How can counseling help me?
A number of
benefits are available from participating in counseling. Therapists can
provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for
issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved
childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative
blocks. Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to
managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns,
marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a
fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a
solution. The benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use
the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits
available from counseling include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek counseling
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need counseling? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in
life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other
difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra
support when you need it. In fact, counseling is for people who have enough
self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to
be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in
life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking counseling.
Counseling provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools
you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome
whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to counseling and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to counseling. Some
may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new
job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some
people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low
self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems,
spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Counseling can help provide some
much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these
periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about
themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short,
people seeking counseling are ready to meet the challenges in their lives
and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is counseling like?
Because each
person has different issues and goals for counseling, counseling will be
different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to
discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history
relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained)
from the previous counseling session. Depending on your specific
needs, counseling can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term,
to deal with more difficult issues or your desire for more personal
development.
It is important to understand that you
will get more results from counseling if you actively participate in the
process. The ultimate purpose of counseling is to help you bring what you
learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in
counseling sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do
outside of counseling to support your process - such as journaling on
specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.
People seeking counseling are ready to make positive changes in their lives,
are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychocounseling?
It is well established that the long-term solution to
mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved
solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, counseling
addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our
progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of
well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your
medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a
combination of medication and counseling is the right course of
action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through
your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check
your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some
helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per counseling session?
- How many counseling sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Does what we talk about in counseling remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components
between a client and therapist. Successful counseling requires a high degree
of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed
anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a
written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect
that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is
called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your
therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your
healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your
therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written
permission.
However, state law and professional ethics
require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following
situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of
children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection
and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or
collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client
is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm
another person.