Why Counseling?
I’m happy to say that the stigma around mental health issues has generally decreased in recent years. More and more people have learned to value emotional and relational stability and are less afraid to ask for help when that is threatened.
To those who are still on the fence, let me answer the question: why counseling?
There are few things in life that thrill me more than seeing someone make a positive change - I really mean that. It could be something small like: making more eye contact in a conversation, or something big like: putting down the glass of wine without taking a sip even though your body is craving it.
Sometimes, those changes are made with the support of family or loved ones. Sometimes those very same family and loved ones are what make change feel impossible. Sometimes all the support in the world from a community just isn’t enough. Sometimes it feels like you’ve tried everything, read everything, talked to everyone, and are still stuck. That’s when counseling might help.
So, how does talking to a stranger help?
FIRST, that very anonymity is huge. I don’t know anyone that you’re talking about - you get to create all the characters in the story. Also you don’t know me - you don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings or burdening me with your problems.
SECOND, I’m a trained professional. I know management strategies for emotions and behaviors. I understand how families work in a systemic way and how that can impact individuals. I know how to draw boundaries and can coach you on how to as well. I am trained in risk assessment, so I can help keep you safe. In addition to a graduate degree and an extensive internship, licensed professional counselors are required to have hours of continuing education each year to ensure that we stay apprised of new research and of ethical obligations.
THIRD, counseling is a practice lab. We don’t just discuss management strategies, we use them in session. For example, if client comes into session flustered because traffic was terrible, we practice taking a breath. If a presentation went badly at work and thoughts are spiraling into catastrophe, we practice thought management. If being vulnerable feels impossible, sharing something true with a counselor is also practice. We practice a lot!
FOURTH, graduation is the goal. The goal of counseling is not that you’ll be in counseling forever. The goal is that the skills you learn and practice become so second nature that you use them in your everyday life so the need for counseling just naturally disappears.
I am deeply honored to have the trust of my clients over the past 20 years of being a counselor. I have a unique perspective after listening to so many stories - many filled with pain and frustration. It’s not easy to accept those hard parts of life, but if those parts stay ignored or minimized I have found that they end up having an outsized impact on people’s lives. So I hold hope for future.
Hope that the hard parts will not always be the biggest and the loudest parts. Hope that is based on experience - I have seen courageous people who put the past where it belongs and move into the present and future with intention. Not forgetting history, but not living in it either.
This is what counseling can do. If this resonates with you and you’ve been debating about reaching out, this is your signal. Go ahead and text, call, or email one of us. If you still have questions, that’s fine too! We’re here to help whenever you’re ready.
