HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED COUNSELING?
Many things keep us from seeking counseling services. The stigma around receiving counseling is arguably one of the most significant barriers for seeking help and guidance through counseling. Sometimes we profess support for counseling while holding an internal belief that it is for others and not for us. Another barrier to seeking counseling is the distorted belief that seeing a professional is a sign of weakness. Admitting that we need to see someone for help is an admission that we are often more comfortable avoiding. With such salient roadblocks to receiving counseling services, the question often arises, “How do I know if I need counseling?” or “Is my situation one that warrants professional help?”
First, it will be helpful to understand the benefits of counseling. Humans are complicated beings; we are all so different and bring different experiences that can be very complicated. The question of “how do I know if I need counseling?” is impossible to answer for all situations and people considering this question thoroughly. It is helpful to discuss the advantages of counseling to see if it would be beneficial and useful for us and our particular situation. Here are a few of the benefits of counseling:
Psychoeducation - research-based information about human behavior and neurological processes
Non-judgemental support - an active listener whose goal is to understand us and our situation completely
Unbiased feedback - someone who wants the best for us, however, does not have a hidden agenda for what they think we should be doing with our life
Honesty - counselor-client relationships have unique boundaries, different than any others we may have in our lives. These boundaries allow for blunt, constructive honesty. Providing feedback that our friends and family will not tell us due to the restrictions their relationships appropriately require.
Challenge for change - through professional interventions and tools, counselors challenge us to change for the better. Talking with a friend about a difficulty doesn’t often end with our friend challenging us to change a specific, measurable aspect of our lives for the better with follow-up to keep us accountable.
A different perspective - a fresh, unbiased view on our situation
Collaboration in problem-solving - Counselors join us in problem-solving our obstacles and avoid haphazardly telling us what to do. Instead, counselors will challenge us to try different approaches to our problems with collaboration, careful consideration, and thorough discussion.
Life is full of many struggles and hardships that affect our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. There are often life events that cause distress, depression, anxiety, and anger. Some of us are fortunate to have the ability to manage these distressing situations with our existing coping skills and social support network. Sometimes, unfortunately, these events, circumstances, or relationships are unmanageable. Here is a simple guideline (not exhaustive) for when counseling is crucial:
Anxiety, depression, or anger has interfered with our ability to fully function at school, work, home, or in our relationships
Relationship problems are causing us distress, anxiety, depression, or anger that is affecting us at school, work, home, or in other relationships
Drug or alcohol use that is interfering with school, work, home, or our relationships; drug and alcohol use primarily done alone
Engaging in self-harm or harming others
Experiencing thoughts of suicidal, self-harm, or wanting to harm others
Current or past experiences of trauma and subsequent symptoms from trauma, e.g., nightmares, feeling emotionally numb, being hypervigilant, self-harm, and inappropriate emotional reactions
Any behaviors, emotions, or thoughts we experience impacting our ability to function and go through our daily lives completing our regular tasks
Change in weight without a change in diet, eating habits, or other medical explanations
Difficulty sleeping
suggested
There are other times when counseling can be a crucial piece in working through a distressing circumstance. Here are different non-clinical situations where it is recommended to seek counseling:
Significant life stressors such as a financial hardship/stress, work stress, unemployment, raising a medically fragile or developmentally challenged child, and loved ones diagnosed with cancer or terminal illness
Major life changes, e.g., moving, employment change, new baby.
Divorce/Ending of a relationship (platonic or romantic)
Losing a loved one
Chronic illness
Infertility
