Truth be told, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating mental and emotional challenges. Mental health disorders, substance abuse concerns, and other behavioral difficulties all undoubtedly interfere with an individual’s ability to function normally in daily life. Yet, each individual who enters treatment does so with different circumstances and experiences, unique needs, and specific goals for recovery. Further, even treatment interventions that have been deemed evidence-based have subjective effects on each person. Due to these intersecting factors, effective mental health treatment must be individualized, with each treatment plan personalized and tailored to a client’s unique situation and recovery journey.
At Wisconsin Wellness, we offer outpatient mental health treatment programs that are designed not merely to address challenging symptoms and diagnoses but more so to enhance and improve the lives of each client, their families, and the community at large. Regardless of the concerns that a client presents with, we can guide them in overcoming those concerns through the use of various treatment interventions, approaches, and collaborative community resources. Meanwhile, individualized treatment is the core of our approach. By personalizing client care, we can ensure that each person has the knowledge and tools that they need to sustain lasting success.
Understanding the Subjectivity of Mental Health
To grasp the importance and necessity of individualized treatment in mental health care, it is first necessary to address the role of mental health in an individual’s overall health as well as their quality of life. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”
When an individual is in good mental health, they may feel confident in their ability to regulate their emotions, effectively cope with stress, and make decisions that align with their values. On the other hand, when an individual is in poor mental health, they may experience unstable emotions, disturbed sleep, poor self-esteem, and social challenges. It is also important to recognize that an individual’s mental health can and does change over time.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out, “When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted.” For instance, abruptly losing a loved one, taking on additional responsibilities, or enduring financial challenges can all affect an individual’s state of mental health. In other words, mental health is subjective, as it is reflective solely of an individual’s unique experiences and state of being.
Other examples of subjective factors that may influence an individual’s state of mental health, as well as their need for mental health treatment, include, but are not limited to, the following.
Untreated Trauma
According to SAMHSA, trauma is defined as any circumstance that results in physical, emotional, and/or life-threatening harm. Meanwhile, “Research has shown that traumatic experiences are associated with both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions, especially those traumatic events that occur during childhood.” Whether trauma stems from losing a loved one, enduring physical abuse or neglect, or something else, its effects can be detrimental to an individual’s mental health if left unaddressed.
As untreated trauma can have long-lasting impacts on an individual, any untreated trauma must be incorporated into a client’s individualized treatment plan. Without effectively integrating traumatic experiences, an individual is more vulnerable to turning to maladaptive behaviors when faced with stress throughout long-term recovery.
Stability of the Home Environment
Another factor that undoubtedly influences an individual’s subjective state of mental health is their home environment, specifically its stability. If the home environment is typically stable and predictable, it can serve as a protective factor for an individual’s mental health. Yet, if the home environment is chaotic, unpredictable, or otherwise unstable, it can contribute to poor mental health.
Some factors that influence an unstable home environment include:
- Physical or emotional neglect, abuse, or abandonment
- Parental divorce
- The presence of alcohol and drug use; addiction in a family member
- Low socioeconomic status and poverty
- Parental unemployment
- Level of parental monitoring
Meanwhile, an individualized treatment plan will encourage clients to understand the role that each of these factors has played in their current state of mental health. It will also guide them as they discover new ways to address these circumstances, as well as how they will respond to them moving forward.
Quality of Support Systems
Social support also plays a significant role in an individual’s mental health. The experience of feeling validated and comforted by family, friends, and other loved ones can enhance self-esteem, offer a sense of purpose, and aid in personal growth. In this way, quality social support can also act as a protective factor against stress and associated engagement in maladaptive behaviors.
Meanwhile, as stated by the CDC, “Social isolation and loneliness have become widespread problems in the United States, posing a serious threat to our mental and physical health.” Many individuals seek out mental health treatment because they feel lonely, outcasted, or otherwise misunderstood. Thus, determining the quality of an individual’s social support systems is necessary for healing, and efforts to strengthen existing social support systems must be incorporated into an individualized treatment plan.
