What to expect when you see a counselor

Behavioral or mental health concerns are much more common than many people think.  For instance, there are nearly as many people with depression as diabetes in the United States and anxiety disorders are as common as asthma.  While there are many effective treatments for behavioral and social problems, there are several common myths that get in the way of individuals getting assistance. 

One is when individuals don’t want to admit that something is wrong. The fact is that problems like depression and anxiety don’t tend to go away on their own. They wax and wane in intensity, leaving the person to live with a yo-yo of emotions, disappointment and self-doubt.  A second is the fear of what other people think. People imagine or hear others bad-mouth and criticize going to a behavioral health provider. They are concerned people will think of or treat them differently, as if they are weak, untrustworthy or broken.

In reality, seeking behavioral health care is incredibly normal and helpful. When people seek healthcare of any specialty, they are attempting to improve themselves. We will be much better off getting the assistance we need so the problem doesn’t get worse. If someone had a medical condition and ignored it, we would think they were foolish for not getting help. Yet many people don’t believe they should receive the same consideration about common behavioral, relational or emotional concerns.   

What are you willing to do to try and live a different and better life? If you want to feel better, you very likely need to look at your problem from a different perspective. Counselors are trained to offer that perspective. The thought of seeing a behavioral health provider can be intimidating as are many new experiences, but counseling is simply about having a conversation. In the first meeting, the counselor will want to know what you are concerned about and its context. They will ask you questions about your concern and its background. Your job is to honestly tell them what life is like for you.  At the end of this first visit, they should provide a summary and recommendation(s) for how to proceed. From there, you will work with your counselor on practical skills for how to effectively deal as effectively as possible with your thoughts, feelings, memories, behaviors and relationships.