When Is It Time to Go to Therapy? with Kobe Campbell The Refined Collective Podcast

Thank you Newsstand Studio at 1 Rockefeller Plaza for providing a place for me to record this episode for y’all! No more Brooklyn closet recording!!!
 
Trigger Warning: We’re talking about mental health in this episode and the conversations can get pretty heavy. If you have little ears around, grab some headphones. Feel free to pause and save this episode for another time if you don’t feel like you have the capacity for it right now.
 
Are your quirks really trauma responses?
Are you depressed or is it the weather?
Do you understand what it means to be triggered?
Are past traumas continuing to pop up in your life?
Are you wondering if it’s time to start therapy?
Are you wondering which type of therapy you need?
What if you can’t afford therapy?
Does time heal all?
 
This is the first episode of May, which is Mental Health Month. Every episode this month will be focused on mental health in some way. I couldn’t think of a better person to chat with for the very first episode of Mental Health May than trauma therapist Kobe Campbell. Kobe is also co-host of The Healing Circle Podcast, and founder of The Healing Circle Therapy & Wellness Center. She helps me unpack all of the questions above and you’ll walk away with concrete resources as you start your healing journey.
 
Are Your Quirks Really Trauma Responses?
 
“Until I went to a therapist, I did not realize that the ways I responded to the world around me were a reflection of me trying to soothe anxiety.” - Kobe  
 
Have You Ever Felt Triggered?
We tend to see triggers as us remembering a past trauma, but it’s really us re-experiencing it. Our bodies feel like we’re back in that traumatic moment. And we won’t always know what the traumatic moment was. Are you ever dishonest about your feelings because you feel embarrassed by them?  
“What hurts you in the past...is going to hurt you when you’re older… The deep wounds that we feel do not disappear.” - Kobe “Time can distract us, but that’s about it.” - Kobe  
 
Should You Get A Therapist?
Are you working things out by venting to your girlfriends? Are you wondering when would be a good time to take it to a professional?  I share the moment I knew it was time to get back into therapy.  
“You don’t have to be in crisis to go to therapy. Therapy can be a preventative measure.” - Kobe  
Start noticing the patterns in your life that pop up no matter the variables like time and place. We’re often too close to our own lives to see the full picture.  
Which Type of Therapy Do You Need?
General Therapy Like your family doctor who handles colds and flus, a general therapist handles things like anxiety and depression. Specialized Therapy They have a niche— they work with people who are working through a specific pain. This is for when you want to focus on things like sexual trauma, grief, family issues, or couple therapy.  Psychiatrists vs Therapists Psychiatrists are in the medical field, while therapists are in the mental health field. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications and provide official diagnoses.   
Should You Go On Medication?
Medication is trial and error sometimes to find the right fit. I share my own experience in going the holistic route and when I ultimately felt open to trying medication. There are doctors of osteopathic medicine that can use a blood test to see what medications would react well and poorly with you, narrowing down your trial and error search.  
How Do You Find A Therapist?
Psychology Today is the Google of therapists. It lists names, degrees, licenses they have, and a bio that gives you a taste of who they are. It also lists fees, rates, and insurances they accept. Most therapists offer free consultations, which are basically short connection calls to help you see if they are a good fit for you. The biggest rule is that they should always make you feel safe. Alw