-
career
change and job stress
-
adopting
to life transitions
-
anxiety
and emotional problems
-
family
and relationship issues
-
eating
disorders
-
social
and emotional difficulties related to
disability and illness
-
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
taking care of a parent or a child and
the idea crosses your mind that you may
want to hit 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
it's 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.
Who are professional
counselors?
Professional
counselors have a master's or doctoral
degree in counseling or a related field
which included an internship and coursework
in human behavior and development, effective
counseling strategies, ethical practice, and
other core knowledge areas.
Over 80,000
professional counselors are licensed in 48
states as well as the District of Columbia.
State licensure typically requires a
master's or doctoral degree, two to three
years of supervised clinical experience, and
the passage of an examination. In states
without licensure or certification laws,
professional counselors are certified by the
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Participation in continuing education is
often required for the renewal of a license
or certification.
Professional
counselors adhere to a code of ethics that
protects the confidentiality of the
counseling relationship; prohibits
discrimination and requires understanding of
and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds;
and mandates that professional counselors
put the needs and welfare of clients before
all others in their practice.
How much does counseling cost?
The cost of
counseling can vary greatly depending on
your geographic location and whether
counseling is being provided by a community
mental health center or similar agency or by
a counselor in private practice. In general,
fees for group counseling are generally
lower than private session . For clients
who cannot afford the counselor's standard
fee, some counselors will lower their fee on
a sliding scale basis or will work out a
payment plan. Your counselor should explain
to you, prior to beginning the counseling
relationship, all financial arrangements
related to professional services.
How long does counseling
take?
Ideally,
counseling is terminated when the problem
that you pursued counseling for becomes more
manageable or is resolved. 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?
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.
How do I find a counselor?
There are
many different ways to locate a professional
counselor. Some common ways include:
-
The National Board for Certified
Counselors will help you to
find a certified counselor in your area
-
The
yellow pages listed under counselor,
marriage and family counselors
-
Referral
from your physician
-
Recommendations from trusted friends
-
Crisis
hotlines
-
Hospitals
-
Child
protective services
-
Referral
from clergy
-
Employee
Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Once you have
found a counselor you are interested in
seeing, you should ask several important
questions, such as:
-
Are you a
licensed or certified counselor?
-
What is
your educational background?
-
How long
have you been practicing counseling?
-
What are
your areas of specialization (such as
family, women's issues,
substance abuse counseling, etc.)?
-
What are
your fees?
-
Do you
accept my insurance?
-
How is
billing handled?
-
Do you
offer a sliding fee scale or a payment
plan if I do not have insurance for
mental health services?
-
How can
you help me with my problems?
-
What type
of treatment do you use?
-
How long
do you think counseling will last?
Some of these
questions may be addressed during your
initial phone conversation with the
counselor and others may be more
appropriately discussed in your first
face-to-face meeting.
After you
have had these questions answered by the
counselor to your satisfaction, consider how
comfortable you feel with the individual,
since you will be working closely together
during your counseling sessions. It is
difficult to open up and share your problems
with a stranger and you may feel awkward or
anxious during your initial sessions. But it
is also important that you have a "chemistry"
or rapport with the counselor. Counselors
have different styles, personalities, and
approaches. Take time to evaluate how you
feel interacting with the counselor
andwhether you believe that the two of you
can work effectively together. If you do not
feel at ease with a certain counselor, do
not get discouraged. Instead, look for a
different individual with whom you would
feel more comfortable working with.
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. |
