Why Is Counseling & Psychotherapy Effective?

Listed below are three reasons why counseling and psychotherapy can be effective in helping people to overcome their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and/or their mental health problems.  This is not a complete list.  For more information, please visit my website at: http://www.thoughtperspectives.com.   

The fact that a professional counselor is not a friend or a family member is actually beneficial to the counseling process.     The fact that a counselor is not a friend or family member actually makes it easier for the counselor to help you.  The advice of friends and family members can often be colored with biases, judgments, or preconceptions.  Not only do counselors work to be objective and non-judgmental with their clients, that is what they are trained to do.  The goal of a counselor is to assist the client in getting what they want out of life not to assist them in getting what someone else wants for them.   

Counseling can help one to help oneself.      The goal of counseling is not to have the client become dependent on the counselor for answers and advice but for the client to eventually learn to counsel oneself.  A good counselor will teach clients how to think through their decisions before making them, to communicate their needs more efficiently, and to identify and manage their emotions.

Counseling can give one a place to vent emotional pain and frustration.     Sometimes people just need to unload their thoughts and emotions to someone that really knows how to listen and understand.  Well-respected counselors are excellent listeners that can also pick up on the underlying thoughts and emotions that are not verbalized.  A professional set of ears can be invaluable for helping people to release stress and figure out what it is they are actually feeling.