“Oh my, watch out guys, she’s a shrink.”
“If you’re crazy or know of someone who is crazy, you know who to go to.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to talk about.”
“That’s what my friends are there for, I don’t have to pay for someone to listen to and talk to.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me.“
Some of these comments may have been said in fun, and some quite seriously, yet these kind of responses show the common misconceptions people have about what professional counselling is and why people sometimes seek professional counselling. As a counsellor, I do help people struggling with addictions, anxiety, relationship, etc., but I also help people even when they are not at their lowest or even when they are not ‘crazy’. Most of the time, people reach out to therapists or counsellors when they are in a crisis or are going through something extremely distressful in their lives. Sometimes, people just seek out counselling as they might think they need a little extra help and are not sure why.
Here are few reasons a person with no issues would want to seek out counselling:
1. Knowing myself better: You would have had thoughts on what am I here for? What could I contribute to society? What could be my strengths and weakness? Maybe you have some patterns that you would like to break, or grow as an individual in a certain sphere of life be it professional or personal. Getting a better understanding of who you are and where your thinking or habits come from can help you in making decisions and taking control of your life as you move forward. Here is where a good counsellor comes in.
2. Change: Change is something that could either be good or bad, depending on the circumstances. It could mean to you that there is a hard and bumpy road ahead. It could also bring out feelings of anticipation and exploration. Whether you are newly married, an empty nester for the first time, transitioning from college to career, contemplating a change in career, or figuring out how to plan for retirement, a good. Change is something which is inevitable but it is up to us how we take this change.
3. Self care: Life is hectic and we get so wrapped in our work lives, we start neglecting ourselves and we forget to engage in those activities that make us feel better. These activities could be journaling, going to the gym, creating art, or anything else depending on what gives you those few moments of peace, happiness or calmness. Counselling can help you to get back to that balanced schedule that you require in order to feel better. Regardless of whether you have a challenge or not, self-care should be an important part of your routine.
4. Counselling is a space to open up , explore existing skills , build new skills , a fresh perspective on things
Brynna Pawlows, a social worker and therapist, says, “We are beings in progress, and we must constantly put in the work. Everyone is need of ‘work’ in terms of mental health.”
The bottom line is attending counselling is not only for those who are distressed but also for those who have absolutely no issues at all and are pretty much happy with their lives. You don’t have to wait for something to go wrong and then only attend therapy.
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