How Professional Counseling Helps
You’ve been through difficult times and so have I. Some of us have lived through many hardships.
Maybe you’ve experienced a traumatic event, lost a loved one, had a challenging relationship, or coped with a sudden change in health or finances. Or, perhaps you’ve noticed you feel down, tired, worried, fearful, or angry regularly. These experiences and feelings get in the way of getting to work, being in relationships, and feeling productive, energized, and happy.
Mental health is important! And, how we feel on the inside affects our bodies and overall health, our jobs, and our relationships.
Mental health counseling, also known as “therapy,” is an immensely helpful process. Counseling is recommended to help you learn more about the circumstances, experiences, or thoughts and beliefs contributing to feeling upset and unwell. A counselor provides a safe, confidential, and supportive space for you to heal, solve problems, learn new tools and skills, and feel better. A counselor will provide education on how the body and mind work, help you get clear about what you want, listen intently in a nurturing, respectful manner, ask powerful questions to promote insight, focus exclusively on you, and create a process of growth and accountability.
Steps to find and schedule a counselor
1. Ask for recommendations from people you trust. Personal testimonials from people you admire mean a lot.
2. Read about various therapists – how do they describe what they do and who they are? What are their experience and training? What values and perspectives do you notice and how do these align with you?
3. Set up that first appointment via a website or a phone call. Appointments can be virtual or in person. How does the counselor make you feel? Do they understand and respect your concerns? Are they a good listener, but also able to ask meaningful questions?
Do they make you feel heard and safe?
Overall, is there a “fit?” Did they do a good job of explaining confidentiality and the counseling process?
4. Schedule regular appointments to invest in you and the process. Does your therapist remember what you share and what you are working on? Do they challenge you? Do they make you feel hopeful and energized following a session?
Do they recommend things to focus on outside of the session?
Making the most of your counseling session
Regular appointments are a critical part of the counseling process. Think of these as an investment in yourself. Be sure to prepare for each session – what would be helpful to focus on?
Did you have any insight or things to share from the last session? Are there other resources, like books, podcasts, or apps, that compliment the work you are doing in therapy? Do you have other support you can lean on to help you deepen and expand your counseling sessions? Do you have a journal, workbook, app, or another way of tracking your progress and insight?
