Breaking Down Barriers: The Advantages of In-Home Therapy from a Therapist’s Perspective

We had the pleasure of speaking with Sophia Dykstra, who’s been a therapist at Wedgwood Christian Services for the past six years. Sophia works in the Community Care Management (CCM) program, providing intensive, home-based therapy for children, families, and adults who have recently been discharged from a mental health hospital. The goal of CCM is to support individuals in their homes and communities, reducing the need for hospitalization. Clients seeking assistance through Wedgwood’s CCM services are dealing with issues related to suicidal ideation and/or self-harm.

While traditional outpatient therapy may involve visiting a therapist’s office or conducting a virtual session, CCM therapy takes place in the comfort of the client’s home, allowing for a more personalized and effective approach to treatment. For example, issues that only occur in the home can be addressed in the home, where they can be better understood and resolved.

When asked about her experience at Wedgwood, Sophia expressed her love for the work she does. She believes it’s where God has called her and finds joy in witnessing families being transformed and seeing God’s hand at work in the healing process. She says that even small victories, like a client being able to show affection to their family, can have a big impact and lead to even bigger miracles.

Sophia values family therapy and works with families to understand the mental health diagnosis and how it’s affecting them. Together, they explore coping strategies and work to bring the family back together. When discussing coping skills, Sophia emphasizes the importance of separating the individual from their illness and finding the truth behind the lies often perpetuated by mental illness. For example, if you were to have an intrusive thought that “nobody loves me”, it can be counteracted by writing down a list of people who love you.

To support those struggling with mental health, Sophia suggests being a warm and loving presence, listening, offering a hug, and expressing concern. She encourages seeking support through local help lines and prayer. Sophia also emphasizes that mental health struggles are not always permanent and encourages individuals to not believe the lies perpetuated by mental illness.

“I see a lot of folks believing the lie of depression or believing the lie of anxiety, that it’s going to be forever. Depression’s favorite lie is you’ll never be happy again. You don’t
remember what it feels like to be happy. You’re going to feel this way forever. That’s not true. It’s just not true.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, Wedgwood’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services have immediate openings. You can contact the Bouma Counseling Center at (616) 942-7294 or email counseling@wedgwood.org for more information. Listen to Sophia’s conversation with Wedgwood on the Coffee Break Conversation podcast on YouTube or your preferred podcast platform.