Why Seek Help Through Counseling?Exploring the Strengths of Seeking HelpLong broadcast our troubles, and many people suffered their mental problems silently, before there were therapists and counselors, there were family members. Grandpa and Aunt Jane listened, or gave us advice, or sometimes just told us to buck up. If family couldn't help, there were friends or a clergy member. But most likely, we were also warned not to Stigma of getting counseling GoneTimes change, and so has society's acceptance of seeking help. The old stigma of being seen as weak or incapable is largely gone, helped by many well-known writers, actors and politicians being open about their struggles with, and treatments for, everything from depression to chronic shoplifting. Going to a therapist is now seen as a positive step in most people's lives. "The counseling relationship is a unique relationship and what makes it valuable sets it apart from friendships, working partnerships, family connections and love affairs," says Carl Sherman, author of How to Go to Therapy: Making the Most of Professional Help . In his book, author Sherman describes counseling as a balance in which two people are "collaborating on a single project: helping you deal with your problems and achieve the change you want. There is no other agenda." It's the simplicity of that agenda, combined with a structured schedule, confidentiality and trust that makes this unique relationship work so well for so many people. Rather than proof that someone is "sick," it is a sign of good health to make a commitment to positive change. With Therapy, You ChooseSome people still believe a therapist will make them lie on a couch. While some therapists might have couches in their offices, you choose where to sit. You choose what to say. You choose when to say it. And, nowadays, there is an incredible number of ways to explore problems. A skilled therapist realizes that one therapeutic shoe does not necessarily fit all feet and is able to draw on an array of therapeutic skills and modalities to match the unique challenges and difficulties the individual is facing. |
Benefits to Therapeutic RelationshipThe strength of counseling is that there are no strings attached. In his book, Sherman offers some further benefits of the therapeutic relationship: 1. Safety.If the relationship is right, you can feel safe to reveal your fears, dreams and fantasies without fear of repercussions or judgment on the part of the therapist. Unlike telling a friend or family member, your words to a therapist won't come back to haunt you. 2. Confidentiality.The therapist is bound by ethics and law (except in a few well-defined cases) not to reveal what you have said during sessions. This adds to the feeling of safety and trust, and aids in people making changes. 3. Learning.Counseling can be seen as a deeply educational experience, in which a therapist acts like a coach or teacher to help the client see the world--inner and outer--in new and positive ways. A Little Help With Life's ProblemsInto each life some rain must fall, and we all have felt deluged at least once in our lives. Grief, loss, anger, financial hardship, relationship problems, stress--all of these are a normal part of life. So is seeking help when coping is just too hard. It's also normal to be a little afraid of what friends and family might say about seeing a therapist. But, in the end, it's your life, and you know best how to make it a richer, happier and more fulfilling one--with a little help. "It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them." --Alex Karras |
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