Tonya Octave

I think people, for the most part, know about anxiety. People usually associate anxiety with feelings of worry, fear, panic, or discomfort. They may have sweaty or cold hands or feet. They may have difficulty sleeping, getting, and staying asleep. They may struggle to relax; the body is activated, and the mind is racing. It may be difficult to breathe, your muscle may tense, or sensations of tingling or numbness. There may be experiences of “butterflies in your tummy” or stomach discomfort.

I see a common theme in terms of depression in children. They have told me, “I feel sad.” In terms of teenagers, they tell me two things, “I’m not depressed, and I don’t want medication, or I am depressed.” Children and teenagers tend to be clear about current feelings. From adults, I usually hear, “I think I may be depressed. My friend/family/husband/wife told me I needed to talk to you. I’m not depressed.”

Trauma is not an uncommon experience, and its impact can be life-altering. Traumatic events impact not only the individual’s psychological structures but also the systems of attachment. The quality of attachment is between the infant and their parent/caregiver. The infant-caregiver attachment connection lays the foundation for how the individual will behave and react to certain situations. Additionally, it influences the individual’s interactions in interpersonal relationships.

Play therapy is helpful for both children (five years and older) and adults. For children, there is a limited ability to communicate through language in a meaningful way that expresses their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Often things can be missed using language because there are interruptions, misunderstandings, and struggles to find the words to articulate one’s experience. Play is a concrete tool for children to express themselves in an emotionally safe way.

CBT helps a person to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This modality is based on discovering faulty and negative thinking patterns. Some of these thinking and behavioral patterns are learned from parents, and others are learned in the child’s environment. The idea is to identify the thinking and behavioral errors and then learn techniques to unlearn these patterns and replace them with helpful and positive thinking patterns.

Are you overwhelmed with worry, grief, or anger? Do you feel stuck, unable to manage your anxiety, depression, or trauma? Do you need a private and safe place to explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors? Do you need a knowledgeable clinician who uses an integrative approach? Here at Multicultural Services, I am providing a comprehensive integrative approach to support your overall mental wellness. I have been in practice working with adults for more than a decade.