Pursuing Mental Health Care: When Should You Find A Counselor?
While therapy once carried with it a significant stigma, more and more people are turning to psychology and psychiatry to understand themselves better, any mental health symptoms they might be experiencing, and any overwhelming feelings or experiences they might have. Therapy is a sustainable option for virtually every socioeconomic background and every state of health.
So, with ever-increasing therapy modalities and providers, how do you go about finding a mental health counselor for your needs?
Who can benefit from therapy?
Therapy can be for anyone who feels overwhelmed in their life. Feeling overwhelmed can come on the heels of a large promotion, a life change, such as marriage or welcoming a new baby, or after the death of a loved one. It can also arise as a symptom of a disorder, as is often the case in depressive and anxiety disorders. Experiencing powerful swells of emotion and feeling as though your life has become far too overwhelming are excellent reasons to seek out a therapist.
Just as excellent, though, it is seeking out a therapist to learn more about yourself. Working with a therapist without a formal diagnosis of a disorder or condition can also be helpful; therapists are trained to help you learn more about yourself, including your motivations, your fears, and your triggers, so seeing a therapist can mean not treating an illness, but simply diving deeper into your own psyche and learning as much about yourself as possible in order to carve out a life for yourself that you truly love.
What challenges can therapy address?
Therapy can treat a host of concerns. Although many forms of therapy focus on treating specific diagnoses Therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment method for numerous mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, Bipolar Disorder, and more.
However, these are not the only concerns therapists can help with. Therapists can also help you work through a contentious relationship, dysfunctional family dynamics, and workplace skirmishes, among other everyday concerns.
Emotional support, relationship insights, and other potential benefits of mental health care
Therapists are also excellent resources for simple understanding; you might not understand why you feel so sad in response to seemingly happy stimuli, such as a national holiday. You might struggle to get along with your friends, despite having been in touch for over a decade, and need some insight into what has shifted in your relationship. You might even just want to understand why you feel awkward in a group of people. All of these situations (and more) can be covered by a therapist and may be examined and explored with a professional by your side.
Are there any restrictions in therapy?
The most common restriction related to therapy is insurance; most insurance companies will not cover therapy unless the patient in question has received an actual diagnosis. Going to therapy sessions without an eventual diagnosis could result in having to pay out of pocket. Some therapists or practices might offer sliding-scale services, some might find just enough symptoms to construct a diagnosis, and some might simply require up-front payment for services. If you are un-or-under-insured, this may be your greatest roadblock.
Some therapists might not have experience working with a particular condition, set of symptoms, or malady, and maybe more comfortable referring you to another provider with experience. This could be the case where addiction is concerned or other mental health concerns that can lead to dire consequences, as these conditions must be treated and monitored carefully. This does not mean that your condition is not treatable; instead, it means that your chosen therapist may recognize their limitations, and want to find you a better match.
Other instances in which therapy may not be the appropriate answer include abuse, either at your hands or at the hands of others, presenting a danger to yourself or others, or acknowledging a significant crime. In all of these cases, additional mental health professionals might be involved, or the police.
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
If you or someone you love are experiencing abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for crisis intervention. If you feel you are in danger from a mental health crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
How to find a counselor
Finding a counselor can be one of the most daunting aspects of seeking professional help, as many people are not sure where to look. There are a few simple practices you can employ to make sure you find a counselor for your needs.
Find out whether your insurance covers visits to a therapist
Your insurance may play a significant role in which providers you are and are not able to see. Some insurance companies have large networks of providers, while others have only a handful of doctors they work with. Before you enlist the help of anyone else, check with your insurance (if applicable), to determine whether your sessions will be covered.
Ask others about their experience with psychological care
Ask family, friends, or even trusted coworkers where they go for their therapy sessions. This is an excellent way to find therapists, as your loved one can give you a quick rundown of the therapist in question, and you can at least partially determine whether or not the therapist is a good fit for you.
Check credentials
Although few insurance companies or trusted friends will direct you toward someone who does not have the proper credentials to treat disorders or practice any form of mental health service, you should always double-check your provider's credentials, to make sure you are working with a trained professional.
Research your symptoms
Researching your symptoms can give you an idea of what type of therapist you might need to look for. A therapist who has a background in trauma, for instance, if you have PTSD, will better suit you than a therapist whose primary form of treatment focuses on Bipolar Disorder. Researching your symptoms will give you more clarity, and could help you find your ideal mental health provider.
Search online registries
These websites are often easy to navigate and can be found on sites such as Psychology Today.
Before enlisting the help of a therapist or therapy practice, interviewing prospective therapists may be a good idea. A quick phone call, to speak with a prospective practitioner, could be good enough or meeting with therapists in person to determine if the two of you are a good fit could be in order. Remember: you do not owe your practitioner anything once you have begun therapy with them. If you do not feel safe, comfortable, or supported in your therapy journey, you can always stop sessions with your current therapist and seek help elsewhere.
Seeking professional mental health care online
Therapy can be a wonderful tool for many people . Although therapy has long been regarded as a form of treatment alone, therapy can also function as a preventative, keeping people emotionally healthy amid trauma, emotional overwhelm, or even just day-to-day life that could otherwise develop into mental health conditions.
When should you find a counselor through online therapy?
Deciding whether to use a therapist can seem like a difficult one, that should be decided on the quality of mental health alone, but even healthy people can benefit from therapy. Finding a therapist is easier than ever before, with plenty of local resources (think crisis and community centers), online registries, and even online therapy services, such as Regain. What was once a privileged ability is now available to most people with insurance and a mental health need, and can provide healing even in difficult circumstances.
