Counsellors

Counsellors help guide people through difficult emotions and challenging times in their life. A counsellor is an objective mental health care professional who uses talk-based therapy to help you navigate the challenges of everyday life.

A counsellor doesn’t tell you what to do or solve your problems for you. Instead, the role of a counsellor is to help you get to the root of the issues bothering you. They are trained professionals who know how to ask the right questions to guide you through your journey of self-awareness.

As you progress in your wellness journey, a counsellor will help you see all of the potential options in front of you and support you as you develop healthy coping strategies.

People often ask us who needs counselling. They wonder how to decide if it’s truly essential. Ultimately, this is a very personal decision and necessity can indeed be a subjective idea. When it comes to deciding who can benefit from counselling, however, the answer is simple: everyone. Each and everyone one of us can experience truly life-changing effects from counselling.

But, why is counselling important? Can’t we just turn to close friends and family for support, just as people have done for generations?  Yes, of course! Having a close support network is crucial to your mental health. At the same time, it can’t replace the aid of a counsellor.

As much as your friends and family love you and want to support you, they are not there to be your therapist. They can’t provide an outside neutral perspective. They aren’t trained in navigating mental health issues and asking the right questions to guide you in your self-reflection. On top of that, the nature of close relationships can create limitations. You don’t want to say something hurtful to them nor do they want to offend you by being too blunt. On the other hand, while the relationship you have with a counsellor is trusting and open, it isn’t limited by these same restrictions.

A counsellor is well-trained and highly experienced in navigating difficult conversations. They know how to support you while pushing you to break free from your old ways of thinking and learn to navigate your emotions.

Anytime you are struggling with an issue, it is worth considering seeking counselling. There are never issues that are too big or too small for therapy. Counsellors have heard it all and there is no reason to feel like your issues are not important enough or too shameful to discuss.

Let’s look at a few common issues that bring people counselling:

• Loss: Grief is an extraordinarily challenging emotion. When you lose a loved one, it’s essential to learn the coping techniques that will help you move on in a healthy way.
• Relationships issues: Problems with your family, spouse, colleagues, or anyone else in your life can feel impossible to take on. Whether it is couples therapy or family counselling, a trained professional can objectively guide you through difficult conversations and conflict resolution. Likewise, one-to-one therapy is also useful in helping you cope with relationship issues.
• Stress and anxiety: From stress at work to anxiety disorders, a counsellor can offer you invaluable stress management techniques that will transform the way that you view demanding situations.
• Depression: More than just feeling blue, depression is a serious mental health issue that requires attention. A counsellor can help you navigate your emotions and get on the path to feeling like yourself again.
• Addiction: Whether it is drugs and alcohol or your diet has taken an unhealthy turn, there is hope. A trained mental health professional like a counsellor can help you get to the root of the issue and help you find healthier ways to manage your emotions.
• Phobias: As intense as your fears may feel, you have the strength to overcome them. With the support of a counsellor, you can explore your phobia and work to conquer it.
• Life transitions: Whether it is a divorce, retirement, or the birth of a new baby, change is never easy. Working with an experienced mental health care professional will equip you with the tools to navigate the next stage in your life.
• Trauma: Bad things do indeed happen to good people. It may have been last month or a decade ago, but trauma is not something you just forget. With the support of a counsellor, however, you can gain a new perspective on your experience and learn to cope with the stress of your experience.

After seeing the incredible progress of countless people, we can say beyond a doubt that counselling is life-changing. The journey of your life is not carved in stone. The issues that keep you awake at night don’t have to last forever. You are stronger than you might think and, with the assistance of a mental health care professional, you can truly transform the way that you feel.

Of course, there is only one way to find out if counselling is right for you and that is to give it a try. Like most things in life, if you arrive at your counselling session with an open mind and feeling ready to truly work at it, you’ll see excellent results.