Addictions

Addictions

Dr. Marji Prefontaine provides therapy and counseling for many different reasons here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque including addictions. Someone can become addicted to nearly anything, though alcohol, drugs, smoking, shopping, sex, and gambling are the most common. An addiction is identified as having a compulsive need to have a certain thing or substance at all times, often affecting the person’s life as a result of the need for it.

 

The following criteria is used to determine whether or not a patient is struggling with an addiction:

 

1. Building a tolerance where the substance increases gradually over time.

2. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms without the addiction, including physical, emotional and psychological changes.

3. Feeling lack of control over the substance or situation.

4. Dealing with negative consequences as a result of the addiction, and continuing to use the substance.

5. Putting off social or other activities for the addiction.

6. Spending a good deal of time or energy on the addiction.

7. Having a desire to cut back but being unable to on their own.

 

If you are showing any of these signs of having an addiction, the sooner you get help, the better off you will be. Visit the Relationship Center of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM to learn more about addiction treatment options.

Anger Management

Anger Management

Here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque, we treat patients who are struggling with anger management. Dealing with anger is often a very difficult thing because any number of situations can trigger intense feelings of anger, making it almost impossible to control on your own.

 

Everyone deals with anger on some level, but some of our patients have a much harder time with it, often feeling it at random moments and to a much more severe degree than what the situation calls for.

 

This type of anger is often the result of an inability to express emotions, which then leads to violence, rage, or hostility. It could mean harming themselves or others, which puts everyone at danger. It is very important that anyone feeling like they don’t have control over their anger see us for anger management.

 

We provide patients with individualized treatment options for anger management, but beginning with one-on-one counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy. At these sessions, patients learn why they feel these angry and aggressive emotions, learn how to deal with their feelings, and find ways to avoid bottling up emotions until they explode. Not only does this help our patients live a normal, healthy life, but it prevents substance abuse and self-harm, which is common among patients with anger management issues.

 

Call Dr. Marji Prefontaine at 505-821-1948 in Albuquerque, NM to learn more about anger management treatments.

What is Psychotherapy?

What is Psychotherapy?

Here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque, we utilize various types of treatments to help our patients, including psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that treats mental and anxiety disorders, as well as various psychological disorders.

 

Our therapist, Dr. Marji Prefontaine, assesses each patient’s individual needs and bases her treatment plan on what the patient is struggling with, to what degree it is affecting his or her life, and what the patient feels most comfortable with.

 

There are several types of psychotherapy offered, including cognitive behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy, and psychoanalytic.

 

We encourage patients experiencing any of the following situations, to see us for psychotherapy:

• Not being able to concentrate on school or work activities.
• Not finding relief, regardless of self treatment activities.
• An overwhelming feeling of sadness or helplessness.
• Constantly worrying or being on edge.
• Participating in self-harming activities like drinking alcohol or doing drugs.

These are only a few of the commonalities we see in people that visit us in our office.

Any time you are having difficulty with issues in your life that are making a significant change in how you live your life, psychotherapy is recommended. When you’re ready, make an appointment with our office in Albuquerque, NM by calling 505-821-1948.

Self Esteem & Life Transitions

Self esteem is extremely important to us as it affects how our patients live their everyday life. There are a lot of life transitions that can cause a lack of self-esteem, and a lot of ways that low self-esteem affects people in a negative way.

 

From not wanting to meet new friends to avoiding social situations, low self-esteem is damaging to a person’s self-worth. We have discovered that not getting help for self-esteem can lead to social anxiety and clinical depression in some patients.

 

That’s why we here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque help our patients find their confidence and improve their self-esteem through counseling and therapy. No matter what the situation, there are ways to improve a person’s self-esteem. In some patients, behavioral therapy to teach the person about their own worth and value is high.

 

It is our job to determine the best course of treatment, and we treat each of our patients individually and uniquely. Regardless of the cause surrounding the self-esteem and life transition issues, we encourage all patients to seek help in our therapy office.

 

Patients can schedule an appointment here in Albuquerque, NM with Dr. Marji Prefontaine. In addition, call us today for a free telephone consultation.

Social Anxiety

While it is very common for people to be nervous or shy in new social situations,social anxiety is something else entirely. It is not simply a matter of being nervous around people, but having extreme difficulty with social situations.

 

Having social anxiety can be debilitating, keeping the person who has it from forming or maintaining friendships or relationships. Many people with social anxiety avoid speaking in public, fail to take jobs because of the interview, and rarely go out in public when there will be others around. It keeps them from everyday activities, which is why we feel it is important for patient to start getting treatment as soon as possible.

 

There are many treatments for social anxiety from Dr. Marji Prefontaine can help, including:

• Speaking in public.
• Dating and romance.
• Being more assertive.
• Building self-confidence.
• Making new friends.
• Building interpersonal skills.
• Advancing at work.

We help in a variety of ways, including identifying the overall cause of the anxiety, providing one-on-one counseling sessions and behavioral therapy, and helping with individual desires, like relationships or learning interpersonal skills.

 

If you have social anxiety, visit the Relationship Center of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM today. For our patient’s convenience, we offer morning Saturday hours.

Compulsive Disorders

Here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque, we provide treatments for patients for a variety of conditions, including compulsive disorders. A compulsive disorder is an addiction to anything, whether it is sex, shopping, drugs and alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or eating. With an addiction, the sufferer feels like they need to do something and do not have control over it. It goes beyond abusing drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, and becomes a need, rather than a desire.

We understand how damaging compulsive disorders can be not only to the individual, but others involved as well. This is why we offer counseling to help the individual and their loved ones get through the disorder without permanent damage.

Through regular visits, Dr. Marji Prefontaine provides behavioral therapy sessions, group counseling, and individual cognitive counseling to work through the cause of the compulsive disorder. This helps the individual identify where the problem started, in order to devise a proper way and treatment plan to manage it.

We recommend calling us at 505-821-1948 if you or someone you love is dealing with a compulsive disorder and is ready to get help.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Here at the Relationship Center of Albuquerque, we treat a variety of anxiety issues, including social anxiety disorder. While many people experience some level of nervousness in social situations, people with social anxiety disorder find themselves to have a deeply-rooted problem that causes them to avoid most social functions. These individuals find that the social situations are so stressful, it becomes debilitating to them.

Having social anxiety disorder can also affect everyday situations sufferers need to be involved in, such as:

1. Eating or drinking in public.

2. Working in front of other people.

3. Using public restrooms.

4. Speaking on the phone.

5. Being the center of attention.

6. Working in an office environment.

Social anxiety disorder prevents itself through a variety of symptoms, including not being able to introduce yourself to others, constantly worrying about embarrassing yourself, and avoiding social situations just so you don’t deal with these intense emotions.

Dr. Marji Prefontaine treats social anxiety disorder, including diagnosing this disorder and helping patients with a wide range of situations. In particular, this includes helping patients in a one-on-one environment with dating, public speaking, making friends, gaining confidence at work, working on interpersonal skills, being more assertive, and being more confidence in social situations overall. If you are experiencing social anxiety in Albuquerque, NM, don't hesitate to call us directly and confidentially at 505-821-1948.