Page 36 - HelpfulLivingFlipbook
P. 36
Coping Although it may feel like being diagnosed with a
mental disorder is devastating, it actually allows
for you to educate yourself about the disorder,
Skills that get the proper help and support you need and
can normalize what you are experiencing. Don’t
Help with be afraid to reach out to your support team
and ask as many questions as you need to feel
comfortable.
Mental
Health
Diagnosis
STEPHANIE SAVO
and experiencing. Honor your experiences
ccording to the National and feelings without judgment by allowing
Institute of Mental Health yourself to have acceptance.
nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults live
Awith a mental illness, which is Avoid Isolation. Individuals may isolate
46.6 million in 2017 (NIMH, February themselves out of fear or shame. Whether Stephanie Savo is a licensed mental health
2019). Although there have been you’re experiencing symptoms for the first counselor and anxiety therapist in Davie who
celebrities and self-help gurus like Dax time or having an episode, create a support has been practicing therapy since 2008. She
Sheppard, Kristen Bell, Brene Brown, system of people who are empathetic graduated with her Master’s in Mental Health
Tony Robbins, and Rachel Hollis, just and understanding to what you are Counseling from Nova Southeastern Univer-
to name a few, that have publicly shared experiencing. Force yourself to be social sity. Stephanie has experience working with
their struggles with depression, anxiety, and spend time with people who want to adolescents and young adults. She has been
and shame. There still exists the stigma spend time with you. You can engage in working with adolescents and young adults
about mental health whereas people activities that you tend to find enjoyable, who experience depression, anxiety, trauma,
with a mental health diagnosis may ask for help/support or find support group low self-esteem and worth, lack of identity and
be stigmatized as “crazy”, unstable, (e.g. 12-step meetings, therapeutic groups, individuality, and who want to be empowered.
non-functional or dangerous. I see intramural sports). Stephanie utilizes a variety of therapeutic
on average six to eight clients per day While some of these questions may be valid, they can techniques when working with her clients.
who experience some level of mood also be self-defeating. So, let’s take a look at some Seek Professional Help. People see She treats the person and the symptoms they
dysregulation and daily life struggles. helpful coping skills that can be utilized for when therapists for so many different reasons. are experiencing rather than the label. She
When it comes time to talk about their you or a loved one is diagnosed with a mental health These reasons can include stage of life focuses on taking a collaborative and eclectic
mental health diagnosis, I ensure this diagnosis. changes, managing daily stressors, learning approach with her clients to help them get to
is done so without shame and with new skills to manage depression and their desired goals. Stephanie models for and
lots of empathy. Coping with mental Understand Your Feelings. Get in touch with what anxiety or just sometimes to have someone assists her clients with consistent growth and
health for yourself or a loved one can be you’re feeling and create an awareness of what your neutral to chat with. You might be initially personal development as she does in her own
challenging. Some of the thoughts the baseline is. In other words, learn about your mind and hesitant to seek out help and support for life. Stephanie helps her clients reduce their
family or a person can have may be; What body and when you’re feeling “off”. This can be done personal matters, but when you do, you anxiety, as an anxiety therapist in Davie.
did I do wrong? Why is this happening by meditating, journaling, doing yoga and therapy. will feel confident that you are taking a IG: @stephanie_savo_lmhc
to me? Does this mean I am not normal? Utilizing these skills can help with mindfulness. When courageous first step towards getting to a FB: @stephaniesavolmhc
Will I ever get better? Why am I weak we are being mindful our body and mind is grounded better place and being a better you. Website: www.caringtherapistsofbroward.com
minded? How did I fail as a parent? and calm which helps us reflect on what we are feeling
36 | HELPFUL LIVING MAGAZINE HELPFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | 37
