Is Counselling for You?

Most of us have gone through times in our lives when we feel 'stuck', upset, sad, helpless, listless, hopeless or angry. A lot of times, we know how to get through these times and get on with our lives without letting the problem/distress wear us down. But, there are times when a problem overwhelms us and we are unable to get past it. Sometimes, a problem can make us feel shameful/embarrassed and we are unsure who to share it with. There are other times when we just want to talk/vent/express ourselves without being judged or ridiculed for it.

Counselling is for you if:

• You're struggling with an issue and don't know how to get past it
• You'd like to discuss your issue with someone who won't judge you, laugh at you, ridicule you or shame you
• You want to get a fresh perspective on a long-standing problem
• You're willing to work through your issue over time and with patience
• You have a weak support system and you don't know who else to talk to
• You're facing a stressful situation and finding it difficult to deal with it
• You're willing to trust the therapeutic process and place your trust in a professional to help you through your issue/problem/situation
• ...and many others

Some examples of counselling situations:

- You have a problem of an emotional/psychological/behavioural nature which is causing you distress, and you are unable to get past it on your own. For example: you’ve recently moved to a different city and you’re lonely and unable to initiate friendships because you feel you are 'too shy'. You’d like to make an effort to behave differently and you're not sure how to begin.

- You’re ‘stuck’ in a situation and need new ideas or a new perspective to work through it. For example: you’re a single parent and recently started dating someone, you’re unsure how to bring it up with your children. You would like to balance your responsibilities with your children and yet, give the new relationship a fair chance.

- You’re struggling with an aspect of your identity. For example: you are a homosexual and are wondering how much to reveal to your friends and family. You fear their reaction and would like to talk through what you’re feeling.

- You’d like to talk freely about something. For example: You’ve recently lost a dear friend to an accident and coming to terms with the tragedy. You’d like to talk about the painful feelings that are coming up for you, you’d like to openly grieve in a safe place.

- You’re concerned about a change in behaviour and would like some ideas on how to cope with it. For example: your 8-year-old child has recently become very withdrawn and cries for no reason and has started bed-wetting. You’d like to help held her deal with the situation and understand what’s causing her the distress.

Every individual is unique and so is everyone's experience in counselling. It would be inaccurate to compare one person's experience in counselling to another. The best way to navigate counselling is to have an open and honest relationship with your counsellor - where there is space to clarify doubts, ask questions and express your opinions.

If you have any questions regarding counselling, the process, etc. do drop a message and I will try my best to answer it here.