90% of the US public believes there’s a mental health crisis in the United States. And, they’re not wrong. 1 in 3 people say they felt anxious always or often in the past year, and 21% of adults feel depressed.
So, it’s safe to say that there’s an exceptionally high need for mental health treatment right now, and this need is continuing to rise. Yet, we all face barriers to mental health support. For some, it’s because of stigma, and for others it may center around trust, wanting to manage by themselves, or not being able to access the support they need.
One reason behind not seeking support that’s often overlooked is not knowing what mental health providers offer. If you’re struggling with your mental health, or know someone else who you’re worried about, you want to find the best mental health treatment, and rightly so.
In this article, we’ll explore exactly what outpatient mental health treatment is, as well as the surprising ways our team at Mission Connection can support you or your loved one through mental health difficulties.
What Is Outpatient Mental Health Treatment?
Outpatient mental health treatment allows you to access support from home using telehealth services, or by visiting a clinic for in-person therapy, group therapy, or other therapeutic services, before returning home.
Outpatient mental health treatment is typically for those who need mental health support but not 24/7 care. This differs from inpatient treatment, where you live and receive mental health support on-site, around the clock, either at a hospital or clinic.
The main benefit of outpatient mental health treatment is that you can carry on with your life with your treatment supporting you on the sidelines, much like a cheerleader at an NFL match. This treatment approach is a less intense service than inpatient treatment and gives you greater flexibility.
At Mission Connection’s outpatient treatment centers in California, Washington, and Virginia, we offer a wide variety of mental health services. But what else can we offer, other than standard therapy services?
10 Surprising Ways We Can Help You
There are many ways the team at Mission Connection can help you—some you might not expect. Below, we explore 10 surprising ways we can support you, so you can find an outpatient treatment that works perfectly for you.
- Support for Complex Life Transitions
If you’re going through a big life change like a divorce or relocation, it’s natural to need more support and new coping strategies. We developed our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) services specifically for difficulties like these.
With our IOP, you’ll receive more frequent therapy sessions, but you still don’t need to stay overnight. Our PHP, on the other hand, is perfect if you’re struggling to manage at home and need temporary overnight support.
- Addressing Underlying Issues in Physical Health
Your brain and body are closely linked. Physical symptoms such as back pain, stomach problems, and tiredness are very common in people struggling with depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. So, these need treatment, too.
We don’t ignore these very real difficulties at Mission Connection. Instead, we’ll help you explore the connection between your body and mind, and give you tools to improve your overall well-being, all through tailored group and individual therapy sessions.
- Teaching Effective Coping Mechanisms for Everyday Stress
Alongside helping with life transitions, the structured IOP and PHP programs at Mission Connection can set you up well for the future. We teach you practical strategies for managing whatever stresses life throws at you and help you build resilience, improving your quality of life in the long term.
What’s more, we offer classes on combating negative thinking, movement therapy, and sound baths, all of which can help you manage your stress.
This means that, when the next stress or life transition comes, you’ll be ready.
- Reconnecting With Identity and Purpose
At some points in life, it’s normal to lose a sense of purpose or wonder, “Who really am I?” This often comes after we experience trauma or a major life change, like a bereavement or redundancy. However, we may also question the meaning of life and our place in it if we’re struggling with mental health difficulties such as depression.
If you’re questioning your identity or purpose right now, we offer therapeutic techniques such as our self-discovery and goal-setting classes aimed at rebuilding your sense of self-worth and finding your passions. These services can help give you answers to these important questions.
- Improving Social Skills and Relationship Dynamics
Relationships, whether they’re romantic, platonic, or work-related, don’t come naturally to everyone. Sometimes, we need some extra support to help us manage our relationships and feel more confident in social settings.
Structured group therapy and our dialectical behavior therapy focusing on interpersonal skills can be great opportunities to learn all of the important social skills in safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environments.
In our group therapy sessions, we work on communication skills, boundary-setting, and empathy for others, all of which can improve your relationships with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Providing Structure and Routine for Those Struggling With Motivation
Can’t seem to get yourself motivated? 42% of US adults under 50 say they struggle to feel motivated to work since the pandemic. So, you’re certainly not alone. What’s more, mental health difficulties like anxiety and depression can make it particularly hard to get motivated.
For example, depression can make things you previously enjoyed feel uninteresting, and you may feel tired all the time. With severe anxiety, you may see threats to your safety everywhere, which can be, let’s face it: exhausting.
Our IOP and PHP programs can help you get your mojo back, supporting you to develop daily routines and learn strategies to be productive, even when you’re not feeling like it.
- Enhancing Coping Skills for Trauma and Grief
You may have developed coping skills to manage in the past, but perhaps, since a recent trauma or bereavement, these aren’t cutting it. This often happens to us as we go through life—strategies that previously worked for us need changing, replacing, or enhancing.
At Mission Connection, we offer specialized grief and loss therapy. In these sessions, you’ll work with a licensed therapist to process your grief on your own terms, plus you’ll learn techniques to work through your grief in healthy, effective ways. These tools can become the foundation of your long-term recovery.
- Guiding Healthier Boundaries with Technology
Most of us have the occasional doom-scroll, getting stuck in a cycle of social media use, sometimes without even realizing it. However, digital overuse (and particularly social media) can have harmful effects on our mental health, leading to increased loneliness and fear of missing out, as well as lower life satisfaction.
We’ll help you set healthy boundaries around technology use, helping you maintain your emotional well-being.
- Financial and Employment-Related Stress Management
Finances and work are two of the main causes of stress. Whether it’s been a hard month with higher bills than you expected, or you’ve got tight deadlines to meet at work, there are many ways work and money can affect our mental health.
Our IOP and PHP services offer supportive spaces to speak about these concerns with people who are in the same boat as you. Plus, you’ll learn practical strategies to cope with this stress and manage day-to-day.
- Support for Parents and Caregivers
At Mission Connection, we believe in not only offering support to people struggling with mental health difficulties but also to those around them. Supporting someone with a mental health condition can be challenging—it may feel like you’re full of difficult emotions, but you have to hold all of these inside you.
We know that parents and caregivers need support, too. So, our programs also think about you. The support we offer comes in the form of speaking to other parents who also have a child struggling with mental health issues, or by giving you extra tools to cope with life’s stresses and best support your child.
Outpatient Mental Health Support in Washington, California, and Virginia
Getting support for your mental health is a daunting process. There’s a lot at stake, so you want to make the best decision for you. However, it’s not always easy knowing what mental health treatment providers offer.
Outpatient mental health support allows you to seek therapeutic support on your terms, from the comfort of your own home, if you choose. You can see a therapist online or in person, or meet a group of like-minded people in a group therapy setting.
However, at Mission Connection, we offer far more than therapy. From sound bath sessions to goal-setting groups, we meet you where you’re at, offering support that works well for you.
If you want to find out more about our services and how we can tailor your treatment to you, contact us today at 886-718.7350. We can’t wait to hear from you.
References
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Insel, T. (2023, December 8). America’s mental health crisis. Pew. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trend/archive/fall-2023/americas-mental-health-crisis#:~:text=A%20CNN/Kaiser%20Family%20Foundation,the%20will%20to%20embrace%20them.
Mundell, E. (2024, November 7). Rates of anxiety, depression rising among Americans, especially the young. US News. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-11-07/rates-of-anxiety-depression-rising-among-americans-especially-the-young
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