The effectiveness of online therapy
Additionally, online therapy has been shown to be just as effective as in-person therapy for many conditions including anxiety and depression, meaning that you do not have to trade results for affordability or accessibility. This may be a major benefit if you have been restricted from treatment in the past.
Questions to ask your therapist about starting therapy
When should you see the counselor?
As a general rule, it is advisable to seek guidance from a counselor when you’re already experiencing significant distress in your daily life, especially if it affects your functioning. It’s time to seek a counselor when you’re having difficulty keeping up with day-to-day tasks at school or work, when you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, or when it affects how you maintain your relationship with your friends and loved ones. Talking to a licensed counselor can be beneficial when life feels overwhelming or you feel bad for no reason. Counseling services provide a safe space for you to share your negative thoughts, emotions, and feelings, without feeling judged. Counselors can help you become aware of your feelings, as well as understand and control your behavior and feelings. Counseling services can be beneficial for addressing issues such as low self-esteem, eating habits, negative thoughts, difficulty with alone time, improving self-awareness, addiction to playing video games, regaining control over anxiety, sleepless nights, and emotional problems. In addition, a licensed counselor or therapist can help when you’re dealing with mental health issues. They can provide you with skills on how to cope with life's stressors, as well as other interventions needed for your treatment. It is worth mentioning that certain types of addiction require specialized therapists for addiction can be one of the conditions that must be monitored.
Why might I need to see a counselor?
There are various reasons why a person might need to see a counselor. One may be if they are dealing with a serious mental health condition such as depression, trauma, sleep disorder, addiction, and more. Counselors would be able to provide help in identifying issues, developing coping skills, improving self-awareness, and creating a safety plan for people with mental health issues. If your mental illness is affecting your physical health, it might be a sign that you should seek therapy. Additionally, a counselor can also help with normal daily life challenges such as relationship troubles, stress, negative thoughts, unwanted behavior, sleep problems, difficult relationships with friends, social life anxiety, grief, eating habits, and more. On the other hand, if you feel fine and you just want someone to talk to, make you feel heard, understand your feelings, and perhaps improve your well-being, or give you some tips to enjoy your alone time, a counselor may be able to help. For those people in a relationship, couples counseling can be a good idea to address their feelings about their relationship dynamics. A couples therapist can teach them healthy ways to navigate their relationship, or skills to cope with normal issues in their life.
How can a counselor help with the challenges I experience?
If you’re experiencing mental health challenges, a counselor can help by offering you a safe space to discuss your issues, they can help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, identify the causes of the problem, and teach you some skills on how to cope with these mental health issues. When it comes to normal daily life challenges, a counselor can also help with stress management, self-esteem issues, work and life balance, personal growth, techniques to cope with a trigger, and more.
Who can benefit from psychological counseling?
People showing signs of mental health issues can benefit from psychological counseling. Many mental health conditions can be addressed with the help of a counselor such as depression, anxiety, trauma, sleep disorders, intrusive thoughts, addiction, and other kinds of mental illness. People who deal with stressful life events can also benefit from counseling. These life challenges can include bereavement, stress related to work or school, and issues in relationships.
What is the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
When it comes to the difference between a counselor and a therapist, a counselor is equipped to help people manage and control normal life challenges, while a therapist is qualified to take a deeper approach to mental health issues, addressing underlying patterns and causes of behavior. If you know someone suffering from mental health issues like depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, PTSD, and more then it’s best to take them to a therapist for treatment because addressing mental health issues is just as important as emotional and physical health. Aside from the treatment plan, the client will be able to learn how to cope with other normal life issues, understand their feelings, and improve their well-being.
What mental health conditions can a therapist help treat?
Therapy options can be beneficial for treating various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, addiction and substance use disorders, sleep disorders, PTSD, and more. Seeking therapy and counseling services can be helpful if you begin to notice signs and physical symptoms of a mental illness. In addition, challenges in someone's social life that may cause signs of mental health conditions can also be addressed through therapy and counseling services. Maybe a life event has made you feel disconnected, or you’ve lost interest in things you usually like doing as a result of current feelings of grief. If you’re able to address these issues through therapy, you may be able to find relief from serious mental health conditions.
How can therapy help me manage anxiety?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the most effective form of psychotherapy which most therapists use to control and manage symptoms of anxiety-related disorders. CBT helps to challenge negative thinking, increase self-awareness, improve mood control, and manage signs of mental health conditions and habits such as sleeping and eating habits. CBT helps in modifying one’s behavior by changing negative thought patterns in their normal day-to-day social life.
Should you tell your counselor everything?
As a general rule, yes, you should feel comfortable telling your therapist or counselor everything. The more they know about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in each session of talking therapy, the more they’ll be able to address your issues and help you achieve your goals in life. It is only a general rule to speak honest truths to help build trust and help your therapist understand your feelings effectively. Therapists will be able to teach you beneficial skills to cope with normal issues such as unwanted behavior. They can also help whenever you feel disconnected or have lost interest in hobbies or your social life. In addition to that, the client should share other factors and signs that might also affect current mental health issues including the manifestation of signs in one’s physical health, feelings of grief, emotional impairments in social life, abusive relationships, and many more.
Can I tell my therapist my intrusive thoughts?
Yes, you can share your intrusive thoughts and feelings. Your therapist won’t be able to address your issues unless you tell them what’s going on in your mind during your alone time. It could be an aspect of your social life, family, or relationship that triggers your intrusive and negative thoughts and feelings. Be open to sharing them with your therapist. You can also share events and signs in your social life that made you feel disconnected or had you lost interest in things you usually like doing. Therapists can help understand the origin of these negative thoughts and feelings better and then teach you ways how to cope with them effectively.
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