Birch Counseling's Founder Christa Surerus announces that they will offer Appointments Within 24 Hours for mental health counseling at their location in Golden Valley.
Grief and Loss
It is helpful to recognize that grief is considered a NORMAL reaction.
One definition of grief describes it as “the normal process of reacting to a loss” (medicinenet.com). Many people think that you have to experience a death in order to grieve but that is just not the case. You can experience grief in response to any type of loss/change.
Read moreHow you can help a loved one who struggles with depression
It's the little things that can make a big difference for someone battling depression. Here's 5 things you can do to help a loved one with depression:
- Invite them to a social gathering with people. Not a huge party, but even just coffee with you at a coffee shop, or a small quiet group of friends watching a movie together.
- Offer to pick them up and take them to the event. Make it as easy and effortless to participate as possible. Make sure the gathering is low key and expectations are low.
- Making decisions can be very difficult for people who struggle with depression. Help them by giving them easy choices. Pick or organize an event or show you know they’d like. If needed, make childcare arrangements for them.
- Go for a walk or a bike ride with them. Take them to a gym. While they may not always feel up for it, exercise, being in the company of others, and spending time outdoors can help.
- Caring for someone with depression is hard and can lead to burnout. Make sure you assemble a team of people who can help support the person, as well as you.
Help is available
If you believe a loved one is considering suicide, you should know that help is available. In addition to Emergency rooms and crisis hotlines, every county in the metropolitan Twin Cities area has a mobile crisis team. Mobile crisis teams are trained to help. They can talk to your loved one, offer transportation to a safe place, and connect them with resources and professional support.
Response time for a mobile crisis team can be a few hours.
In immediately life-threatening or extremely dangerous situations, please call 911.
Examples of situations when the local county Mobile Crisis Team should be called:
- When you think someone you know is in danger of committing suicide
- When you notice disruptive, suddenly bizarre, or out-of-control behavior of an adult or child.
- When you are a parent who needs to place your children in the Crisis Nursery.
- When you need support in caring for someone who is struggling with mental illness or emotional disturbance.
- When there has been a domestic or sexual assault.
- If you have general questions about handling a crisis or need to be referred to professional resources.
How to reach your local crisis team:
- Anoka (763) 755-3801
- Carver/Scott (952) 442-7601
- Dakota (952) 891-7171
- Hennepin (612) 596-1223 (adults) (612) 348-2233 (children)
- Ramsey (651) 266-7900 (adults) (651) 774-7000 (children)
- Washington (651) 777-5222
10 Questions to Help Identify Suicide Warning Signs
Most who consider suicide will give a loved one warning signs about their plans for suicide. But what exactly are those?
To identify warning signs, ask yourself these 10 questions:
- Do they exhibit or talk about feeling a deep sense of hopelessness about the future, with little expectation that circumstances can improve?
- Are they talking about death a lot or making oblique references to it?
- After a period of depression/moodiness, have they suddenly and unexpectedly become calm?
- Are they withdrawing from social activities - especially ones they previously enjoyed?
- Have they stopped caring about personal appearance?
- Are they engaging in risky behaviors? Reckless driving? Drugs/Alcohol? Unsafe sex?
- Has a major life crisis occurred? Death of recent loved one? Divorce? Bankruptcy?
- Are they putting a lot of their affairs in order? This might include visiting loved ones members, giving away possessions, making a will, and cleaning up his or her room or home.
If you answer yes to these questions, check in with your friend or loved one. Tell them you’re concerned about them. Tell them that you care. Ask them if they’re having suicidal thoughts. Call the National Suicide Prevention line 1 (800) 273-8255.
Birch Founder Christa Surerus on KARE 11
Christa's Tips when talking about politics with friends, family, or acquaintances:
- Don’t engage in a discussion when you’re angry. Being forceful and loud is not convincing.
- We are most influenced by people who make us feel good.
- We tend to avoid people who tell us how we should feel or think.
- If you wish to get your point across, make sure you start out by genuinely listening to what the other person has to say. Reflect back to them aspects of their argument that make sense to you, and then offer your perspective.
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.
Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
This simple question could lead to an exploration about alcohol abuse or dependency.
It’s not always easy to see when drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. But if you consume alcohol to cope with difficulties or to avoid feeling bad, you’re in potentially dangerous territory.
Read more4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go Out on a Date
While you’re waiting, make sure you ask yourself 4 important questions.
You’ve dated plenty, yet it seems like you’re getting nowhere. You’re frustrated, feeling stuck.
How can you make your dates more successful, how can you find someone to build a good relationship?
Read moreTurn Singles Awareness Month into the #monthofme
When you’re single, February can feel like everyone on the planet is in relationship, except you. Your focus tends to be on the problem, not the solution. You can change that.
When you’re single and don’t want to be, February is better known as Singles Awareness Month.
Everywhere you look, advertisers spending more money on romantic placements to put romance in every inch of space on the Internet, TV, and around town.
Read more