MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM IN NIGERIA
One in four Nigerians – some 50 million people – are suffering from some sort of mental illness, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are only eight neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria. With dire budget and staffing shortfalls prompting doctors to go on strike, leave the country, or quit the medical profession altogether. The […]
PLAY THERAPY
Play therapy refers to a method of psychotherapy with children in which a counselor/therapist uses a child’s fantasies and the symbolic meanings of his or her play as a medium for understanding and communication with the child. Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish […]
ATTRIBUTES OF A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR/PSYCHOTHERAPIST.
Professional Counselors are licensed mental health therapists who provide assessment, diagnosis and counseling to people facing a variety of life stresses and psychological problems. They help people with relationship issues, family problems, job stress, mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, and many other challenging problems that can impact feelings of well-being and happiness. […]
GENDER IDENTITY
A client’s gender identity is how he/she feels inside and how he/she expresses those feelings, such as in the way he/she dresses, appearance, and behaviors. Most people feel that they are either male or female and some feel neither male nor female. These people may choose labels such as “genderqueer”. These feelings usually begin as […]
WHAT IS CHILD COUNSELING
Child therapy (also called child counseling) is much the same as therapy and counseling for adults: it offers them a safe space and an empathetic ear while providing tools to bring about change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Just like adult clients, child clients receive emotional and goal support in their sessions. They may focus […]
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Sexuality is not just about “sex” and certain body parts that are associated with males and females. Sexuality includes sexual orientation, such as who a person is attracted to and whether the person identifies as heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, as well as their sexual fantasies and attitudes and values related to sex. Sexual Orientation describes a […]
INFIDELITY
Infidelity is breaking a promise to remain faithful to a sexual partner, whether that be marriage vows sanctified by the state or privately uttered agreements between lovers. As unthinkable as the notion of breaking such bonds may be at the time, infidelity is all too common. For the cheating partner, infidelity is exciting and seductive, […]
Sex Addiction Versus Porn Addiction
Porn addiction and sex addiction are not the same disorder. Addiction to porn is considered to be a type of sex addiction and can manifest itself differently than other types of sex addiction. Like “sex addiction,” “porn addiction” is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5 yet. However, an addiction to porn can lead to […]
Normal Teenage Behavior vs. Early Warning Signs of Mental Illness
It is not uncommon for parents to wonder whether their child is acting like a normal teenager or behaving differently due to mental illness, drug use or behavioral difficulties. Normal teenagers are often moody due to hormonal and physical changes that happen during puberty. However, when mental illness is involved, it may be difficult to […]
CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Work is still being done to determine the direct causes of substance abuse and mental health issues. While there is still much to be discovered, it is known that a number of factors play into the development of these disorders, and many of these factors are similar across both mental health and substance abuse issues. […]