We all love to have our dear and near ones with us all the time. Whether free or caught in a web of busy schedules, we tend to figure out different ways to have fun times with our social networks. Maybe, enjoying with friends, partying with colleagues, having trips with families and what, not more.
But why do we make sure to have a good time with all? It is only because they are the backbone for our personal growth, well-being and success. Above all this, our social networks also contribute to our mental well-being during happy or tough times by comforting and supporting us.
However, this may not be the case when tough times can act a bit rough, leading to mental unbalances. That is when we need to think and act wise by visiting a counsellor who will help us think straight and regain our mental well-being through the counselling sessions.
Types of Counselling that sets free the mental blocks
More than just helping individuals maintain their mental balance, counselling aims to help individuals over their problems. It also helps them feel good about themselves and regain their confidence.
As infinite as the number of the obstacles and problems faced by individuals, so are the types of counselling approaches developed to help individuals maintain their mental stability. Though mental health researchers hold that there are still more types of counselling to be developed to targeting different problems, the following are some of the identified and defined types of counselling: mental health counselling, rehabilitation counselling, substance abuse counselling, grief counselling, child and adolescent development counselling, eating and mood disorders counselling and so on.
Apart from targeting mental health, research also reveals counselling (therapy) types that help individuals overcome other life challenges, such as school and educational counselling. Some of the other areas involve guidance and career counselling, marriage and family counselling, art therapy, musical therapy, genetic counselling, debt counselling, pastoral counselling, etc.
Common Misconceptions of Counselling
Although current organizations strive to break the stigmas revolving around mental health, there is a large population who are blind to the mental health stereotypes and feel ashamed to attend counselling sessions. Individuals fail to understand that just like we can be prone to any biological illness and visit a doctor for treatment, we can experience mental health difficulties due to various reasons. It is absolutely alright to seek help from mental health professionals. The following are some of the misconceptions and myths about counselling:
Counselling therapies are meant only for those who are crazy, abnormal or broken
Those who are too weak to maintain their mental stability and deserve professional help
Only the person knows what they experience. No matter how much they explain it to the other, no one will understand their problem.
Counselling is only about talking and talking, which can hardly make any difference for the visitor. One can get enough help from their social networks.
Counselling will lead them to temporarily develop an addiction to pills which eventually becomes life-long.
Even if counselling helps, forever visits and treatment can be unaffordable and time-consuming
There is no guarantee that counselling sessions can be successful as many have not still recovered post-treatment.
Counselling Brightens our Mental Health
With the rise in mental health problems and recoveries, counselling has slowly started to capture the attention in the minds of people. The following are the commonly found benefits of counselling that give birth to stable mindsets:
Provides a safe environment to vent feelings: Individuals feel uncomfortable worrying about others’ thoughts or the consequences of letting go of things. Counselling wipes out these feelings by ensuring confidentiality, peace of mind and offering a safe outlet to unload one’s bottled-up feelings and thoughts.
Explore and discover oneself: Counselling provides the pathway for you to gain insights into your problems and be aware of dealing with yourself. Counselling is the key to develop a greater understanding of your values, beliefs and personality. It fosters you to embark on a journey of self-exploration.
Absorb effective life skills: For some, life can be about dealing with problematic situations. Counselling sets the foundation for one to safely learn and experiment with a useful and infinite number of skills, which can help receive positive outcomes of overall mental wellness if applied wisely in the right situations.
Foster motivation and hope: Counselling can give some boost if you feel hopeless, lost or worried. By adding the sparks of hope and motivation, counsellors can help individuals strengthen their minds about the present and future positively and healthily.
Offer validation and support: A counsellor’s characteristics of genuineness, empathy and unconditional positive regard assure the individuals a warm, non-judgmental and safe environment. Further, counselling convinces individuals that they are not alone, their emotions are validated, and everything will be fine soon.
Paves the way to find purpose: All of us hold varying definitions of the greater meaning that life holds, but not necessarily healthy definitions. After self-exploration of your interests, beliefs and thoughts, counselling guides you to rediscover the meaning and purpose in your life. This further improves the quality of your life.
Enhance self-esteem and acceptance: Counsellors help to battle with the insecurities, flaws and imperfections within individuals. Given the opportunity to develop self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love, and self-confidence, counselling encourages one to build their strengths and improve on their weaknesses.
Guides to modify or introduce certain behaviours: Throughout the process of counselling, you be aware of your emotions, thoughts and behaviours. After which, counselling helps you to instill a cycle of self-defeat behaviours. In this way, one has a positive mindset on how to deal with their situations either by controlling their present behaviours or developing new ones.
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