A recent survey found that 83% of adults believe that talking to someone such as a counsellor can help with problems. Indeed those same individuals thought that it was preferable to taking medication. Interestingly counselling has become more and more acceptable in our society. Even recently people were happy to see a counsellor for traumatic events such as unwanted pregnancy or marriage problems. Yet visiting a counsellor to talk about depression and anxiety even as recently as 2000 was something that the population felt uncomfortable with. It was still very much in the days of stiff upper lip and just don't talk about it.
During the early part of the century things began to change and perhaps as a result of changes in healthcare, counselling came to the fore. Clients began to see the value in therapy, they began to make positive change in their lives and resolve problems that they had struggled with for many years.
Unfortunately even with society giving such a positive message, many of us still feel uncomfortable contacting a counselling service. Individual thoughts might be, I don't want to waste anyone's time or my problem is trivial compared to others or even I should be able to cope. There is something wrong with me if I have to ask for help. Yet it is almost those thoughts that say you need to speak to a counsellor. They show that you have something in your life that isn't the way you want it, yet you are having trouble changing or accepting it. Counselling aims to help you focus on the issue in a safe space, without any judgement, that will help you towards solutions that work for you.
Many people reveal that they have had the counsellor's number for weeks yet found the initial call too difficult to make. There are a myriad of fears, will they be thought of as mad, will they be believed, and will it help. Therapists have experience with all of these fears. Tell them in the call you are worried about being judged or your fears about counselling. On the phone they can't see you and at least you know if your fear is a real one or not. If you can't do it you will always wonder. Make the call and as a famous counsellor once said stand up and walk out of your past!
While as the survey shows, many think seeing a counsellor is okay, when being asked for an opinion it is asking about a society attitude not their own fears. The fears of seeing a counsellor are very real and not uncommon, but rarely do clients worry about being judged or not heard beyond the first session. Part of a counsellor's job is to put you at your ease so that they create a safe space where you can be honest and explore your inner most thoughts and feelings without fear. In the end many clients say how good it is to be listened too or that it is good to talk.
So if you need help and you thing a counsellor might help pick up the phone and talk about what you want and what frightens you and if you like what you hear why not see the difference you can make for madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results - Good Luck
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