Category: Wellness

Types of Social Workers

Alyssa Mandel Types of social workers

A lot of people aren’t sure about the extensive role of social workers. They usually think of someone who works with families and impoverished people. But they are in many fields and offer a wide range of services.

They are able to assess the needs of individuals or communities and supply or refer them to services to meet their needs. This ability is useful in a variety of fields, including medical, mental health, academic and more.

If you’re considering becoming a social worker, you might be interested in the career options available to you. You can choose a career path with these fields in mind.

 

Healthcare

Social workers in the medical field help patients by being their advocates. They assist patients with financial, psychological and social needs. They ensure that patients receive resources, education and counseling relative to their treatment plan.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care social workers earn on average $28.11 per hour. Their annual income is averaged at $58, 470.

 

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

In this field, social workers work with individuals who require counseling or rehabilitative services. They provide counseling and treatment options for individuals, couples or families.

The current mean hourly wage for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $23.86. On average, the annual income is $49,630. To work in this area, an MSW is required.

 

To learn more visit AlyssaMandel.com

Top Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

The popular benefits of exercise are weight loss and maintaining one’s weight. But exercise goes far beyond physical health. Working out and being active daily can be very beneficial to mental health. If you’re looking to better your mental health and overall well-being, then exercise will become a vital tool:

Stress Relief

Day after day, new challenges and responsibilities begin to weigh us down. This can cause immense stress and drain begin to drain you. When stress is built up, one of the most effective ways to relieve stress is by exercising. Even if a demanding schedule is what is weighing into your stress, it’s easy to take the time to go for a walk or take a bike ride around the neighborhood. Setting aside a time in the day to be active helps to shut off your brain for a bit and focus on something other than daily responsibilities.

Decrease Depression

According to studies, exercise has been shown to decrease depression. It was found that exercise can treat moderate depression just as effectively as antidepressant medication, but luckily without the side-effects. Exercise combats against depression by releasing a chemical called endorphins that are known to boost mood. It also reduces inflammation in the brain and promotes neutral growth. Much like being distracted from daily stresses in your life, exercise can also be a great distraction from any negative thoughts or emotions.

Confidence Boost

As mentioned before, exercise can help to lose or maintain weight. This can lead to feeling much more confident and feeling really great about yourself. Whether its improved endurance or weight loss, it can leave you feeling much more confident. Even if it’s just slight changes from clothes fitting a little looser, running a mile without stopping, or other slight changes in your body, this helps to feel good about yourself and puts you in a healthier mindset. More confidence encourages a healthy mind.

Sleep Benefits

Lack of sleep can cause major mental health issues. Many people, especially in adulthood, struggle to fit in a good night’s sleep. A great way to sleep better is by exercising more. Although exercise has a reputation for boosting energy, it also is the key to getting more sleep. It’s been found that being active and daily exercise helps regulate circadian rhythm, which controls how tired you feel and when to feel alert. Sleep is without a doubt imperative to mental and physical health.

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

There are many different types of therapy. With so many kinds of diagnosis and conditions, there is a need for these different kinds of therapies. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive therapy and provides clients with new skills on how to manage painful emotions and minimize conflict in their relationships. DBT focuses on mindfulness, dealing with stress, regulate emotions, and healthy communication with others.

When to Use

Originally used as therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder, it is now used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, PTSD, and substance abuse. For patients that are struggling with self-destructive behavior, DBT can help improve their ability to regulate their emotions. Patients will be able to tolerate distress and negative emotions, become more aware of the present moment and effectively communicate with others.

How it Works

Patients working with DBT treatment must learn how to focus on the present, tolerate a crisis, assert themselves in a positive relationship, and recognizing negative emotions while also knowing how to cope with them. When implementing DBT treatment, patients typically will go through individual therapy sessions as well as DBT skills groups.

In the individual therapy sessions, patients will talk one-on-one with their therapist to keep them motivated, ensure their DBT skills are being used in their daily lives, and help them through any challenges they may face during the treatment. In DBT skills groups, they’re able to find support from others and share their own experiences. Groups meet weekly or monthly to learn new skills and participate in exercises. The therapy sessions are to make sure all of their therapeutic needs are being met and that the DBT treatment is working to improve their daily lives.

DBT Therapists

In order for DBT to have a positive effect on the patients, the therapist running the treatment has to be qualified. Knowledge on the subject is not the only factor that will make a therapist qualified, they must also practice the skills of DBT themselves. It is also imperative for therapists to understand the basics of behavior therapy techniques and DBT treatment strategies. When a patient seeking DBT treatment, it’s important to find a therapist with specialized training and extensive experience in DBT.

DBT has been proven to be very effective among patients with self-destructive behavior. Once patients are able to find a therapist they feel comfortable with and make a commitment to their therapy, DBT has been shown to improve their relationships, communication, and emotional state.

What is Mindfulness and How Does it Help You?

Alyssa Mandel What is Mindfulness and How Does it Help You_

Mindfulness is, in a sense, “single-tasking” as opposed to multi-tasking. Mindfulness takes many forms, but all of them are very specific disciplines that require practice to master. Mindfulness is difficult for some because of the fast paced world that surrounds us today. It can be challenging to just stop and observe a moment of silence. Mindfulness helps you learn to discipline your thoughts allowing you to become more comfortable with silence. Here are three simple exercises to help you become more mindful:

  1. Focus on your food

Next time you eat, try putting away your smartphone, book or magazine and simply focus on your food instead. Notice the taste, the texture, the flavor. Notice the way your teeth sound grinding through the food or the way it feels on your tongue. Feel the path it takes as it moves down your throat and the feel of the fork on your teeth as you take the next bite.

To learn more about mindfulness please visit AlyssaMandel.net