HOW TO FIND GOOD MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING?

Choosing a therapist is a rite of passage for many. It’s a declaration of needing the support of a professional for a problem one cannot resolve through resources at hand. In simpler terms, it means paying someone for their expertise to solve a problem you have. And therapists are available to meet their client’s needs in many areas of life. The most common type of therapist is a psychotherapist, some with an advanced degree and licensed in their province to assist individuals in improving their mental and emotional health. These therapists may have specialties in grief therapy, family therapy, group therapy, or couples therapy – but the principles and training are the same, and the end result is to give people more control through having a better understanding of their life and circumstances. These types of therapists help with acute problems such as marriage issue or the death of a loved one, but also meet with people over a longer-term period to assist with issues like anxiety, depression, self-esteem, or difficult relationship circumstances.

There are many professions that fall under the title of therapy. The most common is that of psychotherapy which encompasses grief therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, cognitive therapy, and family therapy. Individuals who offer services in these types of therapy typically are Counselors, Social Workers, or Psychologists with graduate degrees. The primary focus is on helping individuals, couples, and groups improve their quality of life through gain a better understanding of their emotional and mental health.

Typically, clients visit with these professionals on a weekly basis and may meet for a short-term to resolve the immediate need or over a longer period of time to get to deeper issues limiting someone’s enjoyment of life. Play therapy is a variant of psychotherapy that focuses on working with children or those with emotional trauma. Through the use of play techniques, the therapist aims to help in resolving whatever issue may be keeping the person stuck. Techniques here include acting, drawing, thought-provoking games, taking pictures, storytelling, and combining different elements like stories and drawing. The intent is to use these methods as a metaphor for assisting the child in discovering a truth or understanding about themselves.

Therapy is a profession that has increased in the awareness of the general population as we’ve become a culture more focused on self-care and taking care of our body, mind, and soul more consistently. All of these therapists play a significant role in improving the quality of life of others and derive great value from helping, whether this is through mental, emotional, or physical means.

Counseling is a profession that aims to help people. It is one that the practitioner enters into knowing that they get the most out of making the lives of those they work with better. And in order to find the type of counseling that works best for you, it is critical that you understand this – the counseling professional you choose is there to serve you, first and foremost.

So, as you evaluate counseling, specifically mental health counseling like marriage counseling, couples counseling, grief counseling or, be sure you know what you want.

·?????????It’s best to ask yourself questions like:

·?????????Why am I considering counseling?

·?????????What do I hope to get out of it?

·?????????What am I willing to put into counseling in order to see a direct benefit?

·?????????What is the most pressing issue I want to deal with, and what are other issues that may come up?

As you consider counseling then, keep these questions in mind. Also, it helps to know the background of the counseling professional you’re considering. For example, each mental health professional is required to obtain a graduate degree and then a specific number of internship hours as required by their province licensing board, in order to get certified to practice in your province. Beyond that, most mental health counselors specialize in a specific area – marriage counseling and grief counseling are two of the common specialties.

Most important above all is to ask yourself whether you’re really ready for counseling. It’s not something everyone is excited about and can challenge a person’s understanding of themselves. And if it’s marriage counseling, you’re considering, it’s rare that there’s a mutual commitment between spouses to attend counseling sessions. So, talk things through with your loved one first and get them on board.