The UK is home to some of the most depressed people in the Western world. According to the rankings from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UK is in 7th place for adults reporting depression symptoms. Despite this, many Brits opt out of seeking counselling. Perhaps it’s because they’re worried about opening up to someone, or they don’t want to join the 1.2 million people on mental health waiting lists across the NHS. In today’s article, we’ll explore the different types of counselling and the ways they could potentially improve your life, as well as money-saving alternatives to traditional counselling.
Are You Struggling Without Realising?
Maybe you struggle with mental health issues, knowingly or unknowingly. With one in four adults in the UK experiencing some sort of mental health problem every year, odds are that at some point you have experienced some kind of distress. Here are some of the common symptoms to look out for:
| Mental Health Warning Signs | Symptoms |
| Changes in Sleep Patterns | Experiencing notable changes in your sleep patterns, such as variations in the amount of time you sleep, struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, and feeling excessively tired or fatigued. |
| Mood Swings | Feeling frequent and intense fluctuations in your emotional state, characterised by prolonged periods of sadness irritability, anger, and occasional episodes of euphoria. |
| Loss of Interest or Pleasure | Not gaining pleasure from activities you used to enjoy, a lack of motivation, or feeling disconnected from hobbies and social interactions. |
| Cognitive Difficulties | Having problems concentrating, remembering things, making decisions, and processing information, which can result in difficulty organising your thoughts. |
| Withdrawal and Isolation | Deliberately avoiding social interactions or preferring being alone without feeling a desire to make friends or find companions. |
| Changes in Appetite or Weight | Being abnormally hungry or lacking an appetite, noticing your weight fluctuating up or down, or experiencing disordered eating patterns. |
| Decreased Energy Levels | Feeling fatigued or low energy, having a lack of motivation to engage in your normal daily activities. |
| Physical Symptoms without Cause | Experiencing unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, or chronic pain, without a known medical cause. |
| Feelings of Hopelessness | Persistent feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or excessive guilt, with a negative outlook on life and the future. |
| Increased Anxiety or Fear | Frequent or overwhelming feelings of anxiety, worry, fear, or panic attacks that interfere with daily functioning. |
| Substance Abuse | Increasing reliance on drugs, alcohol, or other substances as a means of coping with emotional distress or symptoms. |
| Suicidal Thoughts or Self Harm | Persistent thoughts of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or engaging in self-destructive behaviours. |
If you are experiencing or have experienced any of the above symptoms, the best thing to do is contact your GP for proper assessment, diagnosis, and support.
How Counselling Can Help
Your Emotional Well-Being: Counselling offers a secure and accepting environment where individuals can delve into and tackle emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. Developing healthy coping mechanisms, managing overwhelming emotions, and improving overall emotional well-being are all important aspects of personal growth and self-care. These practises can greatly contribute to your overall well-being and help you navigate life’s challenges more effectively. By focusing on these areas, you can cultivate resilience, enhance your emotional intelligence, and foster a greater sense of balance and fulfilment in your life.
Your Relationships: Enhancing your interpersonal relationships through counselling is a wonderful way to cultivate better communication skills, develop effective conflict resolution strategies, and gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics within your relationships. It provides support in navigating romantic partnerships, family relationships, friendships, and workplace interactions, promoting healthier and more fulfilling connections.
Your Self-Esteem and Self-Identity: Counselling is a valuable resource that can assist individuals in cultivating a positive self-image and gaining a more profound understanding of themselves. Exploring your values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses can be a valuable journey towards self-acceptance, self-confidence, and a stronger sense of identity.
Your Life Transitions: It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed when faced with major life changes such as career transitions, loss, divorce, or relocation. These experiences can be challenging and may bring about a range of emotions. During times of transition, seeking counselling can be a valuable resource for receiving guidance and support. It can assist you in navigating the challenges that arise, adapting to new circumstances, and ultimately finding a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Your Stress Management: Stress management tools and strategies are provided through counselling, enabling you to effectively navigate and cope with stress. Identifying stressors, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and cultivating resilience are all valuable steps towards managing challenges and maintaining overall well-being. These practises can assist you in understanding the factors that contribute to stress, finding effective ways to cope with it, and building inner strength to navigate difficult situations. By engaging in these processes, you can enhance your ability to handle life’s challenges and promote your overall well-being.
Your Decision Making: Counselling has the ability to support you in making well-informed decisions by providing guidance in clarifying your values, examining various perspectives, and contemplating the potential outcomes of your choices. The supportive environment it offers can help you navigate dilemmas and find clarity in your decision-making processes.
Types of Counselling
Whether you’re seeking support for mental health challenges, personal growth, or relationship issues, understanding the different types of counselling available can help you make an informed decision. Here we’ll explore some of the most popular types of counselling practised in the UK:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a highly regarded and widely practised form of counselling that places emphasis on the identification and transformation of detrimental patterns of thoughts and behaviours. By delving into the intricate workings of our minds, CBT empowers individuals to gain a deeper understanding of their inner world and make positive changes that lead to personal growth and well-being. Through this therapeutic approach, individuals are equipped with the tools and strategies necessary to challenge negative thinking patterns and replace them with more constructive and empowering thoughts.
Gestalt Therapy: The focus of gestalt therapy is on the here and now, with the goal of heightening one’s awareness of internal processes like thought, emotion, and bodily sensation. It encourages people to embrace who they are and take charge of their own development by facilitating the fusion of their inner and outer lives.
Integrative Counselling: To better serve each client, integrative counsellors draw from a wide range of therapeutic modalities and theoretical frameworks. The most effective techniques from various counselling modalities are integrated into a method that is adaptable and individualised.
Couples Counselling: Improved communication, conflict resolution, and a stronger emotional bond are all goals of couples counselling, also known as relationship counselling. It provides a secure environment where partners can talk openly about their issues, learn more about one another, and take steps towards building stronger, more satisfying bonds.
Family Therapy: The goal of family therapy is to improve communication and resolve conflict within the family unit as a whole. It aids in conflict resolution, strengthens family dynamics, and promotes cohesion and happiness in the home.
An Alternative to Counselling:
It’s worth noting that while traditional one-on-one counselling may not be the preferred method for everyone, there are alternative approaches that can still benefit your well-being. Owen Smith, a counselling expert at Association of Learning, says there’s definitely potential to improve your mental health by studying online counselling courses.
He tells Wellness Proposals: “Here’s the thing: when you start counselling, you not only learn how to help others, but you also get to know yourself better. When you dive into the theories, techniques, and principles of counselling, you gain really valuable insights into how people behave, feel, and interact with each other.” He says, “Now that you’ve become more self-aware, you can recognise and deal with your own problems, things that set you off, and recurring behaviours that might be affecting your mental health. It’s like having a really handy toolbox full of self-help strategies you can use in your own life.”
You also avoid a weekly therapy bill!
Personal Transformation and You
The decision to seek counselling is an act of bravery and commendable self-care. It takes courage to acknowledge that you may need support and to take the necessary steps towards improving your life. However, it’s important to recognise that the journey of counselling can be challenging. It requires a commitment to self-reflection, vulnerability, and a willingness to confront difficult emotions and experiences. Ultimately, the choice to pursue counselling is deeply personal, and only you can decide if you’re ready and willing to embark on this path.
Investing in your mental and emotional well-being is a lifelong journey. Whether you choose to explore counselling or alternative methods, it’s essential to prioritise your own growth, self-care, and personal development. If you’re really passionate and curious about diving into the world of counselling, it can be an amazing way to transform yourself and improve your own mental health.