AboutPatricia A. Schafer, Ph.D. Expertise I received my Ph.D. from Kent State,in Ohio in Counseling.I specialize in various forms of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and forms of addictions such as substance abuse,eating disorders and gambling. My licenses are: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -Supervisor(LPCC-S) and Licensed Professional Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) My experience includes counseling substance abusers, families of alcoholics/drug addictions, and codependency issues. I also specialize in social phobia; stress; anxieties; women`s issues; grief and adjustments to life changes. Some therapeutic techniques used are: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy)REBT (Rational Emotive), SFT (Solution Focused) and 12-Step, etc. If you live in the Cleveland area, you can contact me at my office for an appointment at: 440-349-4521. I accept insurance and EAP programs.
Experience Twelve years experience as a professional clinical counselor; 30 years member of Al-Anon.
Organizations ACA, OCA, OMHCA, NBCC
Publications Experiences of prejudice among individuals in African American and Caucasian Interracial Marriages: A Q-methodological Study (Doctoral Dissertation - December 2008;
Wilsnack and Beckman's book: Alcohol Problems in Women (1984). Alcohol use and marital violence: Female and Male Differences in reactions to alcohol(pages 260-279.
Education/Credentials Ph.D. in Counseling - Kent State
MS in Counseling - John Carroll University
BS in Psychology - University of Pittsburgh
Awards and Honors Previous president of NCOCA (North Central Ohio Counseling Association); previous president of Chi Sigma Iota. Two years VISTA volunteer on Navajo reservation in Inscription House and Shonto.
Question I really need some advice from somebody. For the last 5 or so years I have been quite severely depressed. I feel like life is pointless, and that everything I do is a waste of time. There is noting that I really enjoy doing so I feel like I知 just living because I am here and I have no choice. I know this is not normal but as much as I try, I still feel the same way. I go to work, to earn money so that I can support myself yet see no purpose in my life. I知 only 26 yet I feel like I am going to feel this way forever and it makes me feel so despondent. Because I知 depressed, I don稚 have the energy to be myself and engage socially which makes me so scared that I知 going to end up alone. I知 shy anyway so it痴 hard for me to connect and I just feel so disconnected from everyone else. I feel like there is something wrong with me, that I知 damaged and why would anyone want to be y friend because of this? I知 on antidepressants but I still feel hopeless. Things that other people find fun, like seeing movies, reading, etc seem just like something pointless to do to fill the time. What is wrong with me that I知 so uninterested in everything? How can I find life in myself again?
Answer Hi Holly:
Depression is very hard to live with and sometimes it takes a while to get the right medications that work. It also sounds like you may have social anxiety. It is common for depression and anxiety to go hand in hand.
I suggest you talk to your doctor for a reevaluation of medications. You might need to up your present medications or to change it. I also suggest seeing a psychiatrist for a reevaluation because they know their medications better than regular family doctors.
Here is a web site to help you learn more about depression. Also, it has self inventories you can take to see how serious your depression is. There is also an inventory for anxiety. I suggest you take them both and make a copy for your doctor the next time you see her or him.
