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#WhyCounseling - Common Questions About Counseling

10/24/2019

If one of our 9 Reasons to Go to Counseling resonated with you or someone you love, you might be wondering if counseling will be the best fit for you. Some people have a lot of questions like what kinds of counseling are available, what sessions will be like, how counseling works (or if it works), and if it is the right choice. Here are a few common questions about counseling and our answers:

What kinds of counseling are available?

Counseling sessions can be for individual clients, couples (dating, pre-engagement, pre-marital, or married), and families of all ages. Individual clients often work on individual mental health concerns, transition adjustment, or other areas of concern. Clients who coming for couples sessions spend the majority of their time focusing on solidifying or improving the relationship in areas of communication, problem solving, intimacy, and many other areas. Family sessions help bring the whole (or part) of the family together to build support for one member of the family or increased coping skills for a transition or adjustment the family is experiencing. While individuals, couples, and families may come in for other reasons than listed above, this may give you an idea for what type of counseling would be best for you. If you are still not sure, not all counselors work with each kind of client, but all counselors can help you assess what kind of counseling could be the best fit for you.

What will sessions be like?

This can vary a little from counselor to counselor, however, most sessions are similar. During the first few sessions you counselor will likely ask a lot of different questions to help them learn more about you, your history, your concerns, and your goals for counseling. After these sessions, your counselor will begin to help you work on your goals through different counseling styles, techniques, and occasional “homework” assignments. Your counselor may tell you more about their style of counseling and what to expect from them in the first session.

How does counseling work?

Some people find themselves feeling skeptical about the impact of counseling. They might wonder if it “works” or if it is a good use of their time and resources. We may be biased, but we say 100% YES - counseling is beneficial to each of our clients. Counseling uses different tools to help clients sort through the emotional, mental, and some physical impacts of life situations. Counseling is not a “quick fix” and your counselor cannot “fix you”. What your counselor does is come along side their clients and help them identify their next best steps as they work through a variety of issues. When clients come to counseling ready to work on different issues they are facing, they often benefit greatly.

How do I know counseling is right for me?

As we mentioned in our post 9 Reasons to go to Counseling, if you think counseling might be right for you, give it a try. Your counselor is trained to help you figure out what kinds of counseling or other services might be the best fit for you. Counselors work for the betterment of their clients and can help connect them to valuable resources they may not have recognized in themselves or their community before.

At Bethel Haven, we want to support each potential client in their journey toward wellness by providing access to counseling. If you or someone you love wants to go to counseling, that is one of the best reasons to begin. You can call our office at 706-310-9046 to set up an appointment with one of our counselors.

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#WhyCounseling - 9 Reasons To Go To Therapy

10/10/2019

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I am often asked by people in my life why someone would want to go to counseling or how to know if someone is ready for counseling. So here are nine reasons to go to counseling:

1. You’re in a big transition.
Transitions are a part of life. Your transition can be a new job, a new house, moving across the country, starting at a new school, welcoming a new baby, starting an adoption or foster care journey, and many other life activities. Sometimes, whether good or bad, happy or sad, transitions can be a stressor. Working with a counselor before, during, or after a transition can help you identify all of the different thoughts and feelings in each stage and provide support in the adjustment phase.

2. You want to learn better or more coping skills.
Sometimes the things we have done in life to help us in times of stress seem to stop working. Our minds race when we try to read books or exercise feels more like an energy drain than a boost. Working with a licensed counselor can help you identify patterns of thoughts or behaviors that previously worked and create space to explore new coping skills—because sometimes two heads are better than one when thinking about these things.

3. You’re isolating yourself more.
Alone time can feel refreshing, but sometimes we realize we are spending more time alone than is healthy for us. People are meant to be connected with others as a source of support, encouragement, and social output. If you notice it is harder to spend time with friends, family, or make social engagements, counseling may be beneficial in figuring out the root causes of isolation.

4. You feel strain in your relationships.
No one has perfect relationships, however, feeling strain in your relationships can be an extra stressor. If you notice more tension, stress, or frustration in your relationships counseling can be helpful in assessing small changes to increase positive interactions and reduce strain.

5. You’ve noticed your sleep patterns have changed.
Sleep is important to every day functioning. If you noticed a change in your sleep patterns, like needing more sleep, needing less sleep, or frequently waking up, a counselor can help you assess potential reasons for this change. Many counselors ask about sleep and sleep changes to help identify root causes of the change that may be related to mental or physical health.

6. You have thoughts about harming yourself or someone else.
If you ever have thoughts about harming yourself or someone else it is important you connect with a counselor. A trusted counselor can help identify negative thinking cycles, strong sources of support, and provide feedback and plans for client safety. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or someone else please call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

7. You want to talk to someone else.
Sometimes we can feel stuck in situations, and it is helpful to talk it out with someone outside of the situation. Your counselor is exactly that—someone outside of the situation that can help you assess your thoughts, feelings, and impact on the situation that you may not always realize.

8. You want to thrive not just survive.
Life can be hard, and sometimes it feels like thriving in life is impossible. A counselor can help you process through different life events, help create plans and strategy for change, and provide support and encouragement for thriving in life instead of feeling stuck just surviving.

9. You just want to go to counseling.
This is probably the most important reason. If you want to go to counseling that is all the reason you need. Everyone has mental health. At Bethel Haven, we want to support each potential client in their journey toward wellness by providing access to counseling. If you or someone you love wants to go to counseling, that is one of the best reasons to begin. You can call our office at 706-310-9046 to set up an appointment with one of our counselors.

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help, hope, healing

#WhyCounseling - Common Questions About Counseling

#WhyCounseling - 9 Reasons To Go To Therapy

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