I Don’t Need Therapy!

As we approach the end of the year, we often look back on the year behind us and have one eye on our hopes for the year ahead.

There is an unspoken implication that we should reminisce fondly and look forward hopefully but this isn’t always an accessible state of mind to us all.

For some the past is one of trauma, loss, illness or injury and hope can feel like a distant goal in itself. When the light of hope is faint and the reassurance of our historical anchors is unavailable to us, to out it simply… What do we do?

If you’re asking yourself that very question then maybe it’s time to consider talking with a professional Counsellor & Psychotherapist who can help you develop available and constructive anchors in life and help restore light and hope to your future.

In recent posts we’ve been trying to shine a light on on the mysterious world of counselling & psychotherapy in the hope that some factual information and a dose of reality will decloak the mystery and make it more accessible to those who often struggle in silence.

We’ve talked about what Counselling is, what it isn’t, and what you can expect at your first session. As well as discuss some of the myths & legends about counselling & psychotherapy.

But you may well be thinking will it be any good for me & my issues?

So, I will list out some of the more common issues that Counselling & Psychotherapy can help with but please note that this is in no way an exhaustive list.

Anxiety: Anxiety disorders are estimated to affect 1 in 9 people in Ireland & 1 in 6 in the UK. It is the most common issue presented in therapy and is often presented with other issues like depression, phobias, OCD, and trauma, among others. Experiencing some level of anxiety is actually quite healthy and is a natural process that helps keep us safe but it can run out of control and begin effecting our daily life in benign situations where there is no obvious danger. There are various types of talking therapies that have been used very successfully in treating anxiety related disorders but there is no one-size-fits-all therapy. The specifics of your condition can be used to decide which type of treatment is likely to be the most effective treatment for you.

Depression: Around 1 in 10 in Ireland and 1 in 5 in UK are thought to have struggled with depression, although there is a difference in the way these figures are calculated – Because anxiety is linked with depression, the UK tend to combine figures for both in their stats. It is therefore a very common issue presented in therapy. Depressed clients often come to therapy having tried other treatments like medication but have not achieved the recovery they were hoping for. Or typically they have tried to struggle on themselves for some time without relief. Again, talking therapies can be very effective in treating depression but the specifics of you & your condition will guide which therapeutic approach is likely to the best fit for you.

Trauma: Perhaps Trauma is the most common form of mental distress experienced. Therapists are increasingly encouraged to practice with a Trauma-informed stance. The term ‘Trauma’ can be used to describe any event or situation experienced by someone which they have found to be extremely distressing. Examples are, but not limited to, experiencing childhood neglect or abuse, being a victim of crime, involvement in an accident, experiencing or witnessing domestic violence, or witnessing something deeply distressing such as casualties of accidents or war. You may have heard of conditions like Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder that describe the ongoing experiences of someone who has experienced a traumatic event which they relive in the present moment, often for years after the event. Some experts believe that we are on the cusp of becoming a ‘trauma conscious’ society – one that begins to understand the full extent of the human experience of trauma as a significant factor in the mental distress experienced with other conditions such as Anxiety & Depression. Humanistic approaches are thought to be good at treating Trauma related issues and the practice of meditation, mindfulness techniques & yoga have also been used to good effect.

Self-Harm: Self Harm is not a disorder in itself but usually a coping mechanism for something else that an individual is struggling with, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. Self-harm can take many different forms such as cutting & burning, but is also evident in any self-destructive behaviour such as drinking, substance abuse and behaviours which endanger oneself such as deliberately over-exercising. Rates of self harm are on the increase, particularly among youngsters & it tends to be more prevalent in females than in males; But this may be down to the way that data is collected & recognition of specific behaviours as self-harming.

Grief & Bereavement: This client issue opens up to be much more than about losing someone close, as hard as that is in itself. Grief can be experienced as a result of any type of loss or change in circumstances. For example, a divorce can result in deep feelings of loss and huge change in life circumstances. Other examples might include loss of a job, losing a pet, moving home, accident & illness, among a multitude of other situations we may find ourselves in. Talking therapies can be a huge help in learning to cope with feelings of grief, loss & bereavement. Typically, counselling would not start for the first 2-3 months following a loss or change unless the client is in an state of extreme distress and consequentially finds themselves unable to cope with routine life.

Relationships: Often people jump to the conclusion that relationship counselling is about improving an experience between adult individuals involved in a loving relationship; And often it is. However, relationship counselling can be about working on the relationship between any 2 (or more) people. For example, a therapist might work with a parent & their children with a focus on their relationship. Relationship counselling is another good example of a client issue where talking therapy can be of great help.

Addiction: When we think about addiction we tend to think about drugs or alcohol but actually the list of potential addictions is almost infinite. Certainly substances are high on the list of more common types of addiction but we can become addicted to many other things such as gambling, shopping, food, exercise, porn. The list is endless. There are many theories & therapies designed around understanding addiciton & helping people recover from it, of which talking therapies can be very effective because they not only deal with the addiction but also seek to address the underlying cause.

This is not intended as an exhaustive list, just a short list of some of the common client issues that present for counselling and if your issue falls outside of these descriptions, that in no way eliminates the suitability of counselling for you & your issues.

If you feel like you are struggling with your mental health in some way I recommend contacting a therapist and briefly outlining what’s on your mind. The therapist should be able to direct you to the most appropriate service even if they can’t help you.

At BroadMinds Therapy we offer a free consultation during which you’ll get the opportunity to describe what’s on your mind & we’ll be happy to help you, either directly, or help identify the best options for you.

If you’d like to discuss Counselling & Psychotherapy for yourself or someone you know, contact BroadMinds Therapy and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss options for you. Call 0899420568, email: help@broadmindstherapy.org , contact us via our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jpbroad/ or message us via this website.

If you like what you read please like & share to help us reach & help as many people as possible.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this article.