Counseling Awareness Month: How A Counselor Can Support You

National Counseling Awareness Month, which normally takes place in April, can serve as a time to celebrate counselors in our society and recognize how they can change lives and benefit their clients’ mental health and well-being. Mental health counseling isn’t just for those diagnosed with mental health issues; counseling professionals generally help individuals navigate not just mental illness, but also life’s challenges, offering them guidance and support in a safe space. Consider seeking help from a licensed mental health professional and/or a licensed clinical professional counselor if you’re struggling to keep up with everyday life, going through a challenging transition, or experiencing any other mental health concerns. You can connect with a licensed counselor online or in your local area.

What is mental health counseling?

When somebody wants to enhance their quality of life, take care of their mental and emotional well-being, promote mental health, or solve an important life challenge, they may want to collaborate with a licensed counselor. During a professional counseling session, the client will typically have a chance to navigate their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a supportive and open environment with the licensed clinical professional counselor.

There can be different forms of counseling available to clients across the mental health field in myriad settings, depending on their needs. Some of these include individual counseling, group counseling, and family counseling. Whether you want to focus on your mental and emotional well-being in an individual setting, discuss stories and support with others, or address a family conflict, a counselor can support you with quality care and professional understanding. Some other effective forms of counseling can include dedicated career counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and humanistic therapy. 

For counseling to be effective, you must generally be in a supportive, safe, and convenient environment. Therefore, clients can trust that their counseling sessions understand the importance of secludedness in their profession and are discreet, so they may feel more comfortable expressing themselves.

The impact of counseling professionals on mental health and mental illness

More people than ever now are understanding that self care includes mental health and mental wellness and can play an important role in our overall wellbeing. So people in the counseling profession are being recognized for the important work they do.  The inclusion of these fields of psychology and psychotherapy in discussions over overall health, in schools, at a university level, and in general social conversation, show that more people are willing to listen when it comes to understanding how our minds work.

Below, discover some of the impacts counselors can have.

Impact across diverse groups

Professional counselors often have a positive impact across families and communities, supporting youth, students, homeless people, and various other individuals in need through collaboration with community agencies. Counselors can provide support for people across the world, guiding them through academic challenges, peer relationships, identity development, and mental health concerns. The services of a licensed clinical professional counselor can help these individuals foster resilience and thrive. 

In your local community, you may find counselors facilitating mental health awareness, offering crisis intervention, and promoting social cohesion through group therapy and community outreach programs. 

Counseling services and the counseling profession at large generally offer support to individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances so that every individual can receive the support and care they deserve. 

Impact on work, lifestyle, health, and family

A counselor can people understand their situations, whether they are worried about whether people understand them as a person, a common goal or struggle, the stress of their profession, or they just need to talk to someone who understands what they’re going through. 

For example, a counselor may support and guide you through various external stressors in everyday life. As a student, especially in high school and college, it can be hard to maintain a healthy balance between your social life, classes, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and other commitments. 

School and college counselors can help you work through these challenges, giving you the mental and emotional clarity that you need to enjoy daily life. In the workplace, counselors can offer guidance on stress management, conflict resolution, career development, and work-life balance, potentially enhancing employee well-being and productivity. 

If you are a manager of an organization or firm, employing a local counselor at your office can be a great way to show your care and support for your employees. In addition, happiness at work can be linked to an increase in productivity, so this may benefit the business as a whole. 

In terms of lifestyle, a counselor may help you develop nutritious eating habits, cope with life transitions, and navigate personal challenges, such as addiction, grief, or relationship difficulties. For example, substance abuse counselors often combine support with treatment to help individuals experiencing addiction.

Difficulties coping with stress, managing overwhelming emotions, or solving conflicts in relationships may all be indicators that counseling could be beneficial. In addition, if you’re struggling with more severe symptoms, such as depression, hopelessness, and unexplained physical illnesses, counseling may be an important next step to regain happiness in everyday life. 

Traumatic experiences or unresolved past issues can further contribute to emotional distress. It can be beneficial to reflect on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being with the help of a licensed mental health professional.

That being said, there doesn’t have to be a world war going on in your brain for you to benefit from therapy; this profession is designed to help anyone and everyone. You might go to a counselor for the prevention of certain mental health conditions or maintenance of the stresses of having a physical condition. 

Situations in which counseling can be beneficial to promote mental health

• Life transitions (divorce, career changes, having a child, etc.)

• Loss and grief

• Relationship conflicts

• Traumatic events

• Suspected or diagnosed mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety

• Substance misuse or other types of addiction

Addressing barriers to counseling and raising awareness through Counseling Awareness Month

Regardless of the benefits of counseling, there can sometimes be a stigma attached to working with counselors and other mental health professionals. A lack of understanding about the world of psychology and psychotherapy can lead to the fear of judgment from peers, friends, and family members and may stop some people from reaching out to a professional. 

National Counseling Awareness Month can be an opportunity to reduce the stigma, raise counseling awareness, and highlight the benefits that seeking support from a counselor can bring. By celebrating this month and supporting organizations like the American Counseling Association, you can acknowledge counselors in your local community and help to create an environment where everybody takes care of their well-being.

You might also have resources and information on counseling services, including online platforms and community resources, to further empower individuals to take steps toward healing and personal growth.

How a counselor can impact other areas of your life

By taking the time to care for your mental and emotional well-being, you can approach everyday activities with more joy, focus, and clarity. A counselor can offer support in many aspects of life, such as the following:

• Creative expression: If you’re expressing yourself creativity, whether it’s in the studio or on the sports field, it can be important to have emotional clarity and mental focus to enjoy these moments to the fullest and create your best work.

• Spending time outdoors: A counselor can support other tools that you can engage with to support your health, such as daily walks in nature. Spending time outdoors can have a positive impact on mental and physical health, and by reinforcing this with counseling, you can take control of your happiness every day.

• Connecting with family: There tends to be a relationship between life satisfaction and relationships, and counseling can help you gain the necessary skills to improve your relationships with others.

• Work productivity and academics: Life satisfaction can enhance productivity. You may see improvements at school or work after talking to a counselor and enhancing your mental and emotional well-being. They may even be able to help you understand the psychology of motivation and productivity.

Benefits of online therapy

Online therapy can make taking care of yourself an available option. It generally provides flexibility, allowing people to schedule therapy sessions around their busy lives without the need to commute to a physical office. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

A growing body of evidence supports the idea that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for treating a wide range of mental health disorders and challenges.