What is Counseling?

Counseling, talk therapy, or also known as psychotherapy, is a professional conversation focused on increasing self-awareness and mental, emotional and relational well-being. You may wonder if therapy is worth the time, money and effort. Why should I participate in therapy? Because:

Counseling is Needed:

Research indicates between 30-50% of adults experience deep emotional difficulty including sadness and anxiety, at some point in their life, and common sense tells us that even these numbers may be a bit low. We all experience negative emotions as a part of our life experiences and struggles. We know at least one in four adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Everyone needs someone to talk to, and many benefit from the wise, caring support of a trained professional.

Counseling is Effective:

People generally have fewer lasting negative emotional symptoms and report experiencing a higher overall quality of life after receiving therapy. For the scientists and skeptics among you, here’s some research:

• American Psychological Association: Resolution of Therapy Effectiveness
• The Effectiveness and Need for Professional Counseling Services

Counseling is Lasting:

People who receive counseling actually continue to improve and flourish after therapy ends. Along with reducing symptoms, therapy also helps you understand the underlying issue and make decisions in your life that can provide healing, growth and positive change. Many experience such positive benefits from being involved from therapy that returning to your therapist over your life span becomes a valuable resource in traveling through life.

Counseling is Natural:

We live in a medical age where it seems easier (and certainly quicker) to pop a pill and get on with it. Research suggests that 1 in 5 Americans currently use psychiatric medications. Many of these medications produce unpleasant side effects and prolonged use may produce negative physical consequences. Through psychotherapy, you can do something good for your body while avoiding the physical side effects. There are a number of research based therapeutic approaches that have been proven to be effective in helping address mental health needs such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy,  Many therapists are trained in therapeutic techniques that can address your symptoms that are based in neurological trauma, such as EMDR or Biofeedback.