The Benefits Of Individual Counseling

Humans tend to be naturally social creatures, so talking and communicating with others is often one of the primary methods we have for processing our thoughts. We may not always feel comfortable talking to the people in our lives, though. When we're feeling overwhelmed, our emotions, worries, and stresses can seem like too much to unload on a friend or an acquaintance. That's where talk therapy can help. One-on-one therapy can enable you to speak to someone in confidence. A licensed therapist can respond to your concerns objectively, offer a comforting word, and give you sound advice to help you live a better life. For your first therapy session, you might find a suitable therapist in your local area, through your insurance database or a referral from another healthcare professional, or online.

Why Try Individual Counseling?

Every day, millions of people may seek the help of therapists. One-on-one talk therapy is usually the most popular form of therapy used to cope with mental health challenges. The widespread usage and popularity of this form of therapy generally mean that the modern therapist has a vast array of methods and techniques to help you change the way you think and feel for the better.

Meeting with a therapist through individual counseling may allow the therapist to give you custom and specific attention that may not always be possible in a group setting. While group settings can have their merits, especially for people who need a community while they recover from some form of trauma or addiction, individual therapy can be optimized for almost any need. The therapist will generally begin by a session of clinical observation, then work with you to set specific goals and objectives to guide you through treatment. 

How many sessions you will have of individual counseling depends on what you're looking for and why you're seeking therapy, you might attend weekly sessions for a few weeks, several months or even years in some cases. Clients heal at different rates. Timing can be completely dependent on your personal needs, your situation, and the effectiveness of the treatment.

Who Can Benefit From Individual Counseling?

What is individual therapy all about? Individual psychotherapy or personal counseling can be tailored to the specific needs of the individual, which means it can be beneficial to nearly everyone. An individual's current needs will likely dictate the treatment plan, though this could change over the course of therapy. While some may choose to do therapy to address specific mental health concerns, like moderate depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorder, counseling sessions can be for so much more. Counseling services can encompass career counseling, marriage and family issues, or future concerns. Individual counseling session’s treatment goals depend entirely on the individual’s needs. Some individual counseling examples include:

• Individual psychotherapy sessions for managing mental health disorders, with or without the assistance medical treatments
• Short-term treatment for common life stressors
• Career counseling
• PTSD treatments with or without the use of psychotropic drugs (those with are limited by location)
• Counseling focused on self-actualization

Whether you're coping with grief or psychological trauma, experiencing depression or career dissatisfaction, seeking to improve your general outlook, or simply looking to focus on personal growth, individual therapy can provide some form of healing. Often good therapy extends into different paths of treatment, which leads to fewer relapses in the original issue. Along the way, your therapist will likely identify unhealthy behavioral patterns you may not even be aware of, so therapy can help you grow as a person, too.

Common Methods For Finding Individual Counseling

For individual counseling to be effective, it can be important that you find a therapist you feel comfortable with. That's why it's not uncommon for the person seeking treatment to switch therapists a few times before landing on one they prefer. In the beginning of the counseling process, it can be advisable to give your therapist a chance and tell them clearly what you need. Then, you might get to know them and their style of therapy. The more comfortable you are having a one on one discussion with your therapist, the more successful your sessions may be.  Below, you'll find three common methods for locating specialists.

Call A Local University Or Large Clinic

A university or receptionist at a large clinic can often refer you to specialists in your area. This can be a solid place to start if you're looking for a list of names to consider or are new to an area.

Look For Insurance Plan Databases

Many insurance plan providers maintain easy-to-list databases. A quick search can provide you with a list of names based on location and specialty.

Get A Referral From Another Health Care Provider

One of the most effective ways to find help can be to get referrals from other health providers, especially when you need someone with a specific area of expertise. Therefore, you may want to be evaluated by your primary care physician so they can point you in the right direction.

Consider Online Therapy

Despite the many benefits of individual counseling, many people hesitate to take advantage of this service. Perhaps because of how busy our modern lives have become, it can be too time-consuming to commute to a therapist’s office, even one in your area. 

That’s where online therapy can provide an advantage. With remote therapy services, you can connect with a trained mental health professional from your home or office, wherever it’s most convenient for you. All you usually need is an internet connection. 

In addition, you may be able to connect with a variety of licensed mental health professionals with diverse specialties. There may be many ways to communicate with your therapist from the comfort of your own home, including in-app messaging, phone, and video sessions.

Since the advent of online mental health services, there has been much research regarding their effectiveness. Many studies are yielding encouraging results. In fact, an important meta-analysis found that online teletherapy services can be just as effective as in-person therapy. 

Counselor Reviews

"Gerry is an excellent therapist! He is easy to talk to and is extremely knowledgeable about many aspects of mental health. I never leave a session without learning something about myself and my behaviors. Gerry is truthful and asks questions that really get to the core of issues that impact my life. I highly recommend choosing Gerry Watson as your therapist!"

"In the short span of 9 months, Shonnie has become like one of my best friends. At first, I was skeptical of doing therapy since I'm very "psychologically healthy". A few challenges in my personal life lead me to try therapy for a month. Now I consider it an important part of my growth as a businessman and leader within my community. Thank you Shonnie for being so helpful during the recent difficulties; I am very lucky to have found you!"