Can Counseling Help People With Normal Everyday Problems?

     While the stigma of mental health has improved over the past fifty years, it is still abundant throughout the general public.  I am referring to the many people that are hesitant to seek counseling or therapy in fear that they might be labeled with a diagnosis or that they might be seen as “crazy” or “psycho”.
     Counseling has become much more acceptable in this day and age.  As a matter of fact, the majority of the clients that I see are much like you.  They are people without any diagnosed mental health disorders that are dealing with problems presented to them in everyday life.  Life itself seems to be getting harder to manage these days and there is no shame in asking for a little help from a trained counselor.  Most people go through life without being taught how to communicate effectively, how to have a relationship with someone else or how to solve some of their own personal issues.Counselors are trained to help people deal with issues like those as well as issues like time management and anger management.
     More and more people are seeking the help of counselors because they offer a non-biased perspective on your situation and they are trained to help you learn how to solve your own problems.  Listed below are only some of the ways in which counseling can be beneficial (for more information on the benefits of counseling, visit: http://www.thoughtperspectives.com.

• It can give you a place to vent your emotional pain and frustrations.
• It can help you to stop making the same mistakes.
• It can help you get through difficult life transitions.
• It can help you get to the root of your personal issues.
• It can allow you to discuss your personal problems in a safe and confidential environment with someone who is trained to listen.

   

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.

How Does The Counseling Process Work?

People tend to fear that which they do not understand.  Many people that I have spoken to over the past few years informed me that they were hesitant to seek counseling or psychotherapy because they did not understand how it worked.  Many were also afraid of divulging an abundance of highly personal information to a counselor or psychotherapist that they had never met before.   
While I could write an entire book on this subject matter, I will abbreviate it to a few key points.  Listed below are some my own personal thoughts on how counseling works: 

• Discussing Personal Issues in a Safe & Confidential Environment.

Those seeking professional help can be assured that anything they choose to discuss in counseling is supposed to remain confidential.  Professional counselors are bound by an ethical code to maintain confidentiality.  The counseling office is oftentimes viewed as a safe house where people feel free to discuss personal issues without feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed.  If for some reason the counselor has to breach confidentiality, they are obligated to notify the client first.  Counselors are legally mandated to notify the proper authorities if: 1) a client threatens to harm oneself, 2) a client threatens to harm someone else, or 3) there is reason to believe a child or an individual unable to care for oneself is being abused.  

• Let go of pain & unrealistic expectations.

One of the first steps one has to take in order to initiate the healing process is to unload pent-up emotional pain and mental anguish.  The positive effect of unloading can be felt immediately and can feel like a heavy burden lifted off of your shoulders.  Doing so with a professional counselor can be beneficial because they are trained to listen and provide emotional support.  Unrealistic expectations often hinder this process.  For instance, one might think that no one else should have to listen to their complaints or bear their burden.  This falls under the unrealistic expectation of believing that one should be able to handle all of their problems without help from others or believing that no one else has the desire to help them.  Counseling can provide a safe place to assist you in identifying unrealistic expectations and  help you change them to more realistic ones.

• Get Through Difficult Life Transitions.

Difficult life transitions can consist of: getting married, getting divorced, starting a new job, losing a job, retirement, starting college, or experiencing the death of a loved one to name a few.  Transitional phases are difficult because they are sometimes unexpected and they take people out of their comfort zones and force them to adapt to a new situation.
There are positive and negative ways to adapt.  For example, someone who loses their job could adapt positively by doing everything in their power to find another job.  Another person could adapt negatively by feeling sorry for him or herself and cease all efforts to find another job.  Those who have adapted negatively to a situation are the ones who should seek counseling.  The counseling process can help them to get back on their feet and re-adapt to their situation in a more positive manner. 

• Get to the Roots of your Problems.

Many times the only way to solve a problem is to get to the root of it.  This involves figuring out when it started, how it started and why it still continues to be a problem.  Counseling can assist the client in solving the roots of their problems which will then eliminate the symtoms attached to them.  This requires time and patience on the part of the person seeking help.
The previous examples are only a glimpse of how counseling and psychotherapy work.  For more information on this subject please visit my website at: http://www.thoughtperspectives.com.

How To Choose A Counselor Or Therapist

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when choosing a counselor or a therapist:

• Find a counselor who can understand you and your needs: It is important that you find a counselor who can listen well and understand what it is that you are trying to convey.  Is the counselor asking enough questions?  Is the counselor asking the right questions?  If you feel like you are being misunderstood, then you might consider trying to find another counselor.   
• Find a counselor that will challenge you: One of the reasons counseling can be so effective is because it can make you look at your life more realistically.  If you have low self-esteem, a good counselor will challenge you to improve your self-image and not just flatter you in an attempt to boost your self-esteem artificially.  An effective counselor will be more proactive by giving you tasks and assignments to help you improve your situation.  If you feel like you are not being challenged, then maybe it is time to find another counselor.   
• Find a counselor that you can trust and connect with: It is imperative to find a counselor with whom you feel connected and with whom you feel safe.  One of the goals in counseling should be to intentionally let yourself feel vulnerable to the counselor.  While that might seem frightening, it an important step that promotes growth from learning that you can put your trust in someone without becoming devastated by the aftermath.  Enabling yourself to feel vulnerable means that you must have some feelings of safety and trust in the counselor. 
• Find a counselor that will accept your true identity: The only way that you can feel safe disclosing personal information to a counselor is to know that the counselor is not passing judgment on you.  No matter how ridiculous or repulsive you may think your thoughts or feelings are, it is the job of the counselor to accept you for who you are and not to dispense judgments or preconceptions.
• Finding the appropriate counselor may take patience and persistence: If you are interested in making progress in your treatment, then rule number one is not to settle for a counselor that you feel will not be able to help you to your fullest extent.  Just like any other profession, there are good and bad counselors in the field.  Several research studies have shown that the theoretical approach or even the credentials of a counselor or therapist do not matter as much as the relationship that is developed between the counselor and the client.  This analogy may illustrate the point better; it is possible to walk several miles in a pair of shoes that do not fit or that are uncomfortable.  However, walking several miles in the right pair of shoes will most likely get you there faster and make the whole experience more enjoyable along the way. 

