Schizophrenia Counselling
Schizophrenia is a complex and chronic mental health disorder that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is often misunderstood, which can add to the challenges faced by those with the disorder and their families. Recognizing the symptoms can foster greater understanding and support.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia include
- Delusions: Strongly held false beliefs that are not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts.
- Hallucinations: Perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices or seeing things that others do not.
- Disorganized Thinking: This may be evident from disorganized speech, including incoherence or inability to stick to one topic.
- Abnormal Motor Behavior: This can show as childlike silliness or unpredictable agitation. Behavior is not focused on a goal, so it’s hard to do tasks.
- Negative Symptoms: This refers to decreased or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotions (doesn’t make eye contact, doesn’t change facial expressions).
These symptoms can be distressing and bewildering not only for the individual but also for their family and friends.
How Counselling at MANOURJA Treats Schizophrenia
Counselling is an essential component of comprehensive care for individuals with schizophrenia and can significantly improve their quality of life. Here’s how Counselling helps:
- Supportive Therapy: Helps patients cope with the stress of their symptoms, which can reduce the risk of relapse.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Used to address delusions and hallucinations. CBT can help patients test the reality of their perceptions and thoughts, learn to manage symptoms, and reduce the distress they cause.
- Psychoeducation: Teaching patients and families about schizophrenia can demystify the disorder, helping all involved to manage expectations and develop coping strategies.
- Social Skills Training: This can be part of therapy, aiming to improve communication and interpersonal skills, which are often affected by schizophrenia.
Steps in MANOURJA’s Counselling Process for Schizophrenia
- Initial Assessment: Gather detailed information about the patient’s mental health history, symptoms, and lifestyle.
- Developing a Treatment Plan: Create a comprehensive plan tailored to the individual’s specific needs, incorporating psychoeducation, CBT, and supportive therapies.
- Regular Counselling Sessions: Engage in scheduled therapy sessions to address ongoing symptoms, improve coping mechanisms, and enhance social functioning.
- Continuous Monitoring: Evaluate progress and adapt the treatment plan as needed to respond to changes in symptoms or challenges in therapy.
- Involvement of Family: Include family sessions as part of the Counselling process to educate and engage family members in the treatment process.
Through specialized Counselling like that offered at MANOURJA, individuals with schizophrenia can gain not only symptomatic relief but also a better understanding and control over their condition, leading to a more active and fulfilling life.
“Every new day is a fresh opportunity to step forward on your path, one hopeful moment at a time.”