New therapist offers services at Jefferson Hospital

Mikia Finley understands that there are times when everyone needs help.

“There is no shame in needing help,” Finley said. “My job is help people understand that just because you need support does not mean that you are crazy, just that you are human.”

As a licensed professional counselor and the new therapist with Jefferson Hospital’s Behavioral Heath Outpatient Unit, she often sees patients who have been stabilized in the hospital’s inpatient program and then need help to address the issues that originally got them there. She also knows that there are a lot of other people in the community who need her help as well, but who have never been admitted to the hospital in crisis.

“I see a lot of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation,” Finley said. “There is a lot of transition that happens from the geriatric standpoint. They are losing a lot of people. Their needs are changing. They are becoming less independent. They are slowing down and that’s difficult. You’ve lived your adult life all these years and you go from being independent to being less so. It’s enough to make anyone have anxiety, depression and question whether or not they want to continue living.”

While some adults are coming to terms with diagnoses that are seen in older age like dementia, Alzheimer's or even rheumatoid arthritis, other, younger people are dealing with grief over the loss of a spouse or life changes from diabetes, hypertension or complications from strokes.

“Some of these are debilitating and hard to fathom at any stage,” Finley said. “My own father, near the end, he kept saying that he did not want to burden us, his family. I’m sure a lot of people go through that. They were the caretaker, and the tables are turned and they don’t know how to ask for help.”

Finley’s job at Jefferson Hospital is to help them see that they are not alone, that help is available and that there is still a life worth living after grief, after world-altering change.

“I think COVID did us a justice with mental health,” Finley said. “It opened the door to talk about it.”

While the hospital’s inpatient services do target the geriatric population, the outpatient services are open to all adults, ages 21 and up. Anyone who is referred by a physician or contacts the clinic themselves, can come in for an initial assessment and determination of treatment.

The clinic offers both individual and group therapies.

Three different groups meet daily Mondays through Wednesdays, with an individual grief group meeting on Thursdays and a night group for working adults meeting Thursday evenings.

On Mondays they talk about healthy living and relaxation. Tuesdays focus on emotions and the impact of emotions on one’s overall self. On Wednesdays, they talk more specifically about diagnoses, both mental and physical, as well as medication management.

“We’re talking about ways to improve your life, getting exercise, eating right, doing activities. We go outside and we walk or we do chair yoga. We bring different types of mobility into the program with respect to everyone’s ability to take part,” Finley said. “We do mindfulness exercises. Stress management and relaxation is a part of it. We want to get people accustomed to doing different activities. Some people don’t explore hobbies anymore. Sitting there day after day, it is so monotonous and will keep you sad or anxious. We want to teach you different things you can do to distract you. Positive coping skills is essential to getting better.”

Classes focus on creating a positive self-image, taking an inventory of core values, and giving one’s self permission to be their authentic self.

“At some point we all have questions about life, about how we’re internalizing life, how we’re going about our way,” Finley said “It takes an effort from the client and the team, but the client actually has to do the work. We’re here for you. Tell us what you want to address. We’re goign to make recommendations, but ultimately you’re going to decide what you want to work on.”

For more information about the behavioral health services offered at Jefferson Hospital or to schedule a visit, call 478-377-7676.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: New therapist offers services at Jefferson Hospital