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Happy
effort to determine a need for medication, in some
cases, I recommend a psychiatric evaluation and this
is often done when the moods identified above are
reported to be intense and disruptive in the person’s
daily functioning. Finally, if the symptoms reported
interfere with the person’s ability to effectively carry
out the requirements of their job, I will place them on
a leave from work, for a period of, one to two weeks. and security during future sessions.
How Do I Get in Touch with You After Business Hours
or In Case of An Emergency?
This is an important question because, after opening
up and sharing their innermost thoughts, feelings
and concerns, it has been my experience that many
patients want to maintain a sense of connection and
security. Therefore, it is not unusual for them to ask
for an after-hours or emergency contact number. As
a result, most therapists will advise them to call 911
in the case of an emergency or to go to the nearest
emergency room/hospital. They are also encouraged
to call the clinic and leave a message.
10 | HELPFUL LIVING MAGAZINE
In closing, as I stated above, there are other ques-
tions that are asked by patients, and the questions
that I provided above are, the ones most often asked
of me by patients. Furthermore, by candidly answer-
ing their questions, in a way that’s most understand-
able to the patient, often leaves them feeling safe
and comfortable and encourages more transparency
Dr. Tanya Martin,
Clinical Psychologist
Summary:
Dr. Tanya Martin is a Clinical Psychologist,
Author and Certified Imago Relationship
Therapist. She also works as a Psychologist
at Apex Behavioral Health in Dearborn, Mich-
igan where she provides therapy, along with,
a myriad of mental health services to adults.
She also serves as the Chair, on the Board of
Trustees, at the Michigan School of Psychol-
ogy (her alma mater).
Living
DANIELLE TAYLOR
I
cannot remember a lot about my childhood
but I know my life began in difficult circum-
stances. Flash backs, physical sensations,
memories and feelings come back to me
randomly. I grew up in an abusive household,
my dad left before I was two and I had various
step-dads that were violent and psychologically
abusive towards my mum and I. Memories of
seeing my mum strangled and beaten with an
adult training shoe, while literally being thrown
into a room as a toddler are some of the memo- Memories of seeing my mum
ries I carry from my past. But as my mum suf- strangled and beaten with
fered abuse, she began to take her stress out an adult training shoe, while
on me. I remember when she chased me into literally being thrown into a
the room as she screamed and shouted while
I escaped to my top bunk bed and cowered in room as a toddler are some of
fear in the corner. She grabbed me by my hair, the memories I carry from my
dragging me off the top bed, sadly the mem- past.
ory of her beating me consistently ad I cried
and scream still bothers me. No eight-year-old
child should experience that kind of treatment.
At eleven I had ‘suicide attempts’, holding my adults as a child and survived, it made me fear-
breath until I passed out, when that didn’t work less. But as they punched and kicked me I felt
I started to slice my wrists during my early teen a deep rage rising inside me, I released it and
years. fought back and that’s when things changed.
I was tired of being a victim, so I attacked life
Teen rebellion had taken a hold of me and I in full force and won. The more I fought back,
shoplifted to gain popularity. I also became I was warned not to get ‘cocky’ or ‘think I was
familiar with alcohol, smoked weed and lied to anything’ and the more they fought back at
my mum about where I was going. I wanted to me, their numbers grew. I skipped school and
escape, perhaps destroy my worthless self. I left without any qualifications, despite being
stood up for people who couldn’t stand up for ahead in all of my classes.
themselves at school. This got the attention of Later in life the inevitable happened, I lost my
the local ‘hardcase’ girl gang, who made it their step-grandad to cancer. However, I still had my
nanna around. She was a beautiful, loving, nur-
mission to destroy me arranging fights and turing and supportive force in my life. My part-
luring me into places alone to gang up on me. I
got into a log of physical fights but I didn’t care, ner and I married and my nanna was beside
I was unafraid. Once you have been beaten by me at the top table, my parents were there too
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