Doris Garcia LMHC

Geriatric mental health therapy is focused on the psychological and emotional needs of individuals over the age of 60. Geriatric mental health is a burgeoning area in need of attention, as nearly one out of five elderly Americans experience at least one mental health disorder (Institute of Medicine, 2012). According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017), around 15% of the geriatric population worldwide has a mental health disorder.

Individuals from the school age to adult hood need the guidance and resources to manage their inattention and hyperactivity to live a functional life. This professional will utilize CBT and provide coping skills to assist the individual.

My specialty is addiction due to the number of years working with residential and outpatient clients who experience addiction as well as co-occurring disorders. Through Motivational Interviewing, and/or the 12-step program, it is important to instill hope and provide resources that connects the clients with others who continue to practice a healthy lifestyle.

Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach designed to help people find the motivation to make a positive behavior change. This client-centered approach is particularly effective for people who have mixed feelings about changing their behavior. The real challenge is pointing out the clients' discrepancies through exploration. It's possible to experience to have conflicting desires, such as wanting to change your behavior, but also thinking that you're not ready to change your behavior.

Addiction counseling is a type of behavioral therapy that seeks to address the underlying causes of addiction in an individual and arm them with strategies and mechanisms for avoiding relapse. It is a way for patients to gain support, avoid relapse and learn to repair relationships. Addiction counseling helps people find a way to manage whatever life has in store without resorting to harmful substances.