News & Blog

By Anna Kate Orletski, MA, LPC

So, you’re doom-scrolling in between meetings and suddenly there is someone spewing a list of behaviors related to Mental Health Disorders. As you’re watching, the content becomes relatable, and, now, you’re asking yourself do I have that? Let me clear that up. No, you do not have ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder just because you sleep with your hand bunched up like a T-Rex.

There are many ways to manage your mental well-being, but it can be hard to determine what information is factual and what is a social media ploy. Having had much experience with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders or DSM-5, I can promise you that no disorder has bunched up T-Rex hand criteria. Now, I’m not saying that there isn’t some good content on social media. It can actually be very helpful for de-stigmatizing mental health. But, we have to be skeptical consumers.

Anna Kate Orletski

If you have a concern about diagnoses, my best advice is to seek professional evaluation and treatment. Counselors and Social Workers have formalized training in diagnosis and are better suited to address your concerns than social media. There are a couple of avenues you can take to find a therapist. Give the number on the back of your insurance card a call, and they can provide you with a list of providers within your network. You can also visit Psychology Today and search with location, insurance, and specialties.

When you’re ready to take that next step and reach out, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Don’t be afraid to shop around. The first therapist you contact might not be the right fit and that’s not uncommon. There are many different forms of therapy, modalities, theoretical orientation, and general styles.

To help narrow down your search and better define what you’re looking, for here are a few questions to keep in mind:

• What are my preferences? Do you feel more comfortable speaking with someone of a specific gender or demographic?
• What is this therapist’s perspective on diagnosis, and how does this inform their treatment planning? This might seem straight forward, but different orientations can change the entire process of therapy from identifying a problem, diagnosis, and treatment.
• How does their style align with my own? If you need more flexibility, rigid structure probably isn’t well suited for you and vice versa.
• What is my ultimate goal out of the therapy experience, and how can this therapist assist you with achieving this goal?

If you want to connect and learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out.