The ABCs of Counseling

I thought I would take this opportunity to review some basics about counseling, or therapy.  I often assume (incorrectly) that because counseling has become more exceptable in recent years, that most people know what it is and how it works.  So this is a refresher course for all of us today.

First, a clarification of terms.  A counselor is a professionally trained person who provides services for people who are in need, like a Rehabilitation Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, School Counselor, or Mental Health Counselor.  A psychologists refers to a professional who applies knowledge about the mind and the brain to areas of human activity, including issues related to daily life - family, education, and work - and the treatment of mental health problems. A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in treating mental disorders.

A counselor - also knows as a therapist, a Marriage & Family Therapist, or a mental health counselor - should have an Bachelor's or a Master's degree in the counseling, or a counseling related field, such as psychology.  They may or may not be licensed.  If they are licensed, they will often have a long list of initials after their name, like LMHC, LMFT, LISW, or LMSW.  It is highly recommended to ask your counselor these questions before entering into a therapeutic relationship.  It is not impolite to have this information before you get started.  In fact, if your counselor does not want to give you this information, that should raise red flags.

Counseling is for anybody and everybody. Anyone can benefit from counseling if they are truly interested in change and personal growth, or if they are experiencing difficult times.  The way I think about it, there are three different ways or categories in which counseling can help.  The first category is severe or diagnosed mental illness, such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, clinical depression, severe anxiety (ie. PTSD), eating disorders, substance abuse, and childhood disorders (autism, etc.).  It is not uncommon for a therapist who specializes in one of this disorders to work together with a psychiatrist or physician to help manage symptoms.

A second area in which counseling can help is in maintenance and wellness.  This is a category is characterized by problems such as situational depression or anxiety (ex. empty nest syndrome, post partum depression, etc.) or a life skills refresher (ex. organizational skills for an adult with ADD, cognitive exercises and coping skills for those with depression and anxiety symptoms, etc.).  These may be people who at one time fit the criteria for the first category, but have learned to manage their disorder, and check in regularly to monitor and improve their situation.

Finally, there is the category that I call "normal people going through difficult times."  This group can apply to most people, and characterizes most of my clientele.  This category can look like grief or bereavement, divorce/separation/loss, career guidance, self esteem, anger management, stress, life transitions (ex. relocation, new job, etc.), parenting, and spiritual growth.

I am a firm believer that all people can benefit from counseling at some point in their lives.  I think most of my clients would tell you, a year after counseling ended, that the best thing about the experience was having a place to vent and someone to listen to them.  Other ways that counseling can help include helping to process information and make a decision; brainstorming; support and encouragement; receiving guidance from an impartial third party; and experiencing personal growth.  Counselors are trained to ask appropriate questions and introduce new problem solving strategies.  Counselors are also trained in communication and listening skills, so it's not just like talking to a friend or family member.

Make the most of your counseling hour by making sure your counselor is the right fit for you and your personality - interview your counselor, ask questions, and find out more about their professional background.  It is always important to view counseling as a tool for change and to bring the right attitude to counseling.  Even if you don’t want to be there, you are the customer, so ask yourself - how this can work for me?  Be open minded about it and who knows - it might be the best experience of your life!