About Me
Hello-
My name is Jamal Morton and I am a Licensed independent Mental Health Practitioner(LIMHP) in the state of Nebraska. I earned my Bachelors Degree at Bellevue University in Behavioral Science and earned my Masters Degree in 2015 from Bellevue University in Clinical Counseling. My practice has focused on clients with co-occurring disorders. I specialize in working with individuals who experience difficulty controlling anger, anxiety, depression, abuse/neglect, parenting difficulties, addiction, stress, grief, trauma, lack of coping skills, mood disorders, and personality disorders. I have expertise in working with diverse multicultural populations. I value a collaborative approach and want to provide the support you need to grow in a safe space.
I look forward to working with you.
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Take care,
Jamal Morton MS, LIMHP
Specializing in Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, and Relationships
Anxiety
Anxiety is the body and mind's natural reaction to unfamiliar, stressful, or dangerous situations. Before a significant event, a healthy level of uneasiness or dread can help you remain aware and alert. Brain chemistry, personality, genetics and conditioning can all affect the way you react to distress. An excess of apprehension can feel irrational can feel irrational, overwhelming, and debilitating. Instant panic attacks may last for a disproportionate length of time for the situation, interfering with daily life.
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. A recent national study found that more than 1 in every 14 adults will experience an episode of clinical depression. Left untreated, depression can affect your relationships, career, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, depression is also very treatable, especially when the symptoms are caught early on. No matter how bad things might seem, you have the power to break free from depression!
Relationships
Couples/ Family Therapy is a form of psychotherapy which focuses on relationship distress and growth. The purpose is to jointly identify the areas that are in need of evolution. Some distressful situations can include, but are not exclusive to: poor communication, work-life imbalance, financial distress, domestic violence, parenting, mental illness, depression and substance abuse. Shared work with the therapist will yield to development and implementation of a treatment plan that will allow your relationships to bloom again. The goal is to work towards alleviating discomfort and rebuilding a healthier level of collaboration and love.
Trauma
Emotional or physical trauma is a complex condition. When we experience something as extremely threatening AND we feel helpless to stop the condition, often this can lead to us feel traumatized. It is an expected response to feeling terrorized and powerless. The more quickly we address the emotional and physical symptoms that result, the more likely we will return to normal functioning.
When our bodies or emotions are attacked, a natural series of events will happen to our brains, bodies and emotions in an attempt to deal with the threat. OUR BRAINS: Our amazing brains, when threatened, will signal the body to quickly release stress hormones (Cortisol) to regulate our blood pressure and how our body will use its storage of fat, sugar and carbohydrates for energy. OUR BODIES: Our pupils may dilate so we can see things more clearly, our heart will pump more quickly to make our fists and legs more powerful, we may feel nauseous or even lose control over our bladders or bowels so we won’t be weighed down with digestion and we can run faster. OUR EMOTIONS: We may emotionally “numb out” if the pain is too great, similar to how when we hit our thumb with a hammer, it temporarily loses sensation. We may feel overwhelmed. This complex reaction to acute stress is adaptive and useful to handle an immediate threat.
However, our systems are not equipped to withstand all this stress on a regular basis. It will take a negative toll on the body as if a vehicle were continually revving its engine; it would more quickly wear out the life of the vehicle. If we continue to have symptoms more than 4 weeks after exposure to a traumatic event, or are continually exposed to threatening traumatic events and unable to protect ourselves (when we are young or as adults), then there is a possibility we will develop a condition called Post Traumatic Stress. It is as if the brain gets stuck in that alert state (hyper-vigilant), tense, irritable state (hyper-aroused) or avoidant behaviors.
Addictions
Continuing to binge drink or get high on drugs will continue to bring you down. Relationships will fall apart. Work will become first challenging to get there – and then if your usage continues, the job will be lost.
How many chances do you get to correct your behavior to be a valued person in your family and community?
Therapy with me will help you face your decision with open eyes and move forward productively. You will have the structure and support you need to make changes, develop other ways to cope, and feel happier living a cleaner life.
Behaviors take time to develop, and they also take time to look at when we want to change them. We change behaviors one moment at a time, thinking about ourselves, becoming more aware and less automatic.
You can feel confidence in making a healthy choice and making a healthy change! Your opportunity to feel like yourself again is waiting for you!