An Individual’s Unique Biology
From the very moment an individual is conceived, their unique biological makeup influences vulnerabilities to subjective states of mental health. For instance, having a relative with addiction or a mental illness can increase an individual’s risk of developing one or both conditions throughout their lifetime. This does not mean that having a relative with addiction guarantees that an individual will also develop an addiction. Rather, it means that the individual may have vulnerabilities in their brain that could make them more likely to develop addiction, especially if they choose to engage in alcohol and drug use.
Furthermore, as explained by The Canadian Veterinary Journal, “Even for those who don’t inherit risk genes, genes can change after birth and contribute to mental illness through a process called de novo genetic change. In other words, how a person interacts with their environment, and their life choices, can influence their risk for mental illness.” Thus, an individual’s unique biology must also be taken into consideration when crafting an effective, individualized treatment plan.
Components of an Individualized Treatment Plan: Personalized Paths to Wellness
As mentioned previously, each person who enters mental health treatment does so with different symptoms, experiences, and hopes for recovery. This helps to highlight the necessity of an individualized treatment plan. Treatment centers that utilize a one-size-fits-all treatment approach are rarely effective, as they do not take into consideration unique factors that may be perpetuating an individual’s distress or specific factors that could strengthen an individual’s recovery.
Meanwhile, contrary to what some may believe, even individuals who enter treatment with similar symptoms or diagnoses may not benefit from the same treatment plan. In light of the aforementioned factors that influence an individual’s state of mental health, it is necessary to consider how individualized treatment works to address each of these factors in treatment and throughout long-term recovery. With specific examples of what to expect from treatment, each person can feel more confident in their ability to participate in individualized treatment for lasting healing.
There are many ways that treatment facilities may curate an individualized treatment plan. As these plans are meant to curate personalized plans for wellness, it is necessary to shed light on wellness as a main goal. According to Creating a Healthier Life: A Step-By-Step Guide to Wellness by SAMHSA, “[W]ellness is about how we live our lives and the joy and fulfillment and health we experience.” More specifically, it is about being healthy in every dimension of an individual’s life, including:
- Emotional
- Intellectual
- Physical
- Social
- Environmental
- Spiritual
- Occupational
- Financial
Just as each of the aforementioned factors that influence mental health affects various areas of an individual’s life, so too do each of these dimensions. For instance, when an individual experiences anxiety and worry (emotional), they may pull back from loved ones and isolate (social). Without intervention, their emotions may begin to interfere with their ability to perform well at work (occupational), which could cost them their job (financial). Needless to say, any challenge that an individual may experience in their daily life can affect their ability to achieve and sustain wellness.
Thus, the task of mental health treatment, specifically of an individualized treatment plan, is to reestablish wellness through various intersecting efforts. By addressing components of an individualized treatment plan through each of these eight dimensions of wellness, those seeking treatment can have a better idea of what treatment can help them accomplish in their lives.
Emotional Components of a Treatment Plan
According to SAMHSA, “The Emotional Wellness Dimension involves the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life’s stressors, and enjoy life.” In an individualized treatment plan, this dimension is addressed through the implementation and use of various psychotherapeutic approaches to help the client better understand the connections that exist between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Additionally, clients will have the opportunity to learn effective ways to manage stress, prioritize self-care, and honor their emotional needs.
Intellectual Components of a Treatment Plan
According to SAMHSA, “The Intellectual Wellness Dimension involves many things that keep our brains active and our intellect expanding.” Similar to the emotional wellness dimension, this dimension is addressed in an individualized treatment plan through the use of psychotherapy and other interventions. Through recurrent dialogue with a therapist, clients will work to uncover personal interests and values, consider exploring new hobbies, and participate in other activities that spark their intellectual knowledge.
