Tips & Myths
Making The Most Of Counseling
Overcoming Depression
"I want to feel sunlight on my face, see the dust cloud disappear without a trace. I want to take shelter from the poison rain..."
Where The Streets Have No Name- U2
Putting what was learned in counseling sessions into real life is a must!
Forty-five minutes in therapy each week will not fix everything; it’s how these “tools” are used after counseling that encourages change.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
There are healthy lifestyle changes available in daily life to support mood and improve emotional health. Reach out to others for support. Get plenty of exercise and sleep. Eat well. Make time for relaxation and play. The list goes on…
The Therapist Does Not Dictate
The client and therapist are partners. A therapist guides and makes suggestions for treatment, but it is the client who ultimately makes the changes needed to move forward.
Commit to Treatment
Skip sessions only in emergencies. Be sure to complete homework assignments. If sessions are skipped, consider why. Are painful discussions or emotions being avoided? Did the last session touch a nerve? Discuss any feelings of reluctance with the therapist.
Did You Know?
Our circumstances account for only about 10 percent of our happiness. Another 50 percent comes from a person’s internal makeup, composed of genetics, temperament, and constitution.
This means 40 percent of our happiness comes from what we control…behaviors, thoughts and intentional practices. The things we do on purpose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8zeYC_idAY&modestbranding=1
The Apostle Paul
1 Cor. 13:13 (NLT)
“Three things will last forever
– faith, hope, and love –
and the greatest of these is love.”
Myths
Myths and misconceptions about counseling may discourage people from seeking help. Here are some of the more common thoughts surrounding mental health issues.
I don’t need a therapist. I’m smart enough to solve my own problems.
We all have our blind spots. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. Therapists don’t say what to do or how you should live. An experienced outside perspective is helpful in gaining insight so you make better choices.
Therapy is for crazy people
Therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and want to learn tools and techniques to become more self-confident and emotionally balanced.
Therapy is self-indulgent. It’s for whiners and complainers.
The client and therapist are partners. A therapist guides and makes suggestions Therapy is hard work! Complaining doesn’t promote progress. Improvement in therapy comes from reevaluating your life and taking responsibility for any actions you have taken. Therapists help and guide, but ultimately you, the client, must do the work.
All Therapists want to talk about is my parents.
Family relationships can help to clarify thoughts and behaviors later in life, but personal history is not the sole focus of therapy. The primary focus is changing unhealthy patterns and symptoms you are experiencing.
Therapy is not about blaming, it is about discovering.