Understanding Mental Health and Getting the Right Advice

For most of us our mental health is important, but we can be worried about asking for help and have a fear of falling into the hands of somebody who doesn’t understand our particular condition. As a result of this we can be at a loss as to where to go next and what to do.

It can be tough dealing with the way you feel, so it’s a good idea make contact with a professional that can help. There are different kinds of mental health professionals in New Zealand, each kind takes a different approach. You’ll want to think about which one feels right for you.

How does a Clinical Exercise Physiologist work with mental health?

Most Clinical Exercise Physiologists use scientific rationale to design, implement and supervise exercise programming for people with chronic diseases, conditions and/or physical limitations. With mental health i.e. depression and anxiety, this is a more specialised field of expertise that doesn't always follow the "guidelines".

How ExerciseRx Helps

At ExerciseRx we are trained in what most Clinical Exercise Physiologists are, but after years of dedicated research and experience, our unique specialisation is instead on the way these individuals have been affected by these conditions long-term. We use a bio-psychosocial model to focus on improving mismanaged behaviours that are often a primary cause of the disability in itself.

Medical education forms part of our past and ongoing training. We focus on the body and mind in its entirety and the way exercise interacts with and benefits the various systems of the body, as well as look at what activity means to you as an individual.

More often than not we are exposed to clients who have more than one condition/primary symptom which ultimately requires considerable modification to the assessment and prescription guidelines from published guidelines that would otherwise be used for single diagnoses.

Our philosophy is to establish positive long-term behaviours rather than on a quick, short-term fix which could result in a relapse

“The psychology of physical activity and free movement is paramount in how we work so your time with us is not all about exercise”

Unlike Physiotherapists, we do not work with acute conditions nor make comment on injury diagnosis. And, we are unlike Personal Trainers in that our training is different and we educate you on how to look after and motivate yourself, rather than form a relationship that requires our constant input.

Our difference is that we work with your medical diagnosis (whether or not your health professionals can find one) and aim to educate and help you understand the “how’s” and “why’s” of exercise, in addition to other positive behaviour changes that you can incorporate into your lifestyle, for your specific condition(s).

For further information please go to www.meganmcewen.co.nz