How Counseling Helps You Live a Better Life
Even with great efforts to remove the stigma from counseling many people are still afraid to start their healing journey in counseling. Going to counseling is a great way to process your emotions, work through experiences and have a safe space to talk without judgment. This post brings clarity to some of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard from people over the years about going to counseling.
It’s an opportunity to improve your life
Many people struggle with the idea of going to counseling for various reasons. A lot of times people think about going to counseling 7 to 10 plus times before actually ever making the appointment. I’ve heard people say they never thought they would be the person needing therapy. Who needs to go to counseling? Everyone needs to go to counseling.
No person is exempt from needing a safe space to talk and work through different challenges in life. It doesn’t matter if you cry through the entire or if you share so much you leave feeling like you overshared, a key point to remember is everyone needs help sometimes and that’s okay.
I thank my clients for showing up and beginning their healing journey with me. Going to counseling is a powerful step in transforming your life. I tell people some of the bravest people I know to sit with me and turn their troubles into triumphs. The amount of courage it takes to sit with feelings, work through trauma and explore new possibilities while battling depression, anxiety, and a host of other difficulties is not for the weak. Counseling takes work.
Counseling appointments are helpful
This is where most people get really anxious. You’ve made it past doing the consultation. You’ve scheduled your counseling appointment and now it’s time to show up. Finally your journey starts, you are at your counseling appointment with this professionally trained counselor. You may feel anxious, nervous, excited, scared, and many other emotions as you get ready to embark on a new experience.
In the first counseling session be prepared to hear about confidentiality and a review of the forms you signed. You may be asked additional questions based on what you shared in the intake forms. Typically this session is an information gathering session. You share your information with the counselor and a great fitted counselor will listen attentively to what you are sharing.
Do not be alarmed if the counselor takes a few notes this helps the counselor to note key points for your treatment. They also may be writing additional notes about sore spots they feel would be helpful to process with you in therapy at a later time.
I make sure to leave room after my introduction to invite clients to ask me any questions they have about this process. I understand how big of a step it is to start counseling. It’s natural to feel nervous. Sharing with clients about what they should expect, different emotions they may feel as well as my counseling style are key points I like to mention. My clients know they can ask me questions, disagree, and share their insight about what would work and what would not work for them. We partner together to work on their concerns.
It’s a safe space to work through your problems
There are tons of reasons people go to counseling. You may be tired of depression weighing you down. Anxiety bullying you into fighting racing thoughts and million trips to the bathroom is not the way you want to live. Narcissistic abuse has left you lost and confused about what was real about your last relationship. Maybe perfectionism traits are preventing you from finding a healthy work-life balance. Low self-esteem/confidence prevents you from speaking up for yourself, so you find yourself saying yes way too much.
These are only a few of the situations that cause a person may need to go to counseling. Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, it is a strength. I encourage my client to see their starting counseling as a great way to take true ownership of their life.
Does it mean I’m crazy if I go to counseling?
The short answer is NO! If you go to counseling and work through your difficulties you are brave. Choosing to work with a counselor to improve your life means you value yourself enough to do something about the problems in your life. Seeking professional help does not mean you are crazy. A quick reframe from negative to positive is going to counseling does not mean you are crazy it does mean you are aware of yourself enough to know you need some assistance. Facing the difficulties of life with professional support, someone well trained in helping people heal is a powerful way to get your life back on track. Why struggle through sleepless nights, endless worry, and staying stuck if you don’t have to?
Why it’s so important?
Going to counseling is life-changing, this is what makes it so important. You have the opportunity to learn more about yourself, your strengths, weakness (growth opportunities), behavior patterns, self-exploration, and more. The opportunity to experience positive change in your life is awakening. It’s a chance to change your perspective and your reality. You get to experience transformation. Personal growth is a plus. You get more of what you want, less of what you don’t want and you create the life you want to live.
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Let’s embark on a transformative journey together. Our process is designed to help you heal. We will guide you to safety, help you rebuild, and teach you how to invite joy into your life. We will rediscover your inner self and unlock your true power.
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