Mental Health Therapy in Cullman

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Therapists in Cullman

Leslie Warren

Alabama, Alabama - Clinical Social Worker/therapist
Online

Welcome to my web page at BetterHelp. Did you know that over 42% of the United States population has sought some type of mental help services in their lifetime? Another 36% of the United States population have thought about seeking out mental health services to address all ranges of mental health issues. It takes initiative, courage and self-awareness to reach out for help. The hardest part of reaching out for help is finding a therapist that is compassionate, warm, understanding, non-judgmental, and a good listener that fits a client's mental health needs while accommodating home, school, and work balance within the scope of everyday life. Furthermore, it is even more difficult to navigate the process of what to expect in therapy to achieve positive outcomes in mental health wellness. I firmly believe in the philosophy that "if you do not 'jive' with a therapist, do not quit counseling, just find a therapist you do." In my professional experience I have often heard clients state, "My therapist does not listen to me. They just tell me things I already know." This is not the experience that I want to give any of my clients. I believe in the philosophy "treat others like you would want to be treated and walk a mile in their shoes." I believe that everyone is an expert of their own life and that the therapist should empower a client to concentrate on things that they can control within their environment through positivity, thus, avoiding the traps of "should haves, could haves, would haves, must haves" that can cause a person to become paralyze within their own psyche. The counselor/client relationship should be a collaborative one that does not leave the client feeling deflated but empowered with new tools to try to improve overall mental health functioning. I have had many clients come with high expectations that the therapist "will fix them, or give them advice". This is one thing that no therapist can do as this would be taking individual power away from the client further exasperating the symptoms of the mental health diagnosis for which one is seeking help. The therapeutic relationship is one that each party equally contributes to setting client centered goals that are measurable and attainable while bringing about personal awareness of how behaviors affect actions and how actions affect mental health outcomes. In short, all behaviors have positive or negative consequences. My approach to counseling is to help educate clients on behaviors, choices, and consequences through solution-focused, cognitive behavior, aspects of psychodynamic and Gestalt, but mostly client centered therapies. I ascribe to the concept, "Stop, Think, Act" when working with a client. I am Leslie Warren, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Person In Practice endorsement by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. I have over 15 years in social services experience in an agency setting prior to receiving my Masters in Social Work in 2014 and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2018 from the University of Alabama. I have about 6 years postmasters clinical experience working for both private and public agencies/companies with preschool and school age children, young adults, caregivers, disabled populations, and older adults. I am well versed in helping clients assess community and educational resources. I am experienced in providing case management, individual, and group therapy, I am experiences in treating clients with general anxiety and situational depression. I am most knowledgeable in educating clients on grief and anxiety issues related to death, disability, and infertility. As a person who has suffered from infertility, I am passionate in beginning a new phase of my professional career by helping infertile couples navigate the stresses, anxiety, grief, and unknown expectations of the path to parenthood while giving individuals and couples emotional and educational support to deal with the loses each time a treatment fails. This "emotional roller coaster" causes a vicious cycle of disappointment, worry, depression, family and couple conflicts, and financial strain upon the individual's or couple's relationship. Many times the medical community lacks experience and education to address the needs of couples through the treatment process and fails to educate the client (patient) on all alternatives for treatment that may be available to them such as regular adoption and embryo donation/adoption through IVF. My plight with infertility is the main reason I decided to get a Masters of Social Work so I could help individuals and couples be a advocate for themselves through education, emotional support and understanding that is lacking in training among both the medical and mental health professional fields. Since choosing the right therapist affects the direct outcomes of the client's progress toward mental help awareness and emotional well being, I prefer to have the first sessions to be through video chat as this will promote the atmosphere of a collaborative, trusting, warm, and open therapeutic relationship. I can also accommodate phone and chat forums. If you choose to enter into a therapeutic relationship with me, and you do not see an appointment time that works for you, or is not available on the calendar, reach out and I may be able to accommodate on a case by case basis as long as I have at least a two to three days notice. I generally check messages here a few times per day Tue-Sat and I will respond as quickly as I can. I do appreciate your patience when it takes a bit longer at times, as I may be tending to other clients or professional/personal responsibilities." I wish you the best in this journey and I commend you for taking the initiative, courage and self-awareness to reach out for help. Leslie Warren, LICSW, PIP

