IS COUNSELING FOR ME?
Counseling can be defined as one or more individuals providing assistance and guidance to one or more individuals in order to resolve personal, social, career, or psychological problems. Knowing the definition, however, is not the same as understanding the profession. What kind of guidance and assistance? How does a counselor help with problems? Is counseling a good fit for me?
First, a note about Counselors, a title sometimes interchangeable with Therapists. These individuals go through training, education, and ongoing skill upkeep. After earning a Master’s Degree, there are thousands of hours of supervised work over at least 2 years in the field in order to qualify to apply for licensure. Getting licensed also requires passing tests about counseling history, theory, and methodology as well as current laws and regulations. It is a rigorous process, and one that is often undertaken without pay. Once licensed, an individual must continue to receive training and education, as licensure must be renewed every 2 years and insufficient continuing education will prohibit renewal of licensure. Be reassured that the staff here at Thrive have gone through the work to ensure that you receive top-notch care and services.
One question that counselors frequently hear is “What advice would you give…?” and the answer is that counselors do not give advice. Counselors exist to work with an individual who is struggling with any of a variety of concerns, and there is no way to give one answer that will meet everyone’s needs or situation. Additionally, you are the expert about your life and experiences. You working with a counselor to find a solution is very different that having someone else tell you what to do. We have that enough in our lives – social media, politicians, friends, strangers, bosses, and so on. Even then, it is extremely difficult to get anyone to agree. It is why some magazines will have a “Love Yourself More” article followed directly by a “10 Easy Steps to Change Yourself” article in the same magazine. What people rarely have is someone to truly listen, care, and be there as they take sometimes small, sometimes uncertain steps forward. No judgment, criticism, or pressure to hurry. You get a compassionate listener who has unconditional positive regard for you and wants to be beside you as you improve your life and well-being.
What kind of assistance is there?
While therapeutic styles differ, the goal of all of them is to be there with you and for you as you make progress in your own life. Just as you are the expert on your situation, you are also the expert on what will help and what is realistic. Counselors help guide the change, help you remain focused on what matters, and provide an objective look at your issues.
How does a counselor help?
Counselors truly listen, without having judgment or bias. Unlike much communication that takes place in the world today, it is listening to hear you, not just waiting until we can speak. Many times, people are afraid to let anyone know about weaknesses, disappointments, sadness, anger, or anxiety. People bottle it up, and it weighs them down until it seems that there is no one to turn to. Going to counseling is an outlet for those emotions, to process through the difficulties that everyone experiences and no one should feel alone in. Working through those feelings with someone who cares for your genuine self and your wellness is a huge relief.
Is counseling a good fit for me?
Counseling has faced – more in the past, but to some extent even now – some negativity as being for only a small portion of the population. It makes no sense to find flaws in speaking with a professional. We speak with our doctors about our medical wellness, we speak to teachers about our educational questions, we consult plumbers and mechanics and roofers if those are tasks with which we are unfamiliar… we should also take care of the one thing that is in charge of so much of us: our mind. Consider counseling if you ever feel like you need to talk about something and are not comfortable speaking to anyone else. Consider counseling if you want to explore your feelings and motivations. Consider counseling if you want to deepen your relationship with your significant other. Consider counseling if you want to overcome hurts from the past.
Is counseling for you? It is a profession built specifically to help you.
We at Thrive are here to meet your needs.
Written by Eric Gustavson, LPC, NCC
970-812-3353 or Eric@thrivemfc.com
Learn more about Eric here: https://www.thrivemarriagefamilycounseling.com/about-eric