all that their loved one needs.
In situations such as this, the best option to adequately caring for your loved one is through a Home healthcare facility.
Hiring a professional service is the best way to provide care and protection for the elderly.
Healthcare is the prime concern.
Home care services are designed to provide utmost health care facilities to the older adults.
In contrast with hospital services, home health care services aim at providing all the amenities that they have at home so that seniors enjoy homely environment and will feel comfortable.
Administering and moving certain medical services at home will provide the added benefit that you will save time and money on frequent hospital visits.
Even of more importance, is that your loved one will be able to receive such services from the privacy and comfort of their home.
They will be happy to have the ability to receive treatment in the place where they have lived in for so many years.
There are a number of benefits that you can get from retaining such facilities.
Home care services are agencies that provide at home health care for seniors suffering of old age or chronic illnesses.
The agency will provide live-in caregivers for adults to assist them with different types of daily activities such as house chores.
These are personalized and customized living assistance services for seniors who live alone in their house and require additional supervision.
The motive is to keep them happy and healthy so that they may be able to maintain their normal quality of life.
Physical comfort is the most important aspect for them.
Live-in caregivers are trained to provide the senior with medical assistance to facilitate good health.
There are balance care and hourly care methods for seniors.
These are flexible services and provide seniors utmost care and protection.
Health care facilities for older adults include taking care of their nutrition so that they get a balanced diet.
Good nutrition is quintessential at older age since our bodies as it provides benefits such as increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better management of chronic health problems.
Caregivers also prepare meals for them and feed them at a set schedule.
Senior assisted living services aim at providing your loved with a better quality of life.
If they are under medication, caregivers will administer the medications as prescribed.
Caregivers also provide the individual with companionship.
By doing this, they are helping the senior relieve some stress and gives them peace of mind.
Old age is associated with chronic diseases, as we age, the chances of developing a chronic illness increases.
Care givers are trained to provide specialized services which include heart attack care and Alzheimer care as cardiovascular diseases and dementia are very common diseases in old age.
Caregivers have knowledge about specific nutrition present in specific foods.
Therefore they try to include healthy food in their diet and encourage healthy eating.
Eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced
First consider the actual care needs and write out a list of items that need to be provided.
Be able to give an example of a typical day for the care recipient, from the moment they wake up until they go to bed and include a timeline of when they prefer meals, naps and other activities.
Hands-on
How much hands-on care is needed vs. companion care?
If more companion care is needed, make a list of possible activities.
Transportation
Do you need a Caregiver who can escort the client to doctor’s appointments and social activities?
If so, what mode of transportation will they use?
Will the Caregiver drive the client in the client’s car?
Keep in mind that you may need to research your car insurance coverage if this is the case.
Will the Caregiver drive the client in the Caregiver’s car?
If so, be
aware that it will be difficult to be 100% sure that the Caregiver’s insurance policy is up-to-date even if you verify this in the beginning.
If they have a late or missed payment the policy could be cancelled without your knowledge.
Will they take public transportation (bus or taxi cab)?
This is probably the safest method of transportation to prevent the risks of insurance issues.
(Some cities provide special transportation privileges for seniors and you may want to contact your local Department on Aging for information).
Memory Loss
Is there memory loss?
If so, have you had the type of Memory Loss diagnosed (Alzheimer’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Pick’s Disease, Frontal Lobe Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Disease, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease)?
Blood clots and brain tumors may also cause dementia.
A diagnosis of dementia type will help the agency to better understand the care needs and assign a Caregiver with the right type of training and qualifications.
Language
Do you need a Caregiver who speaks a certain language?
Hours
How many hours of care per day will you require?
Review the list of services you will need performed during the care visit and decide on the minimum number of hours per day which would work as a starting point.
The agency will need to know the hours of service to assign a Caregiver and will allow you to adjust the hours after the first week to accurately meet the care needs.
Dietary
Are there any special cooking requirements?
Communicate any food allergies or specific cooking requests and consider how groceries will be purchased or delivered if the care recipient is unable to shop for groceries on their own.
Additional Skills
Are there any “skilled” care requirements, such as taking blood pressure, blood sugar testing, wound care or a feeding tube?
Communicate if these specialized services will need to be performed or monitored.
Medication Management
What is the care recipients method for managing medications?
Do you know for sure if the medications are currently being taken correctly?
Be able to provide a list of medications and the method of monitoring so the Agency will be aware of possible side effects and other requirements such as taking pills with or without food, etc.
Care Management
Will Care Management be required?
As Caregivers are responsible for providing the “hands-on” care, they do not have time to manage the overall care issues.
A trained Care Manager can supervise all of the care needs, from organizing medications in a pillbox and obtaining refills (due to insurance purposes, this service usually must be provided by a Supervisor or R.N. depending on the state laws), to arranging doctor’s appointments and other necessary services.
A Geriatric Care Manager will work with family members and take on responsibilities which they are unable to perform and provide professional expertise in guiding the long-term care decisions.
