Benefits of Counseling for Mental Health

When it comes to issues concerning one’s mental health, there is typically a social stigma attached to the act of seeking and receiving professional counseling. Some people believe that going to therapy is a sign of weakness and that it is only beneficial for people who are clinically depressed or who are battling some other major mental health condition.

On the other hand, counseling is helpful for everyone, regardless of whether or not you consider yourself to be a “happy” person. Despite the fact that counseling is widely recognized as one of the most helpful professions in the world, many people continue to be confused about its actual meaning, purpose, and intention.

It is highly likely that the act of providing advice to other people has always been practiced, albeit in a different form, within human societies. We are relational beings who go through a range of feelings and are hardwired with the desire to steer clear of suffering and lead lives filled with abundance.

There is a mental health condition affecting one in every five adults in the United States today, and research has shown that these conditions can be effectively treated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

Counseling is not only effective in treating mental health conditions, but it can also assist individuals, groups, organizations, and society as a whole in achieving their health and wellness goals. In this article, we continue our discussion on the significance of counseling and provide a list of the benefits that have been demonstrated by scientific research.

Benefits of counseling for mental health

Here are three reasons why everyone could benefit from counseling, ranging from the simple ability to obtain an objective viewpoint on their own lives to the ability to make significant improvements in their perspectives.

1. Counseling can provide you with a new and objective point of view.

Even though your immediate family and friends are likely to be a wonderful support system for you, it is possible that they will not always give you the most sound advice. To make matters worse, it’s possible that they won’t be able to provide you with guidance that isn’t slanted in your favor.

You can’t reasonably expect the people you care about to drop everything they’re doing and give you their full, undivided attention just because you want it. Even though they may have the intention of doing so, it does not always make sense to do so.

On the other hand, a professionally trained counselor can be all of those things that a close relative or friend might not be able to be. It is, to put it plainly, the activity for which they are compensated. A counselor will not only sit and work with you for an extended period of time, but they will also provide you with the most effective methods of coping that are tailored to your specific circumstance.

Counselors in the field of mental health provide patients with a judgment-free environment in which to discuss their feelings and offer direction in the pursuit of a successful and generally happy way of life. There is a good chance that you will leave your first appointment with a completely different point of view on the situation than the one you brought with you to the appointment.

2. You will gain a deeper understanding of who you are.

Finding patterns in your behavior that are reflective of the present is an important component of therapy. When it comes to traumatic experiences, many people try to block out memories of their past lives. These feelings can be brought to the surface again with the assistance of a trained counselor, who can then guide you through the process of working through them.

On the other hand, counseling can help you gain a new perspective on how you see yourself, which in turn can shed light on the reasons behind the actions you’ve been taking. Suppose, for instance, that you have spent your entire life under the impression that you are incapable of expressing love effectively.

A therapist may take you back to an experience from your childhood, such as when you cared for a pet or visited a distant relative, in order to demonstrate the many different ways in which you are capable of and have demonstrated love.

Counseling may be helpful for you if you are struggling with something difficult or if you simply want some insight into why you are the way that you are.

3. You have the ability to live a life that is richer in meaning.

You will be able to lead a life that is more satisfying for yourself if you put into practice what you have learned throughout the course of your counseling sessions. Once you begin making consistent use of the coping mechanisms and communication techniques that your therapist recommends to you, you will begin to observe tangible improvements in your condition.

When it comes to making decisions, you might just need someone to encourage you occasionally. As new challenges arise, you might find that you need someone to consult for guidance or to simply vent your frustrations to as you go along. Counseling for mental health issues can provide you with the skills you need to live a life that is more satisfying by teaching you how to work through challenging situations when they arise.

4. The cost of medical care can be decreased through counseling

There is a connection between one’s physical health and their mental well-being. When an individual receives treatment for underlying mental health conditions or counseling to assist in the regulation of emotions and improvement of mood, they frequently experience an improvement in their physical health as well.

According to the findings of one study, the provision of psychological treatment to patients suffering from chronic physical conditions in the context of small group settings resulted in a reduction in the costs of medical care of ten dollars for each dollar spent (Lorig et al., 1999). This demonstrates the significant benefits that counseling can offer, both physically and financially.

5. Counseling can encourage factors that contribute to resilient behavior

Factors that contribute to resilience include:

• Having some kind of goal or objective to strive for in life Feeling happy and content
• Hardiness
• Self-esteem
• The practice of coping
• Self-efficacy
• Optimism
• Freedom of thought and action

There are specific programs for building resilience that are focused on improving these factors; however, there are also numerous forms of counseling that increase these aspects of resilience.

A number of different counseling techniques provide a foundation for teaching and bolstering resiliency. These techniques include role-playing, practical exercises, homework, and discussions. For instance, “stress inoculation therapy,” which was originally developed for the treatment of anxiety, has also been shown to improve measures of resilience (Meichenbaum, 2007).

Positive cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as stress inoculation therapy, is a type of CBT that teaches individuals more adaptive ways of thinking as well as emotional and behavioral responses to stress. The majority of clients come to counseling seeking assistance in a particular aspect of their lives; however, by the time they leave, they have gained new perspectives and tools that have provided them with meaning, positive emotions, coping skills, and an improved sense of their own self-worth.

6. Becoming accountable

Group counseling sessions that occur on a consistent basis provide participants with an opportunity for accountability. An excellent illustration of this can be found in groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which offer a secure and private environment for people who are having difficulty remaining sober and refraining from using substances like alcohol and drugs.

Are you interested in speaking with one of our counselors and setting up an appointment? Contact our office today and begin to experience the benefits of investing in your mental health.