So, you’re considering getting counselling. Maybe someone’s recommended it to you; maybe it’s your own idea. Perhaps you have some inkling about what it’s about but maybe you’re wondering whether it’s worthwhile. As a psychologist, some common reactions to the idea of counselling include:
“Only really messed-up people get counselling!”
“I don’t believe in counselling.”
“It would be easier for me to just go on medication for awhile than go to counselling.”
“I talk to my friends about my problems, why do I need to go to some stranger and talk about them?”
“How will it help me to just sit around and talk about my childhood?”
“No counsellor would ever understand what I’m going through, so there’s no point in going to see one.”
While these may be familiar responses, evidence suggests that psychological counselling can, in fact, be worthwhile for a range of conditions and concerns. With mental health diagnoses on the rise, this is timely news, indeed.
Counselling – Just for Crazy People?
Unfortunately, mental health conditions are common, and experienced by a range of people. According to the Australian Psychological Society, around 18% of adults are affected by depression, anxiety or substance abuse at some point in their lives. Counsellors don’t just help with mental illness, either. According to the APS, psychologists can help in the following areas (among others):
- Marital, family and relationship problems
- Stress or pain
- Fears, phobias, anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- Loss and grief
- Sexual difficulties
- Sleeping difficulties
- Eating and weight control problems
- Children's learning, behaviour and management problems
- Addictions
- Making good relationships better
- Becoming better parents and teachers
- Personal growth
- Career planning
- Improving workplaces
- Enhancing sports performance
- Training and developing staff
- Employment selection
- Reviewing organisational structure and practices
- Industrial relations and occupational health and safety
- Studying consumer needs
The Effectiveness of Counselling
According to the APS, psychological treatments are effective in managing many common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, and are the preferred treatment for most childhood problems. The APS applies the rigorous standards of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), in order to make such conclusions. In a recent literature review, the APS found that many types of psychological treatment were supported by systematic reviews of high quality randomised clinical trials (i.e. level 1 support).
Medication Instead of Counselling
While medication can certainly be helpful in some (usually severe) cases, for most conditions, a combination of both medication and psychological intervention works best. The APS reports that certain treatments are at least as successful as medication for common conditions like depression. Counselling is not a ‘magic pill’, and it requires your commitment if it is to work, however, evidence suggests that it is often likely to be a longer-term solution than medication. Sometimes, medication is only a band-aid solution, and, once you wean off it, the symptoms come back. (Of course, conditions like some psychotic disorders may require you to take medication for the rest of your life).
Talking to Friends Instead of Getting Counselling
Some people are lucky to have a strong support network, and if you feel comfortable talking to these people about your problems, by all means do so. There is no doubt that sometimes they can be helpful. I have a friend that I often confide in, and usually I feel better for it, too. She is someone I believe has a high degree of what they term ‘emotional intelligence’. However, she is not a counsellor; she is my friend. As such, she is always ‘on my side’, and this is not always useful. Whilst it is important to feel a strong rapport with your counsellor, his role is to guide you to identify unhelpful reactions or behaviours, not to just sympathise with you and make you ‘feel better’. Sometimes, your therapist might challenge you on some aspects of your behaviour, if he believes it will help you in the long run.
Counselling Stereotypes
A common stereotype of ‘therapy’ involves an individual lying on a couch, talking in depth about his memories from childhood. His back is usually to the therapist, who is busy making notes and saying little more than “Hmmm” and “and how does that make you feel?” While most types of counselling do involve an element of affective identification and empathy on the part of the therapist, there is much more to it than that. Some therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, in fact usually don’t touch on childhood at all, instead focusing on the here-and-now of an individual’s experiences. While some therapists do still utilise the ‘couch’, most psychologists I know use a much more collaborative approach, and together the client and therapist can work to find solutions to the client’s problems.
Counsellors and Personal Experiences
People who see psychologists have often been through incredibly tough experiences. Everything from marriage breakdowns to domestic violence to substance dependence. It is true that many psychologists will not have experienced most of what they go through. But it’s fair to say that your GP likely has not experienced many of the conditions he or she is presented with on a daily basis. This does not mean, of course, that you wouldn’t accept their treatment, because they have been trained to know how to treat these conditions. Likewise, your psychologist very likely may not have experienced anxiety, or alcoholism, or whatever condition you present with. She will, however, be trained to know how to treat it. Like in any profession, some psychologists are more skilled than others. Make sure, if you do decide to obtain counselling, your psychologist is accredited by their national board.
In all, the conclusion seems obvious. It's time to set aside outdated perspectives and, if it's necessary, it's time to give counselling a try. It's time to start 'believing' in counselling.
Nicole Wren - Nicole Wren
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