Fact: Counseling doesn't work unless you let it.
It's true that there are conditions that cannot be solved with counseling alone, if at all. But for many people who claim that counseling doesn't work for them, this is not the case. Counseling isn't working for them because they enter counseling believing it will fail. When you are so certain that treatment will not work, you do not open your mind to any healing that could have occurred and lose out on the benefits that treatment could have brought you.
Keep in mind that you will not always work well with a counselor. Just like anyone who has ever been through sports will tell you that no two coaches are exactly the same, and anyone in theatre will tell you no two directors are the same, no two counselors are exactly the same. Just like some directors can bring out nuances in an actor's performance on stage that others may never see, some counselors can help you achieve your goals where others have failed. Many people believe counseling "can't and won't work" after seeing only one counselor. Not every counselor's style will fit yours, and sometimes that means trying a few different counselors until you find one that you work well with.
You must keep an open mind. Before you will have any success with any counselor, there is something you must keep in mind for yourself: You must be willing to change. I know what you're probably thinking, you're saying to yourself, "Well of course I want to change! Why would I be asking for help if I didn't!" It goes a bit beyond that, however. You must enter a counselor's office believing that they may be able to help you. If you find yourself continually entering a counselor's office saying, "This will never work!", then it will never work. When you close your mind to treatment, you close the door to healing.
Remember that there are different kinds of counseling available. If you find that one-on-one counseling is not working well for you, you may want to try a different approach. Support groups are a great way to work with other people going through what you're going through, whether what you're going through is addiction, depression, eating disorders, mourning, illness, or something else entirely. Do a search online for support groups that meet in your area, you'll be surprised by how many you can find in most cities.
Finding a Counselor
Good Therapy
Find a Counselor via Psychology Today
Yelp - User reviews. Not available in all areas. Once on your area's home page, you can find counselors under the Health and Medical section in the Counseling & Mental Health subsection.
Mental Health America's Guide to Finding a Support Group
 sakanaya · Mon Jul 06, 2009 @ 10:35pm · 0 Comments |
