Being there for your kids - Are You Nuts?

Starting point is 00:00:05 Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let me ask you a question. Are you nuts? Well, that's a crazy question. But think about it. In this world in which we live, crazy may feel like the norm. To that point, being nuts may be a highly adaptive response to a crazy world. Recent studies indicate that about 20% of our population may have diagnosable anxiety and or depression. For our young people, under age 25, that number rises to 30%.

Starting point is 00:00:34 As clinicians offering counseling or psychotherapy to our patients, how can we guide people on their healing journeys? Adam was a high school senior with lots on his plate. He was an athlete. He also acted in the school's fall drama and spring musical. He had a girlfriend. Having been an honor student last year, his grades had fallen precipitously during his senior year. Colleges were looking at him as an athlete, but he feared falling behind and not getting the scholarship he needed to go into college. His family had issues that he didn't want to talk about. He came under my clinical care because he felt he was, quote, about to crack up. Hey, Adam, I nodded. What's up?

Starting point is 00:01:15 I invited Adam into my office for his third appointment with me. Having used the first two sessions to acquaint myself with him, empathize with him, and explained mental intelligence psychotherapy, that is MPT, I watched him settle on the sofa across from me. Nothing, he offered. What's up with you? He sank deeper into the couch. put his chin on his chest and folded his arms in his lap.

Starting point is 00:01:37 Well, now this isn't about me, now is it? I offered. I don't know. Adam paused and thought, I'm such a mess. We spent time unpacking his, quote, mess, end quote, as I empathized with him. I then concluded, so we're clear on the why questions. Let's talk about the what's. What? He puzzled. Yeah, like, what can you do today about your mess of a life? What is the part of it over which you have control? what's the next thing that will help you feel better?

Starting point is 00:02:05 Adam stayed in my clinical care for three months, ending his senior year on a high note and getting the scholarship he had hoped for to go to college. I diagnosed him with adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood. While some specialists have a higher percentage of mentally ill patients, most general practitioners have a lower percentage. In my clinical practice, I typically had four types of patients with varying degrees of treatment. Some folks are, quote, just brown. They usually come for one to five sessions to get the lay of the land and comfort on plans to take care of things.

Starting point is 00:02:40 Others are on a mission and just want to, quote, get it done. They've identified the problem and are stuck on it. These folks are motivated, self-assured, and eager but stuck and realize their limitations. I usually see them in the five to 20 session range. Others are the worried well. They are self-conscious and have been through anxious and depressive times. This would be Adam. The worried well most times do not have adequate social skills to use a best friend or confidant,

Starting point is 00:03:07 so their therapist fills that bill. They usually stay in therapy for 20 to 50 sessions. Lastly, less than 10% of patients in a general clinical practice have significant mental health issues. These folks test your medal, and you earn your keep. Treatment is coordinated with other health professionals. Often the goal is to help keep them out of the hospital, maintain self-care, be alert to variations in their mood or temperament and increase their stress management and resilience. They are in and out of therapy for years. In my new book, The Healing Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life,

Starting point is 00:03:42 I offer glimpses of each type of patient and their path to healing. Buy your copy on AmazonBooks.com. If my comments stir questions of your own, contact me through my website at www. or email me at John Robinson 0.0.0. at bell south.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist and Christian author of Teachable Moments Building Blocks of Christian Parenting and my new book, The Healing, The Healing, The Healing, Overcoming Adversity on the Path of the Good Life. Blessings, Dr. John. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting is available online at Amazonbooks.com

Starting point is 00:04:20 and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at t-m-c-p-in-c.com.

Being there for your kids - Are You Nuts?

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