what counseling do I need?

Counseling is sometimes hard for a person to consider. The negative stigma on counseling and not fully understanding how it works makes it difficult for people. There are many types of counseling that specialize in helping with specific types of problems. Knowing what counseling is needed or how it can help would make the decision a little easier. 

COUNSELING

Counseling is the central umbrella that all counseling types fall under. This is usually for people struggling to cope with something or trying to figure something out in their life. These sessions offer an empathetic ear, space to openly discuss the troubles, and coping skills to get through the challenging moments. 

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

This type of therapy focuses on thoughts and behaviors. Cognitive therapy aims to change thinking patterns, and behavior therapy is to change behavior patterns. This type of treatment helps people struggling with depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, addiction, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Changes in thought patterns can help with self-esteem, racing thoughts, and destructive thoughts. Behavior pattern changes can help with controlling obsessive behaviors, controlling urges and fears that inhibit daily life. 

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is “talk therapy” that does an in-depth dive into the past. This therapy focuses on events and experiences of the past, subconscious and unconscious mind. Psychotherapy reveals repressed memories and pain from the past still affecting the present. This therapy takes time to process and is considered to be long-term. It is beneficial when present life is extremely challenging, but no current issues explain the difficulties. 

TRAUMA THERAPY

Trauma therapy helps people who have experienced trauma in their lives and are struggling with the memories. It can feel impossible to deal with the memories and the extreme emotions that accompany them. Therapists use a treatment called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat the memories. They reconnect the client to pictures, thoughts, feelings, and sensations linked with the trauma in a protected and suitable environment. It allows the brain to no longer see the trauma as distressing and naturally heal itself.

COUPLES AND FAMILY COUNSELING

Couples and Family counseling extends to therapy outside of just the individual. It helps with problems and struggles within a relationship or family. It can reveal that the challenges of a spouse or family member are causing trouble for others or that others cause problems for the individual. Everyone involved in this therapy has to be motivated and make an effort to improve themself and the unit as a whole. 

GROUP COUNSELING

Group counseling is therapy for multiple people, all struggling with a similar issue. The group meets regularly to discuss, interact, and explore problems with each other and the therapist/group leader. It helps when feeling abandoned and isolated, which can cause depression and worsening behavioral issues. Examples of group counseling are Alcoholic Anonymous and support groups. Learning from peers and others with the same struggle can be as therapeutic as the therapy itself.