When is Counseling Helpful?
There are many circumstances where counseling can be helpful. These can include:
- When things in your life aren't going as you'd like.
- When you are having persistent symptoms that disrupt your life, such as difficulties with sleep, fatigue, concentration, anger, significant weight loss or gain, excessive tearfulness, feeling worthless or hopeless, suicidal thoughts, feeling abandoned or alone, any acts of self harm, etc.
- For support through any loss.
- When you have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships in your life.
- When you have experienced a troublesome event you are not sure how to deal with.
- If you consistently have trouble dealing with events in your life.
- When you have experienced a traumatic event and continue to re-experience the feelings associated with it.
- For personal growth and improvement.
- When you feel you have no one else to talk to.
How do I find a Counselor?
A referral from a trusted friend or family member is very helpful. If you don't know anyone to ask, your doctor can offer reliable referrals, or if you have insurance, your insurance company can direct you to counselors who will accept your insurance.
What should I look for in a Counselor?
They should be licensed. See below for a list of abbreviations and what they mean.
They should specialize in, and/or be experienced in, the area(s) you need help with.
Look for longevity and consistency in their practice/partners/specialties.
They should belong to one or more professional organizations, like AAB, NACBT, EMDRia, ACA, AMHCA, WMHCA, AAMFT, NASW. These organizations require the counselor to adhere to a Code of Ethics. This provides some protection for you.
Other important factors to consider about your counselor are:
- Do they accept your insurance?
- Are they available the hours you need?
- Do they have experience in your specific age range (for children, teens and seniors)?
- Do they have experience with your issue?
- Do they accept the type of payments you can make?
Finding a good fit may take a little work, but it will be well worth it.
What do the initials after a counselor's name mean?
These initials indicate their degree:
MA = Master of Arts
MS = Master of Science
MSW = Master of Social Work
M.Ed = Master of Education
These initials indicate their license:
LMHC = Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor
LICSW = Licensed Social Worker
These other initials indicate a business type:
LLC = Limited Liability Company
PLLC = Professional Limited Liability Company
Does My Counselor Keep up with Current Research?
All licensed counselors are required to earn a minimum number of continuing education credits yearly in order to keep their license.
What if I don't like the counselor I chose?
A perfect fit doesn't always happen the first try, and you always have the right to go somewhere else. But remember that changing counselors will probably cost a little more money, in that you have to pay for another intake session, and will probably take up some extra time, in that you have to answer the same questions all over again. And if you have been seeing your counselor for a while when you change, it will set back your progress to take the time to develop a trusting relationship with the new counselor. You will need to decide if it is worth changing.
If you find yourself uncomfortable with a counselor week after week, let your counselor know. How they handle this will tell you a lot about whether they are a good fit. If your efforts to address your discomfort with your counselor do not appear to be helping, you may want to consider whether this is a poor match for you.
What should I expect from my first session?
If you find yourself uncomfortable with just one particular session, it would be important to be honest with yourself if the issue that is pushing you away from this counselor is exactly the issue you need to be working on in counseling. One way to know is to talk to the counselor about your desire to leave. Often the response you get to this will either ensure you are in good hands, or you may need to look elsewhere. If you change counselors frequently then it would be a good idea to make one of your counseling goals to look at what is behind your difficulty committing to counseling or a counselor.
At the first meeting the counselor will provide you with a disclosure statement which provides information about the counselor's education, credentials, experience and their rules around counseling, such as how long the sessions are, when payment is due, what to do if you have an emergency, and information around confidentiality. This sets up the groundwork for future counseling sessions. The counselor should also collect information about you to get a good idea of who you are, what you have been through, where you want to be, and your goals. At the end of this session, consider whether you feel safe and if this seems to be a good fit before you commit to continue.
What are typical goals for counseling?
Your counselor should ask you that question in one of your first sessions, and you are the one to determine what you want to accomplish. Typically if you are experiencing symptoms of, for example, depression, you would want to alleviate those symptoms as part of counseling. But you choose what in your life you want to be different as a result of your being in counseling. Some typical goals of clients in counseling are:
- Increasing your abilities to experience, regulate and express feelings;
- Decreasing any sensitivity to trauma triggers;
- Learning to recognize life patterns and alter them;
- Recognizing your needs and learning to self-activate to meet them;
- Building self-esteem;
- Improving the quality your relationships;
- Enhancing your ability to set, hold, and honor boundaries,
- Increasing your ability to meet your life goals.
You should go over your goals with your counselor on a regular basis to ensure you are both working toward the same end.