Personal empowerment:
Personal empowerment is a process that involves developing the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary for individuals to take control of their lives, make meaningful choices, and achieve their goals. It is about fostering a sense of self-efficacy, confidence, and autonomy. Empowered individuals have a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to navigate challenges with resilience. This process often involves setting and pursuing personal and professional goals, cultivating self-awareness, and building a positive self-image. Personal empowerment is not just about individual success; it also involves recognizing one's impact on others and contributing to the well-being of the community. Ultimately, personal empowerment is a dynamic and ongoing journey of self-discovery and growth.
With the skills you learn during your time with us, will promote your self-actualisation and graduation from our services and a healthy, happy, resilient outlook on life and your future.
Diagnostic assessment
A psychiatric diagnostic assessment is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, to assess and diagnose mental health conditions. It involves gathering information about an individual's symptoms, medical history, family history, and psychosocial factors to make an accurate diagnosis. The assessment typically includes interviews, questionnaires, and observation to gather relevant information.
During a psychiatric diagnostic assessment, the mental health professional will assess various aspects of an individual's mental health, including their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall functioning. They may use diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to guide their assessment and determine if the individual meets criteria for a specific mental health disorder.
The purpose of a psychiatric diagnostic assessment is to obtain a clear understanding of the individual's mental health condition, provide an accurate diagnosis, and develop an appropriate treatment plan. It serves as the foundation for developing an individualized treatment approach that may include therapy, medication, or other interventions to address the person's mental health needs.
Counselling/psychology
Counselling and psychology are both fields that focus on understanding and improving human mental health and well-being. While they share similarities, there are some differences between the two.
Counselling is a form of psychology which focuses on helping individuals navigate personal and emotional challenges, improve coping skills, and make positive changes in their lives. Counsellors typically work with individuals, couples, families, or groups to address a wide range of issues, such as relationship problems, career concerns, grief and loss, stress management, and mental health disorders. They provide guidance, support, and strategies to help clients explore their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and develop healthier ways of coping and problem-solving. Counselling can be short-term or long-term, depending on the needs of the client.
Psychology is the term that encompasses the field of the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists seek to understand how people think, feel, and behave through research, observation, and analysis. They apply their knowledge to various areas, such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and more. Psychologists may conduct research, provide therapy, assess and diagnose mental health disorders, conduct psychological testing, and develop interventions to improve mental health and well-being. Psychology can specialise in a specific area or speciality, or be broad. Psychologists can employ a range of skills, tools and psychological interventions based on the need of their client, to bring about a change, or greater understanding of themselves, that can engender a more positive self-outlook, healthier habits and behaviours and ultimately improved quality of life.
In summary, counseling is a specific type of therapeutic intervention focused on helping individuals overcome personal challenges and improve their lives, while psychology is a broader field that encompasses the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Whether you want a counselling approach, other psychological approach, or simply not sure, this is something that be explored during a consultation to explore options and what will work best for you. Because we believe in holistic care, we recognise needs can change over time and this is part of what we an offer as part of our treatment plan.
Life coaching
Life coaching is a process where a trained professional, works with individuals to help them clarify their goals, overcome obstacles, and make positive changes in their personal and professional lives. Life coaching is based on the belief that individuals have the capacity to create their own solutions and achieve their desired outcomes with guidance and support.
The role of a life coach is to facilitate self-discovery, provide guidance, and assist clients in developing strategies and action plans to achieve their goals. They help clients gain clarity about what they want to achieve, identify their strengths and values, and explore any limiting beliefs or barriers that may be holding them back. Through active listening, questioning, and feedback, life coaches help clients set meaningful goals, develop action steps, and stay accountable to their progress.
Life coaching can cover a wide range of areas, including career development, personal growth, relationships, health and wellness, time management, and achieving work-life balance. Coaches utilize various techniques and approaches, such as goal setting, visualization, positive psychology, and motivational strategies, to empower individuals to take action and make positive changes in their lives.
It's important to note that life coaching is not therapy or counseling. While therapy focuses on addressing emotional and psychological issues, life coaching is future-oriented and goal-focused, emphasizing personal growth, self-improvement, and achieving desired outcomes.
Overall, life coaching provides individuals with a supportive and empowering partnership to help them clarify their goals, overcome obstacles, and create a fulfilling and meaningful life.
It is also another service available to people who want to improve their quality of life but do not believe more traditional forms of counselling or psychology are for them or have not found such interventions helpful in the past.
Psychiatric treatment
Psychiatric treatment refers to the medical and therapeutic interventions provided to individuals who are experiencing mental health disorders or conditions. It involves the assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health disorders by mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and Advanced psychiatric clinicians/practitioners.
Psychiatric treatment can take various forms, depending on the individual's specific needs and the nature of their condition. Here are some common components of psychiatric treatment:
1. Evaluation and Diagnosis: The first step in psychiatric treatment is a comprehensive evaluation to assess the individual's mental health and determine a diagnosis. This may involve conducting interviews, psychological assessments, and reviewing medical history.
2. Medication Management: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. They may prescribe medications to help manage symptoms of mental health disorders, such as antidepressants, antianxiety medications, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics. Medication management involves monitoring the individual's response to medication, adjusting dosages, and addressing any side effects. Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP) are not doctors, but they have studied at post graduate level and can practice at the level of specialist registrar doctors. ACPs are able to diagnose, prescribe and treat most people with mental illness as psychiatrists do. Complex or severe cases should go to a psychiatrist but the majority of mental illnesses in the community can be treated by an ACP. ACPs also tend to provide more holistic services such as psychology as part of their treatment plans which psychiatrists usually do not have the skills to do due to the specialist nature of their expert role.
3. Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, also known as talking therapy, involves working with a mental health professional to address emotional and psychological issues. Different types of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or family therapy, may be used to help individuals gain insights, develop coping skills, and make positive changes in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
4. Hospitalization: In some cases, individuals with severe mental health conditions may require hospitalization for stabilization and intensive treatment. Psychiatric hospitals or units provide a safe and therapeutic environment where individuals can receive 24/7 care, medication management, and various therapeutic interventions. While we cannot place someone in hospital at Empower-mental, we are able to answer questions and advise on this process and signpost to services who may be able to support if this is an unfortunate necessity.
5. Holistic Services: Psychiatric treatment may also involve accessing supportive services, such as support groups, vocational rehabilitation, case management, or community mental health programs. These services provide additional support and resources to individuals in their recovery journey. Currently empower-mental is not able to offer additional services in house, although we hope to be able to do so in the future. We can however signpost to local services who may be able to provide additional support.
It's important to note that psychiatric treatment is tailored to the individual's needs and may vary based on the specific mental health condition and its severity. The goal of psychiatric treatment is to alleviate symptoms, improve functioning, enhance quality of life, and promote overall well-being. It often involves a collaborative approach between the individual, mental health professionals, and other support systems to provide comprehensive and holistic care.
