Understanding of Psychological Counseling and Its Impact on Mental Health

Article | Psychology

As a counselor, I would like to share some information and tips about psychological counseling and how it can help you with your mental health challenges. Psychological counseling is a service that offers professional guidance and support to people who are facing personal, emotional or behavioral difficulties. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a personalized and collaborative process that can vary in length and intensity depending on your needs and goals.

Some people may think that psychological counseling is a long and endless process that does not produce any results. This is a myth that can prevent people from seeking help or benefiting from counseling. The truth is that psychological counseling can be both short-term and long-term, depending on the type and severity of the problem, the preferences and resources of the client, and the approach and style of the counselor.

Short-term counseling is usually focused on a specific issue or goal, such as coping with stress, improving self-confidence, or resolving a conflict. It can last from a few sessions to a few months, depending on the progress and satisfaction of the client. Short-term counseling can help you gain insight, learn new skills, and make positive changes in a relatively short time.

Long-term counseling is more suitable for complex or chronic problems, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or relationship difficulties. It can last from several months to several years, depending on the needs and wishes of the client. Long-term counseling can help you explore and understand your deeper feelings, thoughts, and patterns, and facilitate long-lasting transformation and healing.

The length of counseling is not a measure of its effectiveness or quality. What matters more is the quality of the relationship between you and your counselor, your openness and willingness to change, and your active participation in the process. Counseling is not a passive or dependent activity, but rather a cooperative and empowering one. You and your counselor work together as a team to identify and achieve your goals, and to monitor and evaluate your progress.

Therefore, psychological counseling is a flexible and adaptable process that can meet your unique and individual needs. Whether you choose short-term or long-term counseling, the main purpose is to help you improve your mental health and well-being, at your own pace and in your own way.

Author: Emma Tsaruk

16 January 2024

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Getting to know the psychologist: You can talk to the psychologist to see if they are a good fit for you in terms of their work style, personality, and specialization.

Defining the problem: You can describe your problem in detail and get qualified advice from the psychologist, which will help you better understand the nature of your problem.

Developing a plan of action: You can get recommendations on how to solve your problem, which methods and approaches may be the most effective.

Feeling supported: You can get emotional support and feel that you are not alone, because the psychologist will listen to you attentively.

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Those looking for a psychologist: A free consultation can help you make the right choice, as you can talk to several psychologists before making a final decision.

Those who are unsure whether they need psychotherapy: A free consultation can help you understand whether psychotherapy can help you solve your problem and whether it is right for you.

Those who have a limited budget: A free consultation is an opportunity to get qualified help from a psychologist for free, to see if you need further psychotherapy.

Those who may be nervous or hesitant to start psychotherapy: A free consultation gives you the opportunity to overcome your fear of the first meeting with a psychologist, get answers to your questions, and feel more confident.

Important:

A free consultation is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

In a free consultation, the psychologist cannot give you a final diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

The purpose of a free consultation is to help you determine if a psychologist and psychotherapy are right for you, and to give you the first steps to solving your problem.

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

During this first session: potential clients have the chance to learn more about you and your approach before agreeing to work together.

Offering a free consultation will help you build trust with the client. It shows them that you want to give them a chance to make sure you are the right person to help them before they move forward. Additionally, you should also be confident that you can support your clients and that the client has problems that you can help them cope with. Also, you can avoid any ethical difficult situations about charging a client for a session in which you choose not to proceed based on fit.

We've found that people are more likely to proceed with therapy after a free consultation, as it lowers the barrier to starting the process. Many people starting therapy are apprehensive about the unknown, even if they've had sessions before. Our culture associates a "risk-free" mindset with free offers, helping people feel more comfortable during the initial conversation with a specialist.

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session:

It can last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the specialist determining the appropriate length for this introductory meeting.

The free initial consultation is not intended to be a full therapy session. It is an opportunity for the client to learn more about the specialist and their approach to therapy, and to decide whether they want to work together.

The specialist should set clear boundaries for the free initial consultation, including the length of the session and the topics that can be discussed.

The specialist should be prepared to answer questions from the client about their experience, training, and qualifications.

The specialist should not give specific advice or recommendations during the free initial consultation. This should be done during a paid session.