Welcoming in May: Austin Koester

Austin (He / Him) joins us from Saint Mary’s Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services Program. He is working on becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Austin received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. John’s University. Currently, Austin works at St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development where he helps to facilitate positive interactions and promote the social development of his clients.

Austin was drawn to the helping profession through his personal experiences and a deep desire to understand emotional processes and healing. He has a passion for emotional healing that improves relationships and the overall quality of daily experiences for each individual and their family.

 Austin enjoys working with teens and adults from all walks of life who are experiencing low self-esteem, anxiety, low mood, substance use challenges, and trauma-related symptoms. His goal is to serve others and make a difference as he assists in navigating the life challenges clients may face and aid them in finding wholeness for themselves and in their relationships.

 Austin believes that therapy, in part, is taking time to learn “why do I feel the way I feel, and what can I do to change how I feel.”  He deems therapy a forward-looking process of what can be done now in order to be more effective in our lives and relationships. His commitment is to have a safe and trusting relationship without judgment and for you to feel heard, understood, and respected. He’s driven by making sure you’re okay, you got what you need, and you are growing into a better version of yourself. He incorporates several approaches to his person-centered counseling, including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance, commitment therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

 In his free time Austin enjoys playing music, reading, running, and spending time with family and friends.

Spotlight with Mark Bartley: CBT Therapy

To keep with the food analogies, if Mark is like “Meat and Potatoes,” then Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the “Bread and Butter” of modern psychology. In other words, it’s the Hallmark or cornerstone to a lot of the work clinicians do. CBT can be used with individuals, groups, or couples. It works to treat common issues, such as depression and anxiety, but also offers the option to specialize in a more concentrated scope, such as with Trauma (TF-CBT) or Insomnia (CBT-I). And it often works for people regardless of their age, race, or background. So why does a guy who likes variety borrow most heavily from one style? 

To provide some context for his rationale, Mark wasn’t especially interested in school growing up. Frankly, he found it boring. It wasn’t until he went to college and took his first psychology class that he even understood how to make learning work for him: it had to be applied. Experiences that had historically gone unnamed for him, things like “Automatic Thoughts” and “Cognitive Distortions” were now not only nameable, but also normalized enough that they were being taught in class. They were relatable. They had solutions. And the solutions made sense!

 What Mark liked about CBT roughly a decade ago is still what he likes about it today: it makes sense and it can be applied in the moment with clients. Having thoughts you can’t control? Experiencing distress that is out of proportion to the situation? CBT helps you re-author your thinking by helping you slow it down and more objectively assess how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interacting with each other. And it does so without judgement. In fact, one of the core assumptions is that almost all people experience distress from how we interpret ourselves, others, and our world. By teaching people how to recognize what’s helpful/unhelpful about their thinking, observe themselves, and challenge their assumptions through small behavioral experiments, we can increase our faith in our own ability to respond to stressors differently. 

 CBT has a variety of tools that can be used to get you from where you feel stuck to where you’re trying to go. That’s also part of why Mark likes it. If you’re the kind of person who does well with journaling? Great! Prefer experiential learning through debate or role plays? That works too! CBT isn’t about a tool-box, it’s an entire tool shed. That means that regardless of your issue or perceived level of distress, CBT can be tailored to meet the needs of any individual without losing it’s core principle: if we want your feelings and behaviors to change, we have to change how you think about things. For Mark, there’s a “best of both worlds” element to that: familiar and flexible, customized and generalized, both in theory and practice.

 Mark knows when CBT has been effective because clients “don’t need [him] to think of different ways they can interpret or respond to the situation anymore.” Essentially, he wants to teach you how to talk yourself out of needing him. Mark also realizes that new things come up over time, and the kinds of thinking you once had managed might come back with a vengeance. Don’t fret! He’ll be here to help you reflect, reframe, and re-work new adversities, should they arise along the way. 

What should I expect in my counseling session?

Empowering you is the primary focus of counseling.

This is your space.

This is your time.

You are in charge.

You tell us what you wish to accomplish.

Our providers focus on getting to know you. What matters to you, what is important? What keeps you going?  What is your idea of a fulfilling, meaningful life?

Birch counselors help you identify obstacles that seem to keep you from living the life you want. 

 Let us help you get back on track. 

Counseling is Confidential

According to the Association for Psychological Services, only 40 percent of the 60 million people who experience concerns about their emotional health actually seek help.

Common concerns and barriers to seeking assistance involve fear of judgment, or a deep-seated sense of “is this even worth talking about?” Some individuals are too ashamed of their problems, particularly in this age of Facebook, where we are constantly inundated with the airbrushed profiles of what appear to be “perfect lives.”

Contrary to popular opinion, the bravest move you can make is reaching out for help.  You may have been raised with the idea of self-reliance: you should be able to solve your problems alone, at most with the assistance of a few trusted friends or family members.

