Personal Counselling
Should I see a counsellor?
In the course of a lifetime, most of us will experience several personally traumatic incidents. The breakup of an important relationship, serious conflict within our family, failing an important exam, the death of a friend or family member, an unwanted pregnancy, a serious health problem, being victimized by a violent act, etc., can all cause psychological upset. Although painful, our feelings are normal reactions to these intense and/or abnormal events and are part of the natural healing process.
Seeking the advice and perspective of a counsellor can help you regain your certainty, help rebuild your confidence and choose a course of action that is right for you.
You might want to speak with someone if you are experiencing some of the following reactions:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Lack of motivation
- Difficulty with concentration
- Memory disturbance
- Flashbacks
- Feelings of numbness
- Mood swings
- Violent fantasies
- Feelings of helplessness
- Frequent death wishes
What can I expect from counselling?
The decision to begin counselling is an important one. People have reported both a greater level of comfort and more favourable results when they understand what to expect from the counselling process.
In order to benefit fully from counselling, the following recommendations are offered:
- Attend scheduled sessions.
- Be specific about the concerns that led to your decision to seek counselling.
- Establish with your counsellor desired goals and outcomes to be achieved in counselling.
- Discuss your progress with your counsellor as you go along, and modify your goals if necessary.
- Participate actively, and be as open and honest as possible.
- Tell your counsellor if you don't think you're being helped.
Successful counselling is a joint process requiring your motivation and active involvement. The more actively involved you are, the more effective counselling will be for you.
