May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout this month, the team from the Aultman Medical Group (AMG) Behavioral Health and Counseling Center is sharing tips on improving our relationship with our minds and our emotions.

Today, Abena Holben, LPC, is pulling back the curtain on counseling to help you feel more comfortable if you or a loved one need mental healthcare.

When I walk new patients down the hall to my office, I am attentive to any discomfort they may feel. I can sometimes sense patients’ apprehension from their nervous looks around the hall or subtle facial expression that asks, “How did I end up here?”

I am a counselor, and I work at the AMG Behavioral Health and Counseling Center with an excellent team of other mental health counselors, practitioners and physicians. The degree of stigma that exists around counseling can cause feelings of vulnerability about trusting an unknown person with your thoughts, feelings and difficult past experiences. Considering counseling can lead to mixed emotions and doubts about whether we fit the profile of someone who really needs these services.

What will counseling entail? Will my counselor understand my concerns? Will I feel comfortable enough to be open with my counselor? How is talking to someone I don't know going to help me feel better? These are common and healthy questions about how psychotherapy can make a difference to your mental health. Demystifying the experience may be helpful.

What is counseling?

Counseling is a collaborative relationship between a counselor and a client to explore directions that are most likely to help that client achieve their mental health goals.

The counselor brings their professional knowledge, presence and experience to help the client acquire new coping tools, perspectives and insights while working on finding acceptance with past or present experiences, learning how to better manage emotional distress and making intentional changes that align with their goals. Like most meaningful experiences in life, the counseling journey requires effort, patience and commitment.

Who can benefit from counseling?

Life comes with experiences that challenge us. Seeking help to get through past or present challenges does not mean something is wrong with us, but rather shows unique strength when we decide to ask for support in making positive changes.

For most mental health conditions, counseling can be a critical addition to treatment alongside medication management. Regardless of the reason you find yourself in counseling, the decision to devote the time and energy required for counseling is always a healthy one.

What should I expect in a session?

You made it into the room, and now you are seated and ready. Take a deep breath; your counselor should provide you with a safe, confidential space devoid of judgment in which you can talk openly about your problems. You may decide to share a lot in that first session to gain some relief, or you may be more cautious and uncertain about where to begin.

Either way, your counselor should meet you where you are with attentive listening, empathy and understanding. Most sessions last between 50-55 minutes and should empower you to a new way of thinking and feeling about yourself, others and experiences.

Other Helpful Tips

Should counseling be the right decision for you, the following hints could make your counseling experience even more successful.

• Do your research. Because the therapeutic relationship is a big indicator of success in therapy, doing research to find a counselor who is experienced in some of your specific concerns can be helpful.
  
  
• It is OK to “shop around” when you decide to start counseling. Before settling on a counselor to work with, it is fine if you feel a need to visit a few counselors until you find one that is the right fit. This will ensure that you can form a collaborative and respectful relationship, which will help in your journey through personal growth.
  
  
• You can ask your counselor questions. As a client, you can ask your counselor questions about their life. Each counselor will consider these questions carefully and will make the personal choice to self-disclose if it enhances the therapeutic relationship. It is also helpful to ask your counselor about what you can expect from them regarding what you are going through.

If you have more questions about counseling, consider meeting with a counselor for additional information and insight. Whatever you decide, I wish you wellness in your journey.

“Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, be just another human soul.”
– Carl Jung