Author: Jor-El Caraballo

Talkspace Therapist

What You Need to Know About Substance Abuse in the LGBTQ Community

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
person dressed in pride colors drinking

Drug abuse, especially opioids, is a culture-wide problem. It is estimated that about 130 people die daily in the US due to opioid overdose. While this statistic alone doesn’t capture the totality of of all substances use, it demonstrates the depths of the substance abuse crisis around the country. Sexual minorities, such as LGBTQ people, are often at higher risk for substance abuse issues, making these groups particularly vulnerable. Continue reading What You Need to Know About Substance Abuse in the LGBTQ Community

4 Steps for Confronting Someone Whose Humor is Offensive

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
two boys stealing stop sign

There are many different perspectives on what constitutes humor, from deadpan to slapstick to insult, there tends to be a lot of variability in how people express their humor. Where do you draw the line between “just joking” and offensive humor? That’s up for each person to decide, but if you have found someone’s jokes distasteful here are some tips how to confront someone whose humor you consider offensive. Continue reading 4 Steps for Confronting Someone Whose Humor is Offensive

How to Find a Therapist with a Similar Cultural Background

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
woman of color discussing with man of color while sitting in chairs

These days, there are more ways to find a therapist than ever before. But, some might feel it’s important and more helpful to work with a therapist of a particular background, which can make the search more difficult. It can even be tough to make this request. If you’re in this situation, what should you do? Continue reading How to Find a Therapist with a Similar Cultural Background

How Often Should You Talk to Your Therapist to Feel the Benefits?

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
woman writing in a planner

Therapy can be a mysterious process. There’s still a lot of stigma attached to the idea of seeking out a licensed therapist to help improve your mental health. This leaves many people confused about its benefits and what the process of therapy entails. One of the questions that often comes up, is how frequently you should see your therapist to reap the benefits. Continue reading How Often Should You Talk to Your Therapist to Feel the Benefits?

The History of the LGBTQ Community and Mental Health Treatment

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
rainbow shoes and confetti

While increased visibility may lead one to believe that these are newly formed identities, LGBTQ folks have existed throughout history, contributing mightily in all areas of our culture. Think of Oscar Wilde’s contribution to literature and the technological advances from Alan Turing. And just as perceptions and acceptance of LGBTQ communities — and the language we use to describe them — has evolved over time, so has the relationship between the mental health community and LGBTQ people. Continue reading The History of the LGBTQ Community and Mental Health Treatment

What I Wish My Father Had Told Me (About Mental Health)

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
father hiking with son pointing upwards

Fathers are one of the biggest influences in our lives. Whether you are close to your father or have a distant (or non-existent) relationship with him, the role of a father in one’s life is hard to capture succinctly. As we approach Father’s Day, here are some ideas that I wish my father had told me about men and mental health. Continue reading What I Wish My Father Had Told Me (About Mental Health)

What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
Anxious woman

Approximately 18% of people in the United States live with an anxiety condition each year. This means that each and every day, roughly 40 million people go through their daily routine coping with a high degree of stress and anxiety. Many of these people might have what we consider “high-functioning anxiety.”

Psychology is often most concerned with function or dysfunction. Medicine overall looks at illness or diagnosis as a problem (pathology) to be solved. In the past, the mental health community has also viewed mental illnesses as pathology, but as more research has been done and the knowledge of mental health professionals has increased, we’ve come to understand that many mental health conditions exist on a continuum of functioning. Updates to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM V) captures this ongoing shift in thinking Continue reading What is High-Functioning Anxiety?

What is Healthy, Respectful Masculinity?

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
Man playing with a dog

Masculinity is a hot topic these days, but it is also difficult to adequately define, leaving many people wondering — what is healthy masculinity?

Largely, it depends on who you ask, but to better understand healthy masculinity, it is helpful to start by looking at two key components: Why it’s important, and how masculinity becomes toxic. Continue reading What is Healthy, Respectful Masculinity?

How to Accelerate Your Progress in Therapy

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
Man waiting for the train

Therapy is often considered a mysterious process, leaving many people unsure about what it actually is and how to make significant progress while in treatment.

At its core, therapy is both a relationship and a process. The process itself is dictated by a therapist’s style and a client’s wishes for their journey in therapy. The relationship (the single most important change factor in therapy) is the process of collaboration between client and therapist. This relationship is known as the therapeutic alliance. Continue reading How to Accelerate Your Progress in Therapy