Val Verde RMC | Keeping Well | Spring/Primavera 2018

More ways VVRMC helps kids and A TEEN WITH DEPRESSION. An adolescent with autism. A tween with a sports injury. Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC) has the experts who can help teens have a healthy mind and body and help them be their best. Here’s a snapshot of services that can help meet adolescents’ physical, mental and developmental health needs: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING As a therapist who specializes in children and teens, Lyndsee Cooper, MA, LPC, knows firsthand the good counseling does for their mental well- being and self-esteem. It can even save lives by helping to prevent teen suicide. Counseling, sometimes called talk therapy, can help with a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety or depression. Both are common in the teen years, Cooper says. The teen years are a time of change, and adolescents may have a lot of stress in their lives at home or school or in their relationships with peers. In talk therapy, kids learn coping skills to help manage difficult situations. “It’s okay to need help,” Cooper says. “We’re trying to break down the stigma around mental health by having these open conversations about concerns teens may have.” Because mental health counseling is a newer program at VVRMC, some people still may not be aware that it is available, Cooper says. She encourages parents to talk with their teens and reach out for help if they notice a concerning change in their teen’s personality or behavior. Mental health counseling is available by referral from a primary care doctor. Telehealth sessions with a psychiatrist who can help with medicine management are also available via video chat. REHAB SERVICES Physical (PT), occupational (OT) and speech therapies can help teens maximize their full potential at school or home or in their daily life, says Diana Wilburn, certified occupational therapy assistant. VVRMC offers services for children and teens with a wide range of injuries and conditions. These Pediatrics/Pediatría The Institute for Therapeutic Medicine staff offers Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy services for everyone from small children to seniors. To find out more, call 830-542-2430 . El personal del Instituto de Medicina Terapéutica ofrece servicios de Terapia del Habla, Ocupacional y Física para todos, desde niños pequeños hasta adultos mayores. Para obtener más información, llame al 830-542-2430 . 6 Keeping Well/Mantenerse Sano