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Free Mental Health Resources in Alabama

NAMI Alabama is a coalition of parents, community members, and individuals committed to improving access to mental health resources throughout the state. If you're struggling with your mental health, you’ll find free resources here including peer support groups, educational resources, and crisis services to help you work through these challenges.
Wings Across Alabama is an organization that provides support group services both in person and online. These support groups are targeted toward individuals struggling with their mental health. There are also support groups for veterans and parents as well. Meetings are free and are led by peer support specialists.
Prism United is an organization that provides support services mostly to young adults, with supportive care specialized for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Along with providing you access to peer counseling, this organization is heavily involved in community outreach services which can help serve you as well.
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Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women
Alabama's Transgender and Gender Diversity Organizations offer support services to members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. They host regular support group meetings where you can connect with other individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. You'll also get connected to different online resources that can help you.
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BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Seniors Disability
The Alabama Crisis System is a network of state funded crisis centers that will provide you with immediate care for a mental health struggle you're experiencing. Along with behavioral health care services, they also offer crisis intervention services. They work with individuals of all ages.
Alabama Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics act as a directory where you can find state sponsored clinics that can help you work through the mental health struggles you’re experiencing. You can get connected to treatment and specialized care for children, teens, adults, and seniors.
The Individual Placement and Support – Supported Employment Program is the state funded program that addresses mental health and substance use struggles individuals throughout the state face. The main efforts behind this program are to help you build the skills for gainful employment and an independent life. There are specialized programs for individuals on the autism spectrum.
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Disability Depression ADHD PTSD Anxiety Grief Substance Abuse Autism
The VA Central Alabama State program offers comprehensive care to veterans experiencing struggles with their mental health or drug and alcohol addiction. They also work with homeless veterans, caregivers, and families. They provide trauma informed, sensitive care, including services to survivors of sexual trauma.
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Men Women Seniors Veterans Disability
LGBTQ+ Veteran Care is available through the US Department of Veterans Affairs. These services provide culturally competent and trauma-informed care to members of the LGBTQ community, caregivers, and their loved ones.
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BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Veterans
Rural Crisis Care and Mobile Crisis Teams offer intervention and crisis support services nationwide. In partnership with the 988 hotline, individuals in 55 out of the 67 counties that are classified as “rural” parts of the state, can receive quality care to address mental health struggles they’re experiencing.
United Way of Central Alabama has a toll free number that you can call at 211 to receive guidance and get connected to community resources that will address mental health struggles you’re experiencing. They support adults, teens, veterans, and those who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.
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Men Women Seniors Veterans Disability
Crisis Center Inc. is an organization that provides immediate support through their 24 hour hotline. Their services address mental health struggles. They work with individuals of all ages, including those struggling with suicidal ideation, survivors of sexual assault, and others. They have a dedicated line for teens, seniors, and crisis intervention.
The Connect Alabama app is a free app that residents can use to find mental health resources and behavioral health services like treatment for a substance use disorder. You'll find specialized programs including access to crisis lines, online resources, and treatment options in your community. There are specialty programs for veterans, first responders, seniors, and adults.
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Men Women Seniors Veterans First Responders
Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center specializes in providing specialized psychiatric care to children with behavioral health struggles. They conduct free confidential assessment over the phone. From there, you'll get referred to their inpatient or residential treatment program. On site schooling through the New Day Academy is available here.
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Teens & Students Men Women
Serving all populations throughout the state, Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services offers free, confidential behavioral health assessments every day of the week. If a diagnosis is determined and you need clinically necessary care, you'll be admitted and referred to one of the specialists. There are both adolescent and adult programs in their Birmingham psychiatric hospital.
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