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CAMPS: 5 Things to Consider When Seeking Professional Help

Imagine hiking a mountain called Life. You pack your essentials, food, and water. During the hike, you encounter unplanned challenges such as extreme weather and slippery slopes. You also experience intense hunger, emotional outbursts, and exhaustion. At some point, you no longer know why you started the journey or what you want to see at the summit. Nothing makes sense, and ending the suffering feels like the best solution. Still, you choose to walk for a few more steps until you reach an unfamiliar area. You see other people, interacting and sharing their stories. Afraid, but curious, you decide to join them. You discover that you share similarities with these people. They started their journey on a different date, with different conditions, but they experienced comparable hardships with you.

Hence, I share with you, CAMPS:

  • Cost and budget

As much as mental health services are relatively expensive, there are organizations, groups, and professionals who offer discounted rates and sometimes free sessions.

For students, you may check if your school has a guidance office or wellness center. The guidance office or wellness center aims to assist students and is NOT responsible for giving sanctions or disciplinary actions to students.

For employees, you may inquire with your HR Office about mental health services, based on the Mental Health Law. If you have a health card, inquire about the covered services as some providers include consultations with mental health professionals and/or coaches.

  • Accessibility and Convenience

Do check the hospital that is nearest to you if they have a psychology or psychiatry department. Public hospitals that have a psychology or psychiatry department may offer free or subsidized sessions, but the waiting time to book a session may be significantly longer than clinics and/or private hospitals.

Mental health providers may offer face-to-face sessions, online sessions, or both. Some providers do not have a preference and mainly consider the client’s preference.

  • Mental Health Professional

Here are some mental health professionals in the Philippines:

  1. Psychiatrist (MD) – They are licensed medical doctors. They may give a diagnosis, and they are the only ones who can prescribe medication.
  2. Psychologist (RPsy) – They are licensed professionals who craft and implement clinical interventions that mostly include talk therapy using varied techniques and psychological tests. They may give a diagnosis, but they DO NOT prescribe medication.
  3. Guidance counselors (RGC) – They are licensed professionals who are usually employed in schools. Although they are usually employed, some counselors practice outside school. They DO NOT diagnose. They usually refer students or clients who need a diagnosis and clinical intervention to psychologists and/or psychiatrists.
  4. Psychometrician (RPM) – They are licensed professionals who create, facilitate, and interpret psychological tests (except those that require the supervision of a psychologist). Their role is crucial in educational, industrial, and clinical settings, and should be considered as important members of the field.
  • Preparedness

In my practice, I have encountered clients who booked a session but did not attend. Some clients who attend the consultation do not attend the follow-up sessions. In both scenarios, the client may have particular reasons as to why they were not able to attend, but several clients who return to therapy sessions tell me that they were not ‘prepared’ when we first talked. As such, it is important to reflect on your level of openness and readiness before booking a consultation. I’m not saying you have to be 100% ready, but you have to be ready enough to listen and not just hear, to discuss and not just talk, and to introspect and possibly change and not just rant or vent.

  • Support System

One of the pillars of intervention includes adding and/or maintaining healthy relationships with people whom we trust and who are supportive of the progress we want to make. In booking a consultation with a mental health professional, especially if it’s your first time, I encourage you to inform a loved one to help you in the process.

With these things, I hope you feel less afraid in considering the CAMP(S) a bit. You are allowed to rest before returning to your hike of Life.

Do you have a question about mental health or psychology? Send an email to northluzonmonitor@gmail.com and your question might be discussed in the next article.

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