Why should you seek counseling?

Hello Lovelies, I hope you’re all doing so well today. I want to talk about why and how everyone can benefit from counseling. We all go through big life changes like moving, changing jobs, getting married, having kids, and/or deaths of loved ones. Counseling can help you navigate these big life changes smoothly⁴. Even if you’re not currently going through a big life change, counseling can be helpful⁴. You might say “but Ellie, I’ve been doing just fine all this time without it” which is wonderful but just imagine how much better you could be doing. Counselors assist us with everyday coping skills. So when big moments happen we’re better prepared for them or small things slide by us without bothering us. They also offer a nonbiased perspective on the things you’re facing in your life. I look at therapy as an educational journey on how our mind works and how we can be our best selves.

 Let’s go over the difference between a counselor, therapist, or psychologist. They all “provide guidance, support, and treatment for mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders or obstacles”¹. The biggest difference is how much schooling and training each position has¹. Typically, a Psychologist needs a doctorate degree, a Therapist needs a masters degree, and a counselor needs a bachelors degree^2,3. If they specialize in something they will have extra training on top of that. Most everyone has obstacles in their life or stressors or traumas, these professionals can help us work past them. It’s good to keep in mind that not every professional you go to see will connect with you. If after 4 to 6 times you don’t feel like they’re is helping, try a different person. The worst that can happen is nothing so I would encourage everyone to at least try therapy. There is absolutely no shame in seeing what it can do for you.

 

References

1.      Michigan Counseling Centers. 28 January 2020. Counselor vs Therapist: What’s the Difference and which is Best For You? MichiganCounselingCenters.org. Accessed 6 August 2021.

2.      Kendra Cherry. 30 March 2020. How long does it take to be a psychologist? VeryWellMind.com. Accessed 6 August 2021.

3.      Joaquin Selva, Bc.S. July 2021. How to Become a Therapist: Requirements, Degrees & Experience. PositivePsycology.com. Accessed 6 August 2021.

4.      De Maat Saskia et al. 2009. The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: a systematic review of empirical studies. Harvard Review of Psychiatry Vol 17,1