Therapy is best served in a model like that of chiropractors.

Imagine you’ve strained your neck.

1. When you are in acute physical pain, you come in for several sessions close together until relief is gained, usually over a week or two. Let’s say this is 3 times the first week and 2 times the second week.
2. Now that your pain is moderate, but no longer limiting your range of movement, you come once a week for a few weeks until the pain is minimal. Let’s say this is 3 sessions over 3 weeks.
3. Once that neck pain is minimal, but still present, you come less often until it is gone. Maybe this is a visit every 2 weeks twice and then every 3 weeks once.
4. Once the pain is gone, the injury may still be present in the form of swelling or a ligament out of place or some misalignment in the vertebrae, so you come once a month twice and then every 3 months twice to finish the adjustment.
5. The body is adjusted, and you follow up every 6-12 months just to check that all is well, provided nothing new is hurting the neck. Of course, if you have a new injury, you begin again on that area of the body.

Imagine you’ve experienced a trauma, been depressed, had anxiety, or someone close to you had died. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health!

1. When you are in acute psychological pain, you come in for several sessions close together until relief is gained, usually over a week or two. Let’s say this is 3 times the first week and 2 times the second week. Sessions can also be longer instead of more frequent, or both.
2. Now that your pain is moderate, but no longer limiting your daily functioning, you come once a week for a few weeks until the pain is minimal. Let’s say this is 3 sessions over 3 weeks. Again, session length is flexible to accommodate your specific needs.
3. Once that internal pain is minimal, but still present, you come less often until it is gone. Maybe this is a visit every 2 weeks twice and then every 3 weeks once.
4. Once you feel you are coping well, there may be some additional items that come up as you work through the one you came in for, so you come once a month twice and then every 3 months twice to get you back to optimal mental health.
5. The mind is well, and you follow up every 6-12 months just to check that all is going the way you want it to, provided nothing new has happened that is upsetting. Of course, if you have a new circumstance, you begin again on that area of treatment, targeting the therapy to only what is necessary.

Proper follow up and routine mental health care could eliminate certain problems from becoming large or provide additional tools to get through stressful times as preventative care.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.