You’re tired of hurting, but you’re not sure if you should get help?
Maybe you’re struggling personally, or there seems to be no end to the pain and frustration in your marriage, or maybe you’re exacerbated by your child’s behavioral problems. Whatever the case, we’ve all been there. Every day we get calls from people who are tired of hurting, and are wrestling with whether or not they should get professional help. In our first blog post, we want to start by sharing a few thoughts that we hope will be helpful as you are considering professional counseling.
Finding a counselor is often stressful itself!
Over the years, we have talked to hundreds of people, just like you, considering professional counseling. We understand that seeking help, and finding the right clinic or counselor, can add more stress on top of what you are already going through. We also know that for most people, just picking up the phone to talk to a complete stranger about such private issues and problems can be really hard–especially in a crisis. We have specifically designed our website to help you with that stress and assist you in getting to know us quickly. If you take a look around our website, you will find information on the services we provide, areas of expertise, our experienced staff team, our counseling philosophy and values, and a number of helpful resources.
How do I know if counseling is right for me?
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life. For the most part, we are usually successful in navigating through the difficulties we face. At the same time, there is wisdom in seeking out additional support and guidance when we need it. In fact, counseling is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they can benefit from help, want to take responsibility for their life, their marriage or their family, and make a commitment to change the situation by seeking help. As you are considering professional counseling, remember that counseling is right for anyone who wants the most out of their life by taking personal responsibility, working on specific treatment goals, and producing lasting solutions.
How can counseling help me?
There are a number of ways that counseling can be helpful to you. Our therapists can provide additional support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and sexual problems—just to name a few. Our clients find that their counselor can be extremely helpful in achieving personal and spiritual growth, improving interpersonal relationships, working through family concerns and marriage issues, and the stress of daily life. Our therapists can also provide helpful insight on a difficult problem, or point you in the direction to find lasting solutions. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how invested you are in the process and your willingness to put into practice what you learn. Some additional benefits from counseling include:
- Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and how you’re wired
- Clarifying your goals, values and life purpose
- Developing the necessary skills for improving your relationships
- Resolving issues or concerns that led you to seek counseling
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communication and conflict resolution skills
- Changing unhealthy behavior patterns and developing new, healthier ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Building your self-esteem and strengthening self-confidence
- Understanding issues that interfere with spiritual growth and development
- Insights into establishing a personal relationship with God
What’s next?
On this, our maiden voyage out into the vast seas of the blogging world, we hope we have answered some of the questions you may be having. And, again, we have found that these are the most common questions and concerns people have in considering professional counseling. We hope this was helpful and takes some of the stress out of deciding if you should get help from a professional counselor. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share our thoughts and expertise regarding “8 Keys to Make Marriage Counseling Work, “Top 5 Reasons Men Don’t Do Counseling, and How We Can Help,” and more. When you are ready, give us a call. We are happy to answer your questions, talk about what you need, and see how we can help.
I’m considering professional counseling, what do I need to know?