Resources – KKJ Forensic & Psychological Services

Importance of a Diagnosis

Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones — Fri, 24 May 2024 09:46:00 +0000

When a client goes to a mental health provider, they may often wonder if they will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. For some people, a diagnosis can make them feel better because it provides an explanation for their suffering, while others may be concerned about the stigma and impact of a particular diagnosis. It's important to remember that for mental health professionals, a diagnosis is a tool to ensure the next steps for treatment are effective for the client. It is also a way for providers to communicate with one another in the event of the need for a referral or collaboration.

Having a diagnosis can be empowering. Identifying areas for growth, and underlying resilience to support that growth, sets up the path for what comes next. A diagnosis allows mental health providers to accurately refer a patient elsewhere for medication or for more effective treatment. For students, diagnoses offer proper accommodations in classroom settings that will create a better learning environment. Additionally, having a diagnosis can help parents better understand their child’s behaviors instead of assuming their child is just willfully being difficult.

Some people may have negative associations with a mental health disorder diagnosis. For instance, a diagnosis can cause some people to overthink their mental health disorder as a label. Some people may feel anxious at the thought of being diagnosed with something. It’s important to know that you are not your disorder. There might even be a fear of judgment for having a diagnosis. A diagnosis can be overwhelming, but no one should feel ashamed of a mental health diagnosis any more than they would with a medical diagnosis. A diagnosis is simply a constellation of symptoms that explain what is happening with someone, just like symptoms explain a stomach ulcer. Yes, there may be behavioral changes that contribute to some symptoms getting better or worse, but there are also biological and situational factors that contribute to a mental health diagnosis.

People are not their mental health disorders any more than they are their medical conditions. The most important thing in your mental health journey is getting the proper treatment to lead a happy and functional life. Diagnoses help mental health professionals ensure they understand what is happening to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Watch Dr. Katrina and Dr. Samantha discuss the importance of a diagnosis in the field of mental health!

Are you ready to take your first step into therapy?
Schedule an appointment today with The Purpose Center! Email kaytie@kkjpsych.com or call 919-493-1975.

Mental Health in the Latinx Community

Mackenzie Howard — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:49:56 +0000

Ninety five percent of the time when I tell people I speak Spanish the initial reaction is shock. For a while, I was confused as to why they were so surprised. I have spoken the language for over half of my life, so it has been a big part of my life for a while. I still remember my first day in Spanish class in sixth grade.

I was immediately entranced by the beauty of the language, so I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about it. I love the sound of it and the musicality of the vocabulary. Fortunately, I developed a grasp of the language fairly quickly, so I was able to communicate in Spanish early on. Through my studies in Costa Rica and Argentina, I developed a deep appreciation and respect for Latinx and Spanish culture.

As I started my career as a counselor, I always knew that speaking Spanish would set me apart as a provider. I knew that people needed access to Spanish-speaking mental health professionals and that I would be able to help bridge a gap. However, as I have gotten further in my career, I have come to realize that it’s not a gap, it’s a gaping hole. The differences in access are significant. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, more than half of Hispanic young adults between 18 and 25 years old “with serious mental illness may not receive treatment.” There are numerous reasons why access to mental health services is harder for Spanish-speaking individuals, but the language barrier is a major contributor to the disparity.

An article from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states that as of 2019 there are over one million Hispanic/Latinx people in North Carolina alone. Of that one million, 116,000 live in Wake County. This begs the question: Why do these barriers continue to exist and what can we do to increase access for our Latinx folks? One of the best ways to educate ourselves on resources in our community and amplify those organizations.

Here are a few that I encourage you to check out and share with friends:

El Futuro
NC Community based culturally responsive mental health service for Spanish-speaking immigrants (therapists and psychiatrists on staff)
Therapy for Latinx
Directory for connecting with Spanish-speaking/ Latinx mental health providers
PsychologyToday
Filter for Spanish-speaking/Latinx providers
Mental Health America
Infographic, Spanish language materials and screeners
LatinxTherapy
Directory for Latinx Therapists & Speakers

For many providers, there are services that exist where information can be translated by a third party in real time. This is a great resource, increases accessibility, and allows the client to be fully involved in their care. Additionally, there are apps and programs that can help English-speakers develop conversational Spanish skills like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, Babbel, StudySpanish.com and YouTube. Taking the time to increase your conversation skills goes a long way towards helping Spanish-speaking clients feel seen and appreciated. I have learned in my own Spanish-speaking journey that willingness to learn means a great deal. No one is asking for perfection- just effort. Perhaps you will use these resources to challenge yourself to learn something new and immerse yourself in a new culture!

If you have any questions or know someone who could benefit from support in Spanish, please reach out to me at mackenzie@kkjpsych.com.

IQ or EQ: Which Measurement Is The Best Predictor For Success?

Lisa Foss, MA — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 17:29:03 +0000

By Lisa J. Foss, MA, LPCA

Are you worried about your child’s future success? If so, this article is for you!

An individual’s intelligence quotient (IQ) is determined by completing standardized testing that assesses an individual’s mental abilities using measurements of skills from verbal to spatial abilities and comparing scores to others of similar age. However, IQ score does not provide a full picture of a child’s abilities or intelligence. There are also factors that can affect an individual’s IQ score, such as school attendance and environment. IQ’s have risen about 20 points with every generation due to better nutrition, more schooling, better-educated parents, and more complex spatial environments. While there has been some correlation between high IQ scores and high income, an IQ score is not the only factor that determines a child’s future success.

Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) refers to an individual’s ability to identify and manage their emotions, as well as understand and empathize with those around them in a cooperative, functional, and empathetic way. This begins with learning to identify emotions, embrace them, and use them to learn about ourselves and those around us. Being able to regulate emotions is necessary, and they can be harnessed to help promote thinking and problem solving. As parents, we want our children to succeed in their careers and financially, but, more importantly, we need to emphasize their success in relationships and overall well-being. Being able to regulate our emotions helps us to focus on tasks and challenges.

Depending on age, an individual’s IQ score can increase based-on changes in one’s environment; however, after a certain age, IQ scores tend to stabilize. In contrast, one’s EQ can continue to develop and sharpen with practice and guidance. Overall, studies have shown that EQ is a better predictor than IQ of how children will succeed. In addition, individuals with greater EQ demonstrate a more stable performance in academics, work, and personal relationships. As parents, we can help our children better understand and regulate their emotions; and help them to problem solve instead of solving their problems for them. This development begins in grade school and can assist in improving functioning in peer relationships and later workplace relations.

Dr. John Gottman has developed a strategy that examines the type of parent you are and how to incorporate emotion coaching into your parenting. Emotion coaching focuses on the following: Awareness of your child’s emotions; Recognize their expression of emotion as a teaching moment; Listen, empathize and validate their feelings; Help them label their emotions; and Set appropriate limits. Emotional coaching starts with parent self-reflection, which can help you make big changes in your house and relationship dynamics.

Stay tuned for more blogs on this topic where I will go deeper into Gottman’s Emotion Coaching steps.

If you wish to begin to learn these steps and put it them into practice, please contact Lisa at lisa@kkjpsych.com.