I’ve been in therapy on and off for years now. Before my current therapist, I was seeing someone else for most of it. Her price was reasonable and the sessions were 90 minutes, which was great for me, because I could ramble and not feel rushed. She helped me through the years with general issues but after my near fatal breakdown last summer, I realized I needed more help than what she was giving me. It was a tough decision to break up with her but I needed someone more fit to what I needed.

I’ve been seeing my counselor for three years. Every week.

Therapy; the treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.

Therapy and counselling can be life-changing. (There is a difference between the two: in basic terms therapy is a more focused, goal-based treatment while counselling is more of a discussion.) However, it isn't easy. You can be left on waiting lists for free sessions for ages and not everyone can afford to go private. When you do receive treatment, it’s not a quick fix. You don't walk into the therapist's room one person and walk out after the first session another. You have to put effort into working out your mind. With this being said the advice from a therapist or counsellor can be invaluable.

I was raised by a Cuban father and a Mexican mother on American soil and I had one hell of a time forming my own identity. My father, or Papi as I called him, stressed to me that I should be fiercely independent. He pulled me aside when I was ten years old and said, “Mija, don’t get married and have children until you have an education and a career and your own money. Don’t depend on anyone, ever.” His words scared the hell out of me because I was still playing with Barbie dolls and couldn’t imagine getting married, ever.

I have always found solace in art based hobbies. There is just something about art that allows me to relax. I have felt this way ever since I was a teenager. I remember sitting in art class at school, I’d be so focused on the work at hand; a drawing, piece of pottery, a Warhol pop art reproduction. In that hour I would completely zone out from the world around me.

Hello Everyone! My name is Ebony Swain and I am a music therapist in training. During my time learning about the power of music, I felt that there were too many people who had no idea about the magical work that we do. There are so many questions and theories about topics controversial or not that I have had and I always wanted to fill that void for myself and others. I decided to start my Vocal Journey talking about things I love - music therapy, psychology, and mental health.

The other day I had an anxiety attack, or shall I say another anxiety attack because there have been a few. Rather than taking medication, my doctor asked if I would be interested in attending an anxiety class. Hm, I’m not exactly a big fan of these self-help groups, but okay, I would give it a shot. As expected, it didn’t go well for me, in fact, I was kicked out of the group.

As humans, we arent dissimilar to a motor vehicle.

Anxiety and stress are the two most knowledgeable emotions of students proceeding with higher education. This system, with an impartial to mound students, fails to attain its objective. On the contrary, students leave with a dimmed desire for the field and stress-related complaints.