It’s understandable if you feel ashamed or disgusted with the idea of going to counseling and talking to a counselor. You don’t like that you are in deep emotional trouble and you have to seek someone else’s help. Worse, you don’t even know the person. It feels like you have no friends and loved ones you can count on during these troubled times.
Before you start thinking about these things, you have to think about getting better. Forget the stigma that comes with going to counseling and think about the benefits you will get from doing it.
Set an appointment and see where it goes. You don’t need to go back for a few more sessions if you’re unhappy the first time. Some counselors even offer a free trial period so that you can decide if you will pursue therapy.
Don’t Force Yourself to Open Up in Counseling
On your first counseling visit, you can’t expect to feel comfortable. You might be hesitant because you’re talking to someone you don’t know. If you can’t even open up with people you love, it’s even more difficult doing it with a stranger. You need to take your time to build trust and share whatever you’re capable of doing until you start opening up more. The first session of counseling can be the hardest.
Don’t Set Expectations
You visit a counselor because you need guidance. In some instances, you might want to hear advice on how to solve your problems. If not, you just want someone to be there to listen to you. There’s no guarantee that after one or two sessions, you will be feel better. Therefore, you need to stop setting expectations; otherwise, you will feel frustrated. You might even blame yourself for not getting better even if you already sought help from an expert.
Be Open to Heed the Advice
The good thing when you talk to a counselor is that they won’t force you to follow what they say. It’s not like they’re going to give a test in the following session to see if you already learned the right thing to do. In the end, you will still decide what’s best for you. There’s no need to follow their advice, but you should listen at least. These experts have handled many patients in the past. They have also studied human emotions and behavior. Therefore, they understand what you’re going through. They might give useful advice if you’re willing to listen.
Seek Help From Experienced Counselors
You will find quality counselors who are willing to help you. Ask for recommendations from friends who have also sought counselling services before. You might also visit a local health clinic or hospital to get recommendations on where to get help in regard to mental health issues. You can also visit website and other online resources to see reviews.
Once you find the perfect place for counselling, you can set an appointment. Find out where it goes and if you made the right choice. Even if it doesn’t end the way you hoped, at least you took the first step.