In this hypercompetitive and fast-paced world, we have unleashed many societal problems that have detrimental effects on mental health. This era calls for maximum output from everybody regardless of the roles they play in society. Such high expectations result in increased pressure to be better than others always. Moreover, we have witnessed an exponential rise in the evils of today’s world. These include cases of abuse, domestic violence, addiction, family problems, etc. With so much negativity around us, we look for a safe place to ease our pain.
Counseling provides us with the help and support we all seek. It allows us to talk about our stressors to a person authorized to give informed advice and treatment. Continue reading to have a deeper insight into why counseling is necessary today.
Helps Solve Familial Issues
Around 70 to 80 percent of Americans consider their families dysfunctional. A common and effective solution to this is family and couples counseling. Many families deal with difficulties like communication gaps, divorce, traumatic events, and other behavioral issues. Family therapy helps all individual members of a unit to get direction and support during testing times.
Since family issues can adversely affect society at large, there are programs like COAMFTE accredited programs that train individuals to help families out of difficult situations. Such programs equip therapists with the skills they need to conduct marriage and family therapy. Families who opt for counseling can decrease the chances of divorce, separation and its consequences on the couple and the children.
Treatment For Depression
Approximately 280 million people in the world suffer from depression. These stats show that it is one of the most common illnesses in the world. Its symptoms include persistent low mood, poor concentration, lack of self-worth, etc.
Depression rates have become more than three times higher since the beginning of the pandemic. One of the treatments for this illness is professional counseling. It is an excellent option if your symptoms of depression are recent and less severe.
Your sessions with the therapist may be more of a conversation than a treatment. It will encourage you to talk about your negative thoughts and experiences. The therapist’s role would be to work out strategies to help you cope with these symptoms. They will also evaluate your progress and give feedback to achieve better results. Counseling is a common method for the cure of depression.
Treatment For Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is prevalent in today’s society like never before. Dysfunctional families, academic problems, childhood trauma, future uncertainty, and many other issues force people to become drug dependent.
The highest drug use is among people of youth aged 18 to 20. It is a fact that the present young generation is the future of society. Hence, counseling plays a vital role in making a community successful by helping its youth out of addiction. Addiction counselors teach people skills to control their triggers and reduce cravings. Such therapy provides long-term positive benefits to a person. \
Provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a common type of talk therapy or psychotherapy. Counselors use this technique frequently to treat many mental health issues. Namely:
- Depression and anxiety
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Phobias
- Insomnia
- Panic disorder
- Schizophrenia
And many more.
CBT allows your therapist to break down problems into smaller chunks. They label them as thoughts, physical actions, and feelings. Doing this helps them make the correct diagnosis and provide treatment accordingly. The next step in CBT is to teach you ways to control these stressful impulses. Practicing them in real life is the most significant part of the process.
Reduces Childhood Trauma
Negative childhood experiences can adversely impact a child’s future. These unfortunate events are the reason for many emotional, physical and mental problems. A few of these traumatic events can be:
- Physical and emotional abuse
- Broken households
- Neglect
- Illness
It is no news that the foster care system can sometimes be unsafe for children. Such instances can cause them to become drug dependent, have suicidal thoughts, or have cognitive impairments. Counseling is a great way to stop these troublesome memories from overpowering their positive experiences. Trauma treatment in the early stages can ensure a better life for children who have had adverse childhood experiences.
Promotes Correct Student Behaviors
Counseling is not limited to emotional help. It also extends to problems related to career decisions. Many students find themselves conflicted between several options for their career paths. They also lack the knowledge that can help them take the next step. Schools hire counselors to aid students throughout this process. These professionals provide support and guidance required to each student individually.
School counselors are also responsible for collaborating with teachers and administrators to design counseling programs. They also stay connected with parents to inform them about their child’s activities and progress. Helping students during school years is vital to their development. The counselor is the first person to contact if a child seems disturbed, is having trouble learning, or is known to have family problems. They provide a comfortable environment for the student to share their troubles.
Opportunities For Group Counseling
You might have seen movies that show group therapy sessions for a specific problem. Real-life is not much different. Group counseling sessions are safe places for people seeking help for similar issues. Such discussions make people feel validated about their struggles. Listening to others’ stories and perspectives can be an enriching experience for everybody. This will allow them a chance to evaluate themselves and increase self-awareness.
Moreover, people also feel a sense of accountability in a group setting. All members can track each other’s progress and avoid them from slipping back into harmful routines.
Counseling has been people’s way out of the vicious cycle of addiction and mental health problems for a long time. It also reduces people’s chances of being physically unhealthy. Emotional stressors can increase the likelihood of people suffering from strokes, cardiac issues, and diabetes. Avoiding such health issues leads to reduced costs caught up in medical care and treatment. Moreover, therapy has long-term positive effects on people’s lives. It brings back people’s hopes of a brighter future. All of this combined is beneficial to society at large.