Mental Health Counselling

Mental Health Counselling
Mental health counselling can be an effective therapy as
part of a wider treatment plan for an individual who is
suffering from depression or an anxiety related disorder,
or for people who have experienced a traumatic event in
their lives and are finding it difficult to cope with, or
for those who are struggling to deal with specific problems
and issues. It is often a doctor who will recommend mental
health counselling, however, many individuals will seek the
services of a counsellor themselves, either by asking their
doctor for advice or by approaching a counsellor directly.

What is counselling?

Basically, counselling can be described as a type of
talking therapy. It is usually delivered in a safe and
private setting so that the individual concerned can relax
and talk openly and freely about their particular problems
or issues and the emotions or feelings that can accompany
them.

It is described as a talking therapy because the counsellor
will listen empathetically to an individual in order to
understand the situation from the individual's point of
view. In doing this a trained counsellor will be able to
encourage an individual to see their situation more
clearly, perhaps from a different perspective, and will be
able to help them identify new ways of coping with their
problems or circumstances. Counselling usually does not
involve giving advice or telling someone what to do with
their lives, it is more about exploring problems,
identifying possible solutions and choices and obtaining
clarity.

For counselling to be effective, it is essential that an
element of trust develops between the counsellor and the
person or persons receiving the counselling as only in this
way can there be an open and free dialogue. It may take
time for a person receiving counselling to lose any initial
feelings of distrust, fear and embarrassment so quite often
counselling will be offered over several sessions in order
for a relationship to develop between the counsellor and
the patient or client.

There are several types of mental health counselling
services available, each drawing on its own particular
theory of human psychology and development. There are also
many different types of counsellors, some of who are
trained to deal with a particular problem or circumstance.
For example bereavement counsellors, counsellors who
specialise in eating disorders such as anorexia and
bulimia, and counsellors who understand the issues
surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, as well as many
others.

Counselling can take place on a one to one basis, or in
group sessions, face to face or over the phone. It can last
for just one session, a specific block of sessions or be
open ended with no time limit at all. Regardless of the
particular type of mental health problem involved, the
first step to recovery is recognising that there is a
problem in the first place.

When mental health counselling can help

Mental health counselling can be particularly beneficial
for individuals who have a tendency to repress feelings
like guilt, frustration, anger, resentment, sadness and so
on and who find it difficult to cope alone and who for
whatever reason, perhaps do not want to discuss how they
feel with their friends and family. It can help an
individual to gain new insights into their own particular
circumstances and problems and to achieve clarity and
direction in life. Most of all it can help an individual
cope and improve their quality of life.

There are numerous circumstances where someone might seek
the services of a mental health counsellor or be referred
for counselling by their doctor and these include but are
certainly not limited to:

• Relationship problems, including separation and divorce
• Problems at work or financial worries, dismissal,
redundancy
• Physical, sexual and/or mental abuse
• Bereavement
• Depression and anxiety
• Post natal depression
• Eating disorders
• OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Phobias
• Panic Attacks
• Dealing with stress
• Post traumatic stress

Finding a counsellor

In order to get the right kind of help it is important that
you access the most appropriate type of counselling for you
and as there are so many available options, it can be
problematic if you decide to go it alone.

In the first instance, it would be advisable to speak to
your doctor as he or she will be able to take into
consideration your full medical history before recommending
any particular type of therapy or counsellor. If you
decide to seek the services of a trained counsellor
independently, it is up to you to check out the cost and
the credentials of any potential counsellor before you
start.

Many voluntary organisations have counsellors and there are
numerous private counsellors advertising in the press,
phone books and on the Internet. However, you can find an
accredited counsellor from the British Association of
Counselling and Psychotherapy website at www.bacp.co.uk or
from the National Board for Certified Counsellors at
www.nbcc.org if you live in the USA

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Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions
that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information
about depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk