April-24-2023
Counseling Awareness Month is celebrated every April. On top of raising awareness and promoting the importance of mental health to people of all ages; it also highlights the importance of counseling professionals — from mental health counselors, school and college counselors, substance abuse counselors, to career counselors. Today, Plumas District Hospital is celebrating our own Counselor, Kristie Rood LCSW, 以及她为PG电子官网的老年生活解决方案项目所做的工作.
你是谁，你在PG电子APP做什么?
I’m Kristie Rood. Right now, 我在老年生活解决方案项目中为病人提供团体和个人治疗. 我从行为健康开始，在过去的10年里一直在做治疗.
你是怎么听说昆西和PG电子APP的?
We did not even know about Quincy. 2012年10月，我丈夫通过他的工作搬到这里，PG电子官网就搬到了这里. PG电子官网以为这只是一个临时停留，但PG电子官网最终爱上了这个社区. It is absolutely beautiful. You can’t find a more beautiful place to live. It’s a great place to raise kids. 我最初是通过带家人来这里看病才知道PG电子APP的. 多年来，我一直与PDH有专业的互动. When the Senior Life Solutions program started, Ericka came and did a presentation at the drop in center, where I was working for behavioral health. 后来，治疗师的职位出现了，剩下的就是历史了.
What is something that you like about the Quincy area?
I love that we actually have seasons here. It seems less accurate this year, with all of the winter. I am officially over the winter this year. 然而，我确实喜欢PG电子官网有冬天、夏天、秋天和春天. We came from Lincoln and grew up in Eldorado county. Usually, you get some rain in winter. You don’t really get to experience full seasons there. It is just beautiful. 全年也有很多户外活动可以做.
How do you start working in counseling?
我一直从事健康和人类服务类的工作，所以我知道这就是我想去的地方. 我想在当地立足，所以我开始从事社会服务工作. 我很幸运，有几位咨询师鼓励我，指导我从事咨询工作. Shortly after that I began working for behavioral health. That is what led me to the counseling realm. 奇科州立大学为偏远地区的农村社区做了一个很酷的远程学习项目. I was able to complete my masters through that program.
Your practice is in counseling and therapy. 你会如何描述你对不熟悉的人所做的事情? Who should go and see a counselor/therapist?
This is something that comes up a lot. 不幸的是，人们对心理健康服务仍然有很多偏见. 我认为情况已经好了很多，但PG电子官网还有很长的路要走. 在我个人看来，我认为每个人都可以从治疗中受益. 无论你处于人生的哪个阶段，你都会经历压力源. 每个人都能从与不偏不倚的人交谈中获益, supportive and can help you uncover your strengths. To sum things up, 咨询是帮助人们发现自己的优势，学习新的技能，帮助他们应对生活中的挑战.
是什么让治疗师或咨询师成为人们交谈的理想人选呢? 这与向朋友或亲近的兄弟姐妹倾诉有什么不同?
我认为与朋友和家人进行这些对话是非常有益的. However, 现实情况是，很多人不愿与朋友和家人深入讨论真正脆弱的话题. There is usually a fear of judgment, 甚至对你正在处理的事情感到内疚和羞耻. Because this stigma around mental health still exists, 人们害怕被贴上抑郁或焦虑的标签, or any other diagnosis. This is where our training comes into play. 我认为应该找一位他们熟悉并在这些领域受过教育的治疗师, 他们觉得和我谈论这些话题比和其他人谈论这些话题更舒服. It is a unique, personal resource for people. It is not a one size fits all. 治疗师有自己的个性和技能，病人也是如此. 这就起作用了，实际上会阻碍人们接受治疗. They meet with a therapist and they don’t get along. 通常会有性格冲突，但大多数时候都有更好的选择. Sometimes you need to shop around.
在行为健康的所有学科中，是什么让你选择做心理咨询师?
I love working with people. Out of all the jobs I’ve done, 咨询是最支持和鼓励人们自给自足，并到达一个地方，他们可以改善自己的生活. 我真的很喜欢能够在这方面与人合作的挑战. 我也重视有人足够脆弱，愿意分享他们生活中的私密细节. I feel privileged to be a part of that process. 这真的是你和某人建立的一种独特的、专业的关系.
What do you find challenging in the work that you do?
在我看来，一个真正好的治疗师善于建立健康的界限. That is a challenge. If boundaries aren’t set, then attachment can occur. 这可能会导致患者接受治疗的时间比理想情况下更长. 设定界限可以让他们知道，在一段时间里有人出现在他们的生活中是可以的, and it’s okay when that person is no longer present.
Another challenge is that people can be unpredictable, especially if they are navigating a mental illness. It is also what I love about this work. It is never dull. It is always unique. You end up riding these ups and downs with them. 如果你身边的人真的很挣扎，那就很有挑战性了. But, when they start to do well, 看着他们取得个人进步，努力在生活中做得更好，这是非常值得的.
It is also a constantly changing field. 它是相对较新的，所以总是有新的信息和研究涌入，以保持最新. 我有一位行为健康方面的导师告诉我:“最好的治疗师的一个标志是那些总是愿意不断学习的人。.” I have really tried to take that to heart. It is a challenge, but it really keeps it interesting.
What do you find rewarding about your work as a counselor?
Seeing patients improve is the ultimate reward. Even if they don’t meet their goals, 事实上，他们花时间和勇气做出改变是值得的. It is amazing to see someone make that effort with me. 能够以这种方式成为别人生活的一部分是很特别的. I do not take it for granted.
