Those of us in the people helping mental health field were thrilled to read the following in a recent issue of Psychology Today. The magazine concluded that mental health care including professional psychotherapy and prescription medications is increasingly widespread and widely accepted!

It went on to say that more than1 in 4 adults, or more accurately 27%, of the United States adult population has received mental health services over the last two years. Unfortunately, children were not included in this survey but we might speculate that if adults (parents) are finding greater value in mental health care, children are also benefiting from the services as well.

The people who received treatment, according to Psychology Today, were overwhelmingly satisfied with the results! Of those adults surveyed 85% were satisfied with their treatment and more than 50% were very to extremely satisfied. Those who are most satisfied with treatment results received long-term therapy (one year or longer) as opposed to brief treatment experiences.

Though the numbers receiving treatment in the form of medication still exceed the number receiving psychotherapy, over 53% of those with a treatment history have participated in psychotherapy. Further most psychiatrists who provide medication have historically encouraged patients to seek psychotherapy services.

Psychotherapy has a long history of helping people cope better with daily life experiences, successfully work through crises and traumas, and renew joy in living that NOVO feels so strongly about that it’s actually part of our name.

I believe that when we heal the mental hurts people are living with, we enable them to live more fully. People who participate in long-term psychotherapy have been known to experience less physical illness, miss less days of work, experience greater self fulfillment and success in their relationship, and find more healthy solutions to their issues and problems to name just a few positive outcomes.

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FREE FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS

FOR ADULTS and ADOLESCENTS

The following was reported in the May 27^th issue of Time magazine. A poll conducted by the magazine asked 1,000 Americans about how they have been feeling over the past few months. The results indicated that:

40% of people reported feeling nervous or anxious;

32% of people reported having difficulty sleeping:

28% of people reported having trouble concentrating.

“If we singled out the people who are experiencing financial catastrophes”, commented Dr. Vicki Alden, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Founder of NOVO, “such as loss of job, bankruptcy, home foreclosure – the percentages of psychological disruption above would likely be far greater.”

NOVO: Renewing Joy in Life is presenting weekly workshops on how you can cope with financial catastrophe, your personal meaning of money, how you can survive a financial crisis, how you can rebuild your financial world, and other related topics.

“These workshop experiences”, said Dr Alden, “can enable participants to better cope with the serious problems they are facing and explore options for the future.

This NOVO workshop series is free of charge and open to those experiencing financial catastrophe. The specially designed workshops are confidential small group experiences that are led by dynamic and knowledgeable professionals in finance, counseling, and motivation.

The workshops for adults are held on Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm and those for adolescents on Mondays from 7 to 9 pm.

Dr. Alden has provided mental health and social services for over thirty years in community agencies and medical centers in the Chicago area. Her expertise includes individual, couple, and group services for adults and adolescents. Dr. Alden and NOVO provide counseling and psychotherapy as well as facilitate personal growth and development workshops and roundtable discussion groups.

To register or to obtain more information go to www.novocounsel.com or phone Dr. Vicki Alden at 312 305-3443.