For many of our problems, this may actually be sufficient.  For many others, it is not.  Examples include addictive behaviors, relationship problems, unexplainable feelings of sadness or a sense of emptiness despite life seemingly going well, excessive worry or anxiety, feeling inadequate or somehow defective. Such problems can trigger shame, which keeps us from reaching out. There is fear of judgment or abandonment, fear of our problems being shared with others.

As mental health professionals, we are bound by law to keep your matters confidential.  We offer a neutral perspective, and are trained to help you gain a better understanding of what troubles you.  Counselors help guide your thinking in the direction of solutions that are right for you, given the context of your particular life circumstances.

The purpose of counseling is empowerment. It is our goal to help you take charge of your own life.  We help you choose goals that are aligned with who you are and what is important to you.

Don’t Let Insurance Stop You from Seeking Help

According to the Association for Psychological Sciences, the stigma of seeking help from a mental health provider continue to stop 60 percent of the estimated 60 million people who experience problems with depression, anxiety, substance use, behavioral or relationship concerns.

Those who consider seeking help are often deterred by financial concerns: will my insurance cover this service?

Fortunately, mental health counseling today is covered by most insurance plans.

Birch Counseling is contracted with a number of insurance plans, making care with our providers accessible and affordable.

We would be delighted to assist you with any questions you might have about your insurance coverage for counseling services. 

Birch Counseling Now Accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Insurance

Birch Counseling is so pleased to announce we now accept Blue Cross/Shield Health Insurance, one of the largest providers of insurance nationwide. 

In addition to Blue Cross, we accept most PreferredOne plans, UCare, Medica, United, Aetna, UMR, Metropolitan Health, Medical Assistance, ChampVA, Value Options and more. 

Dispelling the Stigma of Bipolar Disorder

Like other forms of mental illness, bipolar disorder is often thought of as a character flaw warranting social criticism. Unlike purely physical ailments, we blame the person for their mental state, not the wiring or chemistry of their brain. 

This stigma only creates more problems: people avoid seeking help in order to avoid stigma.  Those who have received help often feel shame and guilt over their diagnosis.

We need to support each other. If you receive or hear a joke about mental illness, say something. You should know that a number of very creative and talented people have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder: Robert Downey Jr. has been described as the poster child for this illness. Read his story and you’ll know why.  The same goes for Robin Williams and a number of others.  

Please remember to be kind—everyone is broken in some way. Let’s resolve to understand, rather than judge those who struggle with this disorder.

Does my loved one have a Bipolar Disorder?

As 2.6 percent of people suffer from bipolar disorder, there is a probability that you may know someone who will experience the disorder. Given the strong genetic correlation, your chances of developing bipolar disorder increase greatly if another member of your family has been diagnosed with it.

Knowing if a loved one is presenting signs of bipolar disorders is important. Even more importantly, it’s important to know where and how to get help. A thorough evaluation by a psychiatrist, along with medication, are essential for treating mania and major depression.  Talk therapy can help manage symptoms between episodes, and offer support for families.

With good treatment and support from family and friends, people with bipolar disorders can lead productive lives. However, without treatment, the disorder can have a devastating effect on life and relationships. 

Identifying Potential Symptoms
Bipolar disorder, as it is so named, is a disorder of extremes or poles from high to low. Depression and manic states are part of the bipolar cycle. 

You may notice that your loved one is sleeping less and less, and has unlimited energy and full of ideas. This person can be pleasant and fun to be around, but it can quickly change to irritability, which can lead to verbal or physical outbursts. You may notice that your loved one is self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to offset the effects of the disorder. 

You may see increased use of bad judgment from your loved one. They may spend money recklessly and engage in risky behaviors, including casual and unprotected sex, gambling, driving at high speeds, and generally in places where bad things will happen. 
If the symptoms continue without treatment, behaviors can become progressively more threatening.

Approaching the Subject
When speaking to your loved one about their behavior, they may accuse you of being boring, oppressive, or ruining their life. You will need to approach it delicately, as pushing a person in a manic state will lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful conflict. 

Your best strategy is to use a combination of listening to your loved one and applying leverage to influence positive behavior, like meeting with a mental health professional. 

Leverage isn’t about pushing or forcing, but about providing your loved one a choice. For instance, if you are providing something they need like a car, money or something else of value, you can give them a choice about how to proceed: continue receiving these items by getting help, or choosing to live without them and not receiving help. 

Never Give Up
Managing an illness, even after receiving help from mental health professionals is a marathon, not a sprint. Your morale and determination will be tested.  As you support your loved one who struggles with the illness, don’t be afraid to ask for your own help.  Mental health professionals can assist you with finding the resources you and your loved ones need to manage this difficult illness.