Your Options In Receiving Counseling Help
If you believe you may benefit from receiving counseling help, there may be many options available. Therapy may be helpful for you if you’re experiencing anxiety, have gone through a loss, are living with substance use concerns, are having trouble with your relationships, or no longer enjoy the things you used to love. Most counseling approaches are either psychodynamic or behavioral, but there are many counseling subtypes, so it’s likely you’ll be able to find one that works for you. You can also try attending therapy sessions online.
How do you know if you need counseling help?
It can be challenging to know when to seek counseling help. Often, we tell ourselves things aren’t “bad enough” to reach out for professional support. However, it is not necessary to be in crisis or to have a mental health diagnosis in order to benefit from speaking with a therapist or other mental health professional. Counseling may help people who are experiencing negative thoughts and emotions, job stress, or conflict in relationships.
- You are emotionally overwhelmed
- You are experiencing sadness over a loss in terms of family, love, or career
- You have inexplicable and recurring pains or numbness of any body part
- You are living with substance misuse
- You feel overloaded with negativity and rejection
- You do not enjoy the things you used to love
- You’re having trouble with any one of your relationships
- Your friends have expressed concern for you
If you can relate to one or more of the bullet points above, please don’t hesitate to reach out and get the help you deserve. It can be possible to improve your mental health and enjoy your life more fully.
Counseling help options
Research has shown that therapy is an effective, evidence-based treatment for improving mental health. For example, this meta-analysis, in which researchers conducted a systematic review of previous studies, concluded that therapy effectively improves psychological well-being.
There are many types of therapy and counseling, but often, it boils down to two general approaches. These are known in clinical psychology as the psychodynamic approach and the behavioral approach.
Psychodynamic therapies
In psychodynamic therapies, treatment generally focuses on the unconscious thoughts and motivations behind your behaviors. In this type of therapy, you will often talk about what you have been thinking or feeling during certain situations. Psychodynamic approaches mainly focus on gaining self-awareness of how things that have happened in the past influence your thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present. This type of therapy may take place over the short term or the long term, depending on the person.
Behavioral therapies
Meanwhile, behavioral therapies, such as CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy), usually concentrate on your present thoughts and daily life challenges. It may include techniques like problem solving and training the mind to focus on positive aspects of life instead of dwelling on negative situations. For this type of counseling service, you and your therapist typically identify dysfunctional patterns in your thinking process and adjust them to be healthier and more beneficial. This type of therapy is often short-term rather than long-term.
Other types of therapy
Within each of these overarching approaches are many more subtypes that you may find helpful. Many mental health professionals combine certain techniques from multiple therapy approaches to meet the needs of the patient. If you are experiencing challenges in your relationship, couples counseling may be an excellent option. You may also choose among options such as individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy, depending on your concerns.
Seeking therapy for mental illness
You may also seek therapy specifically for a particular diagnosis. For instance, if you are diagnosed with a substance use disorder or substance abuse, you may benefit most from substance use counseling. If you have a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, cognitive-behavioral therapy or other evidence-based treatments may be helpful for managing symptoms.
The American Psychological Association provides resources to assist with finding appropriate mental health services and helping people address specific problems. You can often connect with a licensed therapist locally. In many cases, your primary care doctor may also be able to refer you to a counselor whose services are covered by your insurance provider. In addition, your workplace, school, or religious community (if you’re a part of one) may provide counseling services.
Online therapy can make it easy to get mental health treatment
The thought of starting counseling or therapy, especially if you’ve never tried it before, can seem new and overwhelming. However, online therapy can make the process of getting help much simpler. Rather than finding a local therapist, setting up an appointment, and traveling to their office, you may get help from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have a reliable internet connection. Plus, you can easily switch therapists as needed until you find one you feel comfortable with.
Effectiveness of receiving counseling help online
As this study explains, online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy in treating a variety of mental health disorders and concerns. Although some worry that online therapy may not have the same benefits as speaking with a therapist in person, the growing body of research generally indicates that’s not the case at all, and online therapy can even come with additional advantages, such as accessibility and affordability.
Takeaway
How does counseling help someone?
Counseling offers emotional support, guidance, and practical advice for those who may be having a difficult time. Counseling can be used as a treatment for common mental health conditions, but is also used to help individuals or groups through major life challenges, temporary problems. Counseling is also often sought by individuals who want to improve overall well-being or to meet specific personal or professional goals.
Who would best benefit from counseling?
While most of us can benefit from counseling at one point or another, counseling may be most helpful to those who are experiencing mental or physical health concerns that are causing overwhelming feelings of stress in their lives.
How does counseling help anxiety?
A counselor or therapist can help a client identify anxiety triggers, as well as any problematic thoughts that may be responsible for these triggers. They can also share evidence-based strategies for challenging their thoughts and guiding them in a healthier direction. Finally, they can equip a client with coping skills and stress management strategies to help reduce symptoms of anxiety.
What is the most effective form of counseling?
Many therapists use several evidence-based approaches to meet the needs of the client. Some of the most effective and popular approaches used today include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Humanistic therapy
Do I need counseling or therapy?
Counseling and therapy are similar in many ways, and the main difference between the two is that therapy takes more of a long-term approach, while counseling tends to work with a client on a specific problem.
When to seek counseling?
Typically, people seek counseling when a mental health condition, life change, or situation becomes overwhelming.
There are many common misconceptions surrounding therapy and counseling that may deter some people from seeking support. But, people can seek professional help at any time for any reason, and mental illnesses are not the only reasons for seeking help. A mental health counselor can help an individual improve low self-esteem, deal with past traumas, address negative thought patterns, process difficult emotions, cope with the changes brought on by physical illnesses, and navigate fear and emotional pain.
In addition, an effective counselor can help individuals develop improved communication and interpersonal skills, adopt healthier coping mechanisms for everyday stressors, deepen their understanding of themselves, take steps for personal growth, make positive changes in their daily life, and much more. Seeking support for improving one’s mental well-being can be a powerful act of self-care.
Which symptom indicates that someone may need mental health treatment?
The following are signs that mental health services may be beneficial to you:
- Feelings of overwhelming loneliness or hopelessness
- You are struggling with a challenge and are still having trouble despite help from friends and family
- You are having difficulty focusing on everyday activities, work, or school
- Problematic behaviors like drug or alcohol misuse, intense anger, self-harm, or harming others physically or emotionally
If you think you may be experiencing a mental or physical illness, it is important to consult with qualified health professionals who can evaluate your symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment methods for your concerns.
What's the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
A counselor typically helps with a specific mental health challenge, or to guide a client through a tough situation. For example, a person who is dealing with health issues, death of a loved one, or anxiety around a big move might work with a counselor. A therapist generally offers mental health services for more complex mental health issues, healing past trauma, and working over longer periods of time with a client to process challenges.
What are the qualities of a good counselor?
Mental health counseling is a profession that requires someone who is empathetic, engaging, and a good communicator.
There are many ways to find a licensed professional counselor that fits your needs, whether in person or online. For in-person options, you might consider reaching out to community mental health centers or local counselors who operate their own practices. For online counseling, you can consider a platform such as BetterHelp.
How do I know if therapy is helping?
Determining how well therapy is working for you can depend on what brought you to therapy in the first place. While there are many different reasons to seek mental health care, many individuals are hoping to improve mental health in some tangible way, such as by developing a strong support system, creating a good relationship with their partner, or coping with mental illness more effectively. If you are in talk therapy to get support with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health concerns, you might consider if your symptoms are becoming less disruptive, if your coping skills have sharpened, and if your ability to navigate challenging situations has improved.
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