Samantha Hanson, LPC, ATR, Clini-Coach®

Archives May 2024

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Most common mental health disorder is..

Here is an interesting article regarding Anxiety disorders, affecting approximately 40 million adults aged 18 and older. I’ve summarized the article below, but feel free to jump right in an see the information it lists!

https://www.dbhutah.org/the-5-most-common-mental-disorders/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20category%20of,and%20frequent%20fear%20and%20apprehension.

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GAD – or Generalized Anxiety Disorder is often seen with symptoms of excessive worrying, recurring thoughts and or behaviors that may appear uncontrollable or over-controlled.

GAD – can come with Panic attacks – frequent sudden attacks that may include difficulty breathing, hyperventilating, intense pain or discomfort and may appear to come un suddenly.

Significant or specialized types of anxiety disorders include:

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- significant traumatic event that can vary from situations including witnessing domestic violence, combat, significant unexpected work situation, medical trauma and more
  • Social anxiety disorder: anxiety around people, feeling watched or judged
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Anxiety can be a part of or influencing factor in…

  • mood disorders – moderate to severe symptoms which cause fluctuations in moods enough to disrupt daily lives – anxious, empty, guilt, decreased energy
  • major depressive disorder
  • bipolar disorder
  • substance-induced mood disorder
  • psychotic disorders
  • dementia
  • eating disorders

Where to go for help with any of these concerns listed above? You can start with checking your insurance member portal- they have a way to find medical and behavioral health providers and who is actively accepting clients and in network. Check out my page here, scroll all the way to the bottom to find a list of questions to ask when you call. Whoever you choose to be your provider will appreciate you calling ahead!

There are also different directories you can go on to filter providers such as psychologytoday and mentalhealthmatch, and a non-insurance, low-income directory- openpath people who may not have insurance or the funds to pay their high deductible plan copays or access to providers who may not have sliding scales. Those directories are not always as up to date as the insurance directories are, so I would recommend starting with insurance and then taking names you find to those directories.

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Going solo

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

This was probably the riskiest thing I have ever done. Adulting, living on my own in a one income household, deciding I needed to take better care of myself by being my own boss with my own rules. This meant losing work covered health insurance, expecting inconsistent pay and suddenly a lot more work on my plate-not only being the therapist but also the boss, HR, administrative assistant, biller, anything else I hadn’t even thought of up until that point. All the hats that make up an office/clinic.

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I definitely do not regret it though, despite it being a lot of hats and a lot of work, its fulfilling and I know I’ve helped a good amount of people. Do I somedays want to go work at Petco or Starbucks, absolutely, and only do simple things and let others take control… yes, I have those days, but they are few and far between.

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How does a therapist do self care?

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

Every-once in a while I get asked about my own hobbies or self-care. A popular question is does a therapist have a therapist? Yes, a therapist is human top, and as we hear all of the stories around us it’s important to engage in our own therapy and forms of self-care.

self care
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Do I doom scroll or hyper fixate on things like art supplies and have about 20 projects going at once? Of course! All in moderation of course, finding that balance for myself as I promote to clients. Somedays are harder than others, so figuring out a routine and not beating myself up if I can’t stick to it.

I make sure to take care of my pet’s needs, as animals are sassy and they technically own my home, and then make sure I’m fed and comfortable. A goal this year is to read more and work on some of those 20 projects listed above. I’m also trying out new puzzle games and brought out sudoku books, I’m terrible with math but I love me a numbers style organization puzzle!

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On days I’m home before dark and its good weather I take the dogs for a walk, for both them and me and schedule weekly walks with my meetup group “walk and talk Fox cities meetup!” Now that the weather is hopefully getting nicer. We are established on meetup.com and newly on Facebook! Check-us out sometime.

What do you do for self care?

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What is Social Media to me?

Prompt: How do you use social media?

I use social media as a way to share what I do with others. Not only what, but why as I feel that is important to know to some extent. Transparency and being genuine are an important part of my foundation as a business owner, regardless of which set of services I am portraying,

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When connecting with any healthcare individual it’s important to feel comfortable, and by sharing a bit of my neurospicy self ahead of time I hope that helps with one’s process. One positive of the technology and social media is I can share videos about myself and my services, I just need to work on my anxiety of talking in front of others! (Always easier to help others then to help myself- at least I’m no longer in front of a class of peers).

Growing up I learned about being a business owner from my dad, he would go to continuing education conferences being in a different part of healthcare and meet others locally by referring in nearby towns. Every time we went to the store people knew him and because it’s a small town, knew me or my brothers and asked how things were going. Back then everything was by in person events, newspaper ads, phone calls and insurance referrals of course.

Today’s marketing is similar but different. I am in a different type of healthcare which provides me opportunities to share information and education with you. I also send out snail mail including yearly Christmas cards to referrals, “I am here!” Letters or post cards to ones I may not have connected with, as well as “new location!” Post cards due to moving, again, and boy am I tired of moving. I am feeling a good fit at 516 E Wisconsin Ave in Appleton and 404 N Main in Oshkosh and am in the process of making my space more functional and professional for clients- updated photos will come soon!

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When I began, I sent out a paper packet including a letter, brochure, business cards and heat color changing pencils to other businesses. A card saying let’s get coffee! (virtually as it was the pandemic year), and this year I have started having those coffees (in person even!) and making new connections. Part of how I’m receiving this reach is because I update my social media and my online directories, a combination of past and present-day networking and advertising. The more I share, and you view the more people who may need what I offer will have the opportunity to see me.

We all work together even if its indirectly! Any support of clicking, liking, following, sharing or simply reading to the end is helpful and much appreciated. If you would like to have a coffee to talk more about how we can support each other, virtually or in person -please reach out!