09 Feb Why should I see a counsellor when I am not crazy?

1. Counselling is the best gift you can give yourself

Counselling may have been normalised by the latest Netflix show or a trendy 21st-century way of life, but truth be told, many people still feel there is a stigma surrounding the idea that they may be experiencing a nervous breakdown. While images of Jack Nicholson in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ start to flood the mind, remember that no one is perfect and we are subjected to various demands that can affect our mental health at different times of our lives. As a society we have prioritised our physical health but equally important is our mental health. Most of us are living underpowered lives because we fail to give our mental health the equal importance it deserves. Counselling can help you feel empowered and willing to face life with a fresh perspective.

2. Counselling is different from coaching

There is the notion that coaching is counselling. Coaching may have become the latest buzz word however it is not a means to replace counselling. If one does not take a deep look into their own insecurities and areas of their life that they are afraid to come to terms with then any form of coaching or positive self-talk can easily fall in the wayside.

Coaching can be described as someone motivating you to run a marathon while carrying a bag filled with stones. Counsellors on the other hand, help and teach their clients to find the courage to look into that bag of stones to make sense of it while empathetically encouraging the practise of putting that bag down for good to live a life that is freeing and peace-filled. Counselling is not a short-cut approach to happiness but a softer more intentional pace to finding healing within.

3. What are the benefits of seeing a counsellor?

A counsellor does not tell you what to do but rather shines a light along the way to help you work on areas of your life that have been difficult to understand. A counsellor can help you navigate the ups and downs of your life when going through challenges. Counselling helps one to face those fears that can be crippling to their life and helps individuals manage those intense emotions.

Whether it is a major crisis or managing the everyday struggle of life and to the warrior who is willing to even look at their past traumas in their life, there is always a reward to be reaped through the tussle and taunt of each counselling session. The reward of counselling is having greater self-reflection which then can lead to immense personal growth.

Many situations and circumstances contribute to who we are and having someone journey with you while sharing your innermost vulnerabilities can be rewarding and validating.

The most important relationship you are going to have is with yourself.

So, remember that when you seek counselling, you are investing in yourself.

At Gritworks Counselling Services (GCS) we find it a real privilege to journey with someone and help them look deep within themselves. The therapeutic alliance one builds with a counsellor is one of the most important determinants of inner healing. Our approach which combines a direct yet caring and compassionate style of therapy has given rise to individuals that are strong, courageous and willing to write new chapters for their lives.