Seven Ways to Make Counseling Successful for You

Many people experience challenging life events, such as separation, chronic illness, or death of a loved one. Others may have emotional issues that affect their thoughts, relationships, or daily functioning. Still others harbor a general feeling that something is not quite right with their lives. No matter what challenge is at hand, everyone can use a little extra support from a professional.

While it is true that many people seek counseling to cope with distress, you don’t have to be in emotional crisis to get professional help. Some people turn to counseling to find the meaning and purpose of life. Others aim for self-identity or self-discovery in order to achieve a goal. Whatever the purpose for seeking counseling, research has shown that verbalizing feelings has a significant therapeutic effect on the brain, especially when done with someone who has the expertise to help you manage those feelings.

Counseling is not an overnight process. It is a collaboration between therapist and client. Effective counseling involves the commitment of time, energy, and sometimes financial resources to make changes in your thought and behavior patterns.

Here are seven ways to achieve a successful counseling experience:

  1. Choose your therapist carefully. Spend some time researching different types of therapists and the approaches they use to treat the issue you want to resolve. Evaluate the credentials of your prospective therapists and read what you can about them on their website (if possible) to determine which can make you feel more comfortable. To assist you in your search, click http://www.carolinacounselingservices.com/How-to-Choose-your-Therapist.html. Once you meet the therapist in person, decide if they are a good fit. If you don’t feel comfortable, or don’t get the impression they can help you, schedule an appt with a different therapist. The therapist you choose MUST be the right fit for you!
  1. Schedule counseling sessions at a good time. Make sure to make appointments when you can give 100 percent of your time and attention. Avoid scheduling a session that conflicts with other activities.
  1. Speak honestly. Candid discussion of how you feel is important in counseling. The therapist is not there to judge or reprimand you for your thoughts and actions, but to work with you and help ease your difficulties. If you filter or censor certain information, the therapist may not be able to uncover insights vital to resolving your issues.
  1. Set a goal. Establish markers for your target changes. These markers will help you track improvement in your behavior, emotions, or thoughts. For example, are you now easily getting out of bed in the morning when it used to be a struggle? Do you feel more energized to perform your usual tasks? Markers are a helpful way to tell if you’re making progress with counseling.
  1. Keep a journal. A regular therapy session lasts for about 55 minutes each week (or maybe twice a week), which is only a small piece of your waking hours. Make therapy a continuing 24/7 process by keeping a journal that makes you work outside the sessions. Record your thoughts and feelings, lessons learned, expectations, and experiences throughout your counseling journey. It not only helps you prepare for the next session, but shows what’s really working in achieving your goal.
  2. Choose whom to share the counseling details with. Limit the scope of information you share and whom you share it with. This might mean excluding opinionated people in your life who distort the truth about your therapy or give unsolicited advice that jeopardizes the therapy work. Both of these scenarios can undermine your self-trust and confuse your thinking.
  1. Enjoy the counseling experience. Savor every moment of the session when you are in the limelight. Soak in the attention given to you and cherish every helpful tip you receive. You never know when you may need to use them. Therapy is an amazing, transformative process geared toward living a worthwhile life.

Achieving Positive Change with Counseling

Going into therapy is one of the best things you can do to take care of your emotional health. At the end of the day, counseling should be a safe, positive experience that enables you to reap the ultimate benefit of emotional and behavioral wellness. All this is possible if you build a trusting relationship with your chosen therapist.

At Carolina Counseling Services, our independently contracted counselors are committed to making successful changes in the life of every client who walks through the door of our office in Pittsboro, NC. If you or someone you know has difficulty with life’s challenges, you can seek counseling to feel empowered and address the issues that affect your happiness. At Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC, there is one right-fit counselor waiting to listen and help you in a comfortable and non-judgmental environment. You can feel the good vibes as soon as you step in.

Don’t delay making a call when it means delaying the help you need. Contact CCS now to request an appointment.