From childhood through late adulthood,
there are certain times when we may need help
addressing problems and issues that cause us emotional
distress or make us feel overwhelmed.
When you are experiencing these types of
difficulties, you may benefit from the assistance of an
experienced, trained professional. Professional counselors
offer the caring, expert assistance that we often need
during these stressful
times. A counselor can help you identify your problems and
assist you in finding the best ways to cope with the
situation by changing behaviors that contribute to the
problem or by finding constructive ways to deal with a
situation that is beyond your personal control.
Professional counselors offer help in
addressing many situations that cause emotional stress,
including, but not limited to:
anxiety, depression, and
other mental and emotional problems &
disorders
family and relationship
issues
substance abuse and other
addictions
sexual abuse and domestic
violence
eating disorders
career change and job stress
social and emotional
difficulties related to disability and illness
adopting to life transitions
the death of a loved one
"Good indicators of when you should
seek counseling are when you’re having difficulties at
work, your ability to concentrate is diminished or when your
level of pain becomes uncomfortable," says Dr. Gail
Robinson, past president of the American Counseling
Association. "However, you don’t want to wait until
the pain becomes unbearable or you’re at the end of your
rope."
"If someone is questioning if they
should go into counseling that is probably the best
indicator that they should," says Dr. William King, a
mental health counselor in private practice in Indianapolis,
Indiana. "You should trust your instincts."
Joyce Breasure, past president of the
American Counseling Association and a professional counselor
who has been in private practice for more than 20 years,
recommends counseling when you:
Spend 5 out of 7
days feeling unhappy
Regularly
cannot sleep at night
Are caring for
a parent/child and you think about hitting that person
Place an elder
in a nursing home or in alternative care
Have lost
someone or something (such as a job)
Have a chronic
or acute medical illness
Can no longer
prioritize what is most important in your life
Feel that you can no
longer manage your stress
"If you're not playing some, working
some, and learning some, then you’re out of balance.
There's a potential for some problems," Breasure says.
Robinson points out you don’t have to be
"sick" to benefit from counseling.
"Counseling is more than a treatment of mental
illness," she says. "Some difficult issues we face
in life are part of normal development. Sometimes its
helpful to see what you’re going through is quite
normal."
What is professional
counseling?
Professional counselors work with
individuals, families, groups and organizations. Counseling
is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client.
Professional counselors help clients identify goals and
potential solutions to problems which cause emotional
turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills;
strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and
optimal mental health. Through counseling you examine the
behaviors, thoughts and feelings that are causing
difficulties in your life. You learn effective ways to deal
with your problems by building upon personal strengths. A
professional counselor will encourage your personal growth
and development in ways that foster your interest and
welfare.
Will my health insurance
cover counseling?
Many insurance and coverage plans cover
mental health services by a licensed professional counselor
including some Medicaid programs, CHAMPUS, and other
government-sponsored health coverage programs. If you do not
have health insurance, or if your coverage does not include
mental health care or the services of a professional
counselor, many professional counselors will work with
clients on a sliding-fee scale or will offer a payment plan.
Talk to your counselor about your options.
How long does counseling
take?
Ideally, counseling is terminated when the
problem that you pursued counseling for becomes more
manageable or is resolved. However, some insurance companies
and managed care plans may limit the number of sessions for
which they pay. You should check with your health plan to
find out more about any limitations in your coverage. During
the first few counseling sessions your counselor should also
discuss the length of treatment that may be needed to
achieve your goals.
Is everything I say
confidential?
All members of the American Counseling
Association subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Standards of
Practice which require counselors to protect the
confidentiality of their communications with clients. Most
state licensure laws also protect client confidentiality. As
a client, you are guaranteed the protection of
confidentiality within the boundaries of the client/counselor
relationship. Any disclosure will be made with your full
written, informed consent and will be limited to a specific
period of time. The only limitations to confidentiality
occur when a counselor feels that there is clear and
imminent danger to you or to others, or when legal
requirements demand that confidential information be
disclosed such as a court case. Whenever possible, you will
be informed before confidential information is revealed.
Together you and your counselor will set
goals, work toward achieving them, and assess how well you
are actually meeting them. Counseling can help you maximize
your potential and make positive changes in your life.
Finally, remember that counseling may be hard work at times
but change and progress do happen. A professional counselor
can provide the help and support to help you master the
challenges of life.
The above is public
information which can be found on the website of the American Counseling
Association. Additional information about
counseling can be found through the "links"
page on this site.