Physical Components of a Treatment Plan
As SAMHSA explains, the physical wellness dimension consists of nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. In an individualized treatment plan, physical wellness is addressed through psychoeducation as well as the monitoring of daily habits. For instance, sleep, substance use, and physical activity all affect physical wellness. Thus, incorporating new strategies for strengthening physical wellness can be paramount. Additionally, engaging in physical activities that may also strengthen wellness in other dimensions, such as yoga for emotional health, can be especially valuable.
Social Components of a Treatment Plan
According to SAMHSA, “The Social Wellness Dimension involves having healthy relationships with friends, family, and the community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others and humankind.” In an individualized treatment plan, social wellness is addressed by examining the quality of an individual’s social support systems, including their impact on continued recovery. It also involves connecting with social support groups to make new connections and setting aside intentional time with loved ones, which can all be incorporated into a treatment plan.
Environmental Components of a Treatment Plan
Simply put, SAMHSA explains that the environmental wellness dimension involves feeling safe in the environment. Not only does this mean having access to clean air and food, but it also means residing in an environment that is supportive of recovery. In an individualized treatment plan, environmental wellness is addressed by analyzing the impact of an individual’s home environment on their healing. Sometimes, this involves locating an alternative healing environment, especially if the home is abusive, uncleanly, or triggering. It also involves being intentional about spending time outside for play.
Spiritual Components of a Treatment Plan
According to SAMHSA, “The Spiritual Wellness Dimension is a broad concept that represents one’s personal beliefs and values and involves having meaning, purpose, and a sense of balance and peace.” In an individualized treatment plan, spiritual wellness is addressed by incorporating an individual’s unique spiritual or religious preferences into their healing and recovery journey. More specifically, it involves setting aside time for inner work and reflection, collaborating with others who share similar beliefs, and ensuring that an individual’s actions are aligned with their spiritual beliefs.
Occupational/ Financial Components of a Treatment Plan
Lastly, occupational and financial wellness often go hand-in-hand. First, SAMHSA defines the occupational wellness dimension as participation “in activities that provide meaning and purpose and reflect personal values, interests, and beliefs, including employment.” Meanwhile, the financial wellness dimension “involves things such as income, debt, and savings, as well as a person’s understanding of financial processes and resources.”
In an individualized treatment plan, occupational and financial wellness are addressed by connecting clients with resources for employment, providing financial management skills, and finding a work/life balance. It is not uncommon for individuals to discover that their career choice is interfering with other aspects of wellness. With the guidance of a therapist, clients can process any doubts, fears, and goals associated with achieving and sustaining financial stability throughout treatment and long-term recovery.
Individualized Treatment at Wisconsin Wellness
At Wisconsin Wellness, our goal is to meet all of our clients where they are at while providing the best clinical care possible. Through individualized treatment plans, we can cater treatment to meet the unique needs and experiences of each client we serve. Although symptom management and reduction are often the goals, clients may have their own objectives and goals for the treatment journey. Thus, we are here to provide them with the guidance and support that they need to work toward their individualized goals through a commitment to psychological safety and emotional intelligence for each and every client.
Unfortunately, there are often many things that stand in the way of participating in treatment. Stigma, embarrassment, and the challenge of accepting the need for professional guidance are all common barriers. Yet, it is necessary to understand that accepting the need for help is not a weakness; it is a strength. Despite what some may believe, everyone struggles with mental health from time to time, yet everyone is deserving of treatment and healing. To learn more about our treatment options and programs, do not hesitate to reach out to us today.
Contrary to what some may believe, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for navigating the effects of mental health disorders or other emotional concerns. Rather, for treatment to be effective, it must be individualized to fit the unique needs, experiences, and recovery goals of each client. In general, individualized treatment guides clients in obtaining whole-person wellness. By addressing components of individualized treatment through each of the eight dimensions of wellness, each client can better understand and recognize the value of personalized care for their healing and long-term recovery. At Wisconsin Wellness, we are committed to enhancing and improving the lives of clients by meeting them where they are in recovery. Learn more about our outpatient programs by calling (920) 404-2100.