Therapy and Counseling
What is therapy and counseling?
Therapy and counseling are types of treatment to improve your mental well-being. These treatments can help people who are experiencing emotional or behavior problems, or people who have a mental health disorder. Therapy is sometimes called psychotherapy or talk therapy. If you are taking medication for a mental health disorder, therapy will usually improve the results you are get from the medicine. Different types of therapy use different techniques. In most kinds of therapy and counseling, the person receiving treatment will talk with a professional therapist. However, therapy is more than just talking about your problems. Therapy can teach you new ways to think about the situations that bother you and help you cope with your feelings. It can help with feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, shyness and panic. It can also give you tools to help fight low self-esteem and depression, for example.
Is therapy or counseling right for me?
Some people may not want professional therapy or counseling because they feel ashamed of their problems. Others may believe that therapy and counseling are for seriously mentally ill or “crazy” people only. But this is not true. Don’t let shame and fear stop you from getting the help you need. Good mental health is part of your overall health and well-being. Therapy can help treat a variety of problems. Some common reasons why people seek therapy include:
What can I expect from a counseling or therapy session?
How can therapy or counseling help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
Therapy and counseling are types of treatment to improve your mental well-being. These treatments can help people who are experiencing emotional or behavior problems, or people who have a mental health disorder. Therapy is sometimes called psychotherapy or talk therapy. If you are taking medication for a mental health disorder, therapy will usually improve the results you are get from the medicine. Different types of therapy use different techniques. In most kinds of therapy and counseling, the person receiving treatment will talk with a professional therapist. However, therapy is more than just talking about your problems. Therapy can teach you new ways to think about the situations that bother you and help you cope with your feelings. It can help with feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, shyness and panic. It can also give you tools to help fight low self-esteem and depression, for example.
Is therapy or counseling right for me?
Some people may not want professional therapy or counseling because they feel ashamed of their problems. Others may believe that therapy and counseling are for seriously mentally ill or “crazy” people only. But this is not true. Don’t let shame and fear stop you from getting the help you need. Good mental health is part of your overall health and well-being. Therapy can help treat a variety of problems. Some common reasons why people seek therapy include:
- Depression
- Marriage problems, infidelity, divorce or other relationship issues
- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions and compulsions
- Grief, loss or bereavement
- Anger
- Career choice
- Parenting or family problems
- Phobias
- Domestic violence or abuse
What can I expect from a counseling or therapy session?
- During your first appointment, your rights as a client, state confidentiality laws and limitations of therapy will be given to you in writing or reviewed verbally with you. The therapist will also give you a written disclosure statement of his/her licensure, other credentials and areas of expertise.
- The therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your present situation and important background information.
- The counselor will then suggest a treatment plan, whether written or verbalized, about how to address the issue(s) at hand. Part of this plan will be the therapist’s best guess as to how long (assuming no new issues arise) the counseling process is likely to take.
How can therapy or counseling help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.