What Should I Expect During The First Session?

 I briefly discussed the evaluation process in a previous blog (Expectations of Therapy: first Contact) but,  I will give a brief recap. 

 The evaluation is approximately 3-5 sessions depending on the nature of the problems and how many people are present.  During the evaluation, I would be gathering info about the nature and history of the problem.  I would also be asking questions about family history and previous therapy experiences.  At the end of the evaluation, I then give my thoughts as to what I believe is going on and what direction I believe would be most helpful.  The evaluation also gives the client(s) a chance to get some idea of who I am and, if we decide to continue, whether they would be comfortable working with me.  

The evaluation that I conduct is no different than an evaluation a medical doctor would perform.  If someone consulted a doctor for pain in their lower back, the doctor would want to first run a series of tests in order to find out exactly what the problem was before treating it.  The evaluation gives me a chance to learn about the nature and causes of the underlying problems rather than using conjecture and running the risk of misdiagnosis.


Listed below are some of the topics that I usually try to cover during the evaluation:

• The nature and duration of the presenting problem(s):  It is helpful for me to get the client's perspective on what they believe the problems are and when they originated.
• Employment:  I like to find out the nature and length of employment as well as how the presenting problem(s) may be affecting performance at work.
• Previous therapy experiences:  This will give me a good idea of one's familiarity with the process of therapy and what has and has not worked for them in the past.
• Expectations of treatment:  Right from the beginning of therapy, I implore my clients to think about what they want their lives to look like at the completion of treatment.
• Medical/psychiatric problems:  Certain medical problems, medical drugs, psychiatric problems and especially psychiatric medications can affect the process and outcome of treatment.  It is beneficial for me to know these things at the beginning  of treatment process.
• Family history:  I will usually ask about the family history of mental illness, addiction, and abuse.  I also ask clients to give me a glimpse of what it was like growing up in their family household as well as what their relationships were like with their parents and siblings. 

The first session is when I really try to get a good understanding of why the person decided to seek treatment at the particular time.  I also like to hear about the problems they have been struggling with and how they have tried to deal with them in the past.  My goal in the first session is to start establishing a trusting relationship with the client so they feel comfortable coming back to talk about further issues.  I also evaluate how comfortable the client is in the first session so I can taylor my approach and line of questioning to their level of comfort.  Everyone responds in their own unique way to therapy and I take that into consideration.  

The important thing in the first session is for the client to feel comfortable working with me and to realize that the treatment process is a team effort in helping them to create positive change in their life.

What Is An Initial Office Visit Like?

Some people are skeptical about going to therapy or counseling for the first time or going to a new psychotherapist when they do not know what to expect.  I will attempt to delineate the process which my own clients can expect in order to eliminate any quandaries.  


Office EnvironmentMy office is located in beautiful Farmington Hills, MI just off of the northwest corner of 13 Mile Rd. and Northwestern Highway in "The Offices of Woodcreek".  The parking lot is easily accessible from 13 Mile Rd. or from Northwestern Highway.  The office is on the main level right off of the main entrance which provides convenience for those who may be suffering from Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder or Claustrophobia.  There are separate entrance and exit doors which provide an additional level of confidentiality.  The inside of the office is a serene and calming environment which many clients describe as warm, friendly and professional.  


Initial Visit    
I usually request that all new patients arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out some paperwork before the commencement of the session.  You will be greeted in the waiting room by myself or by my administrative assistant.  There are two forms that I have everyone fill out.  The first form is a general information form that provides me with your name, address, employment info and insurance information.  The second form outlines the policies and business practices to which I adhere and requires a signature stating that you understand those policies and will abide by them.  After the paperwork is filled out, I will escort you from the waiting room to my office where we will begin our session.  

Expectations Of Counseling Or Therapy: First Contact

 First Contact- the therapeutic relationship starts when someone first contacts me by phone or sometimes by email.  If I am unavailable when someone contacts me I will get back to them within the same day, usually within a few hours.  My goal is to talk to the person on the phone so I can get them to summarize what the presenting problems are and why they decided to seek help at the time.  If their presenting problems are something that I can assist them with then I will schedule an appointment for them to come in.  If their presenting problem is something that falls outside of the scope of my practice, I will try to refer them to another professional that may be able to help.

     At some point in the phone conversation I will explain to them my process of conducting an evaluation with all new clients that I see whether they are individuals, couples or families.  The evaluation is approximately 3-5 sessions depending on the nature of the problems and how many people are present.  During the evaluation, I gather info about the nature and history of the problem.  I also be ask questions about family history and previous therapy experiences.  At the end of the evaluation, I then give my thoughts as to what I believe is going on and what direction I believe would be most helpful.  The evaluation also gives the client(s) a chance to get some idea of who I am and, if we decide to continue, whether they would be comfortable working with me. 

     The evaluation that I conduct is no different than an evaluation a medical doctor would perform.  If someone consulted a doctor for pain in their lower back, the doctor would want to first run a series of tests in order to find out exactly what the problem was before treating it.  The evaluation gives me a chance to learn about the nature and causes of the underlying problems rather than using conjecture and running the risk of misdiagnosis.