Resources

So this may not be a Frequently Asked Question - BUT it is definitely a Frequently Thought-about Question that has been perpetuated throughout our community!

In short: No. You are absolutely not crazy.

“Crazy” is a commonly used descriptor to stigmatize, or create fear in seeking support or asking for help. This identifier has also been used to label those who may have been told that strong emotions (anger, sadness, confusion) or emotional waves (moving from happiness to sadness) is an unwanted experience. It is also a word used often when talking about mental health services, talking with a therapist, or utilizing medicine for your mental health.

We want to start to destigmatize mental health and normalize utilizing healing practices, so this includes addressing the ways in which language may have been used to cast blame, judgment, or fear!

Possible reasons a person might seek out a therapist is if they’re experiencing strong emotions, a recent loss, navigating a transition, wanting to level-up their care practices, experiencing stress or unable to feel balanced/centered. A person does not necessarily need to be struggling in life to seek out a therapist; many work with a therapist as a “self-care” practice, like having a gym membership and their own personal trainer…but for their emotional strengthening and mental well-being! Therapy can also be a GREAT way to have your own space for just yourself with someone who genuinely wants to support, and will not judge, blame, or criticize you.

It is GREAT to have a support system and community around you that you feel comfortable sharing with! Sometimes, you may even be able to be honest, vulnerable, and completely authentic with these same people.

Therapy can also be a GREAT way to have your own space for just yourself with someone who genuinely wants to support, and will not judge, blame, or criticize you. A therapist offers an objective/semi-objective view from a perspective that isn’t enmeshed in your family/friend life, they are truly confidential (legally), and so many more that we will have a blog about it soon, so stay tuned!

Although it is great to be able to talk to a friend about your problems there are circumstances where a therapist may be worth the investment.

MASTER’S LEVEL THERAPISTS: MFT/LMFT, Social Workers
Education: 2-3 years of academic requirements + clinical experience hours (3000 hours with supervision)

Counselor/Therapist (M.A., M.S.)Master of Arts/Master of Science
Master’s level therapists are usually trained in psychotherapy techniques, but have little or no courses in psychological assessment, theory, and research.

Social Worker (M.S.W., Ph.D)Master of Social Work/Doctorate of Philosophy
Social work programs range in length from two to three years, and include some practical experience (through either practica or internships). Like the M.S. degree above, social work students are trained in psychotherapy and social work techniques and background, with an emphasis in most programs toward integrating people within community resources. The terms used to describe social workers vary from state to state, and may include such titles as: Licensed Counselor of Social Work, Counselor of Social Work, psychotherapist, therapist, etc.

Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT/Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist LMFT)
Master’s level therapists are usually trained in psychotherapy techniques, but have little or no courses in psychological assessment, theory, and research.

DOCTORAL LEVEL THERAPISTS: Psychologists, PsyD/PhD, Psychiatrists
Education: 6-7 years of academic requirements + clinical experience hours + clinical training (5-7 years of clinical experience by completion of program, plus up to 5,000 hours of clinical experience by licensure).

Psychiatrists (MD) have an additional medical degree in pharmacology to prescribe medication

Psychologist (PhD) “Doctor of Philosophy” usually in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology tends to focus on practicing, research, and/or teaching within academia; an emphasis tends to be on the research through analyzing theories, and developing and conducting research.

Psychologist (Psy.D) Doctorate of Psychology (Professional degree)
This is a newer (circa. 1968) degree offered to those individuals interested exclusively in the practice of psychology. Its focus tends to be more clinically-oriented than the traditional Ph.D, offering more pre-internship experience and practical coursework, in lieu of courses on research and statistics (although most Psy.D programs also require a dissertation).

GREAT Question! It’s so great, and common that we had to IG post and blog about it. Click here to read the blog post.

There is no “one size fits all” solution. It’s common to work with different practitioners. Our advice is to meet a practitioner and see what works best for you.

To find a practitioner, visit our directory.

To find a therapist, search our directory. We specialize in creating an online space for Filipina/x/o identified therapists across the nation and globally, who are culturally appropriate and who may have the language capabilities as well. We have a wide range of therapists.

To find the right therapist is the million dollar question. What it comes down to is “fit,” meaning, “does this therapist fit well with me, and do I fit well with this therapist?”

Read more about finding the right therapist on our blog.

A few reflection questions to help narrow down your search:

What concerns do you want support with (e.g., family distress, generational trauma, ptsd, “not sure i just feel sad/numb all the time”)

Do I want to work with a non-binary identified person, male, female practitioner?

Do I need/want a therapist who also speaks a Filipina/x/o language or dialect?

Fill in the blank: I know I feel safe sharing or being vulnerable talking about things when….

How do you plan on paying for services (e.g., insurance, out-of-pocket/out-of-network, bartering goods/services)?

What are your values you want to be aligned with in your therapist?

Do they need to share certain identities with you? Which identities are important for you to have alignment on?

Medication can reduce some symptoms of mental health conditions, and therapy works in tandem to create space for insight, build capacity, and create opportunity for people to gain skills to address many symptoms on their own. This process often creates more of a long-term impact for change.

It is also important to note that medication is not seen as “a magical pill” solution. Meaning, medication can sometimes serve to reduce the intensity of the symptoms, and therapy can become more effective in helping address the root causes, and generational wounds coming up.

Typical costs for therapists usually vary by city/region, and based on the adjusted cost of living and going rate for therapists in that city/region. With that said, I’ve seen the range of therapist to vary from $50-$550 depending on degrees, specializations, and (again) city/region.

I often suggest considering what your budget may be, for instance consider what you might pay for your self-care things (e.g., regular gym membership, haircut, shopping spree, etc..), consider how much you’re able to afford, how much you want to invest in yourself/your healing process, and if there’s any therapists who are able to offer services within your means.

To find a therapist in your budget, search our directory.

It can be hard to watch a loved one deal with emotional and mental health challenges, but telling someone that they need therapy or should see a therapist may come off as stigmatizing or judgmental. Encouraging someone you care about to look into possible options, even offering to recommend someone for them, maybe be a good way to show support. People who feel forced into therapy may feel resistant and find it harder to put in the work needed. Connect with a practitioner to make change.

Bringing them to a Therapin*y event can also be a low-level and easy way to introduce therapy as an option.

If you or someone you know is at risk, planning to take their own life or may be at risk due to the injuries of self harming behavior, there are resources available to help keep them or you safe. The following resources are available:

Call 1-800-SUICIDE at 1-800-784-2433 anytime of the day or night if you or someone you know is thinking about ending their own life, or needs someone to talk to about suicidal thoughts or ideas. For more resources on this concern, contact us. Below are a list of crisis information within the United States, Canada, Australia, Philippines, and United Kingdom.