Let’s get started on your journey towards healing

Many life experiences can lead to mental stress, such as experiencing poor appetite and sleep quality, the loss of a loved one, or a significant decrease in motivation for work or academics.

When these challenges become more frequent and start to adversely affect your daily life, it may be advisable to consider seeking support from a mental health professional. They can help you navigate and process these difficult thoughts and emotions associated with these struggles, assisting you in improving your overall well-being.

If you find yourself unsure on where to start your well-being journey, an Empath Wellness Consult is your first step. This kind of service enables a general overview of your present mental state, and allows you to be directed towards the service that is more appropriate towards your case.  

There are three possible services that can be recommended after an Empath Wellness Consult, these include (1) Psychological Assessment, (2) Psychiatric Consult, and (3) Psychotherapy and Counseling Consult.

1. Psychological Assessment - conducted by a licensed Psychologist, this process entails the use of behavioral observations, clinical interviews, and psychological tests in order to produce a clear diagnosis of the client’s case. This service is usually utilized if the presenting symptoms are not that explicit, and could be characteristic of several possible mental health conditions.

2. Psychiatric Consult - conducted by a licensed Psychiatrist, this process entails the use of behavioral observations and clinical interviews to process the mental health concerns of a client. Using the Biological Model of Mental Health, medications are prescribed in order to regulate the brain chemicals that affect behavior and daily functionality.

3. Psychotherapy and Counseling - conducted by a licensed Psychologist or Counselor, this process focuses on developing insights and effective coping strategies in dealing with the presenting mental health concerns. Using the Psychological Model of Mental Health, it focuses on correcting irrational thoughts, managing emotional impulses, and establishing better social relationships.

For first timers, going to your first counseling session can be very nerve-wracking. To ease those anxieties, imagine you are going to meet up with a friend you haven’t seen for so long. You have a lot of stories to share with them, and you would like to hear their take on those life experiences. It may be useful to list down your concerns before the session.

Just remember that your session is a safe space conversation between two people. It does not have to be too strict or structured. Sometimes, you just begin with one concern and see where it goes along. What matters most is that you trust what your MHP says and collaborate on making you feel better with yourself.

Below are some steps you can take to maximize your session with your psychologist or counselor.

• List down points and concerns you would like to bring up with your psychologist or counselor. Are you trying to find ways to manage your anxiety due to online learning or working from home? Are you hoping to address being so sad, lethargic, and unmotivated for so long? Are you having difficulties in dealing with your relationships right now? You can use these questions as your starting points for your journey to healing.

• If you can, try opting for a video call. It will be easier to talk and process your thoughts with someone when you are able to see them face-to-face.

• Bring a pen and paper (or a mental health notebook) to the session. You can write down any notes, insights, or any mental health strategies you pick up during the session.

Protecting human dignity is one of the core components of mental health services. At Empath, all sessions are currently held with the strictest level of confidentiality. Your information cannot be shared to anybody without your permission.

Even for clients below age 18, the information you shared with your MHP would not be divulged with your parents or guardians. Instead, they would be given psychoeducation to have a better understanding of your case and how to handle it.

For Empath Wellness Consults, you can set an appointment at least 24 hours before the consultation start time.

For all other consults, you can set an appointment at least 16 hours before the consultation start time.

Please wait for the meeting link to be sent to you via email.

Below are the different protocols depending on how soon the consultation start time is.

• If there is at least 16 hours before the consultation start time, you may. If you have another schedule in mind, you can reschedule. If you want to delay your appointment for the time being, you can cancel the appointment. You can still use the same coupon code for a new appointment in either scenario.

• If there is less than 16 hours before the consultation start time, or if the session start time has elapsed, you may not. This will be marked as a no-show appointment. You can request for a new coupon code because the old coupon code cannot be applied again.

Clients who express their intent to reschedule within 16 hours before their session will have to pay a corresponding rescheduling fee.