Jessie ScottLMHC

I wish that people knew that therapy is not how it is portrayed on television. Many movies and shows make fun of or mock the therapy field, usually by making therapists look and sound like they are flighty. The truth is I am just like my clients, and I treat them as the equals that they are. Therapy sessions are what the client makes them - after all, it is their time to express themselves and talk about anything they need to without bias, judgment, or fear.

If a person is seeing me for therapy and they bring up another issue I am not proficient in treating I will refer them to someone who can help with those issues. An example would be if someone revealed that they had an eating disorder such as anorexia; I am not specially trained to work on this diagnosis and if I tried it would not be ethical. I collaborate with other providers to make sure that my clients receive the best care possible!

I ask my client to tell me what they want to work towards, and then we develop steps to get to that goal. So if the goal is to reduce worry, then the first step would be identifying the things or events that cause the worry. Then, together we explore ways to cope with each situation, which reduces the worry.

• Florida, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, MH15114