If you get a physical problem, you go to the doctor, right? What about when you are struggling with something mentally or emotionally? Why wouldn't you see to it in the same way you would by going to the doctor for a physical problem?
Maintaining your mental health is your responsibility, part of looking after and caring for yourself. How can you look after others if you don’t look after yourself? A common analogy I use is the safety announcements they use on planes before you depart – where they stress the importance of fitting your own mask first before fitting someone else’s. Also, counselling can help you recognise any issues early and learn to manage them, before they become a bigger problem.
The first session usually involves you getting to know each other and exploring what your issues may be. It is important to make sure you feel comfortable and happy with your choice of therapy and your counsellor.
We know starting counselling can be scary. But we can guarantee that once you come to that first session, the relief you will probably feel is immense. In the first session it is common to have a purge and outpouring of everything you may have been struggling with alone, for far too long. We often hear ‘sorry about that, where did all that come from?’. Our answer is always ‘don’t be sorry’, because that first outpouring means you have already begun your journey to heal. Just having someone to listen as you tell us all about it is a vital part of your recovery, because as you tell your therapist all about your issues, you are in fact acknowledging and ordering things in your mind, and releasing all that pressure that has built up for far too long.
As a counsellor our job is to be beside you, and offer our empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard. We ensure you are offered a well supported and safe environment while you explore whatever you feel you need to. And sometimes we can give you a perspective that you have been unable to see.
You may not feel it, but you are the expert of you, and as counsellors our job is to accompany you and keep you safe while you make your way to recovery.
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