Why Go To Counseling?

When people ask me what I do for work, and my answer is counseling, I often get one of two replies:

1. Hey! That is great!  What's that like? 
2. The other reply is usually less enthusiastic, involving questions about why I would want to listen to people's problems all day.

That second reply touches on a common misconception that counseling is a negative experience. Counseling involves a little listening to the problem and a lot of listening for the possible solutions to the problem. Counseling is positive, empowering and a wonderful investment in yourself, not to mention all the relationships that you are in.

The average person (or couple/family) often waits to got to counseling until they are in crisis. In other words, counseling is often something that people put off until the problem has become so big and so bad that it has become intolerable. Your counselor is an objective source of support and honesty. Sharing about the problem with your counselor will help you look at the problem from a different perspective. At first, you may have trouble seeing any solution to your problem, let alone several possible solutions. 

So can I just say...don't put it off!  Many clients experience at least some relief from their problem right after they call to schedule the first appointment.  Clients also feel relief again after their first session.  Depending on the problem that someone is going to counseling to overcome, there may be sessions that are more emotionally draining than others.  Your counselor would be there to support you through the more challenging sessions so that you could keep moving forward.  In short, your counselor wants to help you feel better and they want to help you feel better quickly.

In order to have the best counseling experience, ask yourself if you really are ready for the change that is necessary in order to meet your goal/get rid of the problem.  A counselor's job is not to make the change for you or tell you what to do.  A counselor's job is to walk beside their client on their path towards change.  Counselors support, listen, encourage, and sometimes gently push you outside of your comfort zone in order to help you attain your goal. Even really great change can be hard but remember the growing pains will be worth it!