BEST mental health counselor near me

The American Counseling Association defines professional counseling as: "... a collaborative effort between the counselor and the client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health." Counseling sessions can help patients with mental health and well-being by assisting with difficulties related to personal wellness, stress management, and mental illness. There are different types of counseling services that can help with a variety of mental wellness issues such as:

- Individual counseling

- Group counseling

- Family therapy/ counseling

- Couples counseling

- Career counseling

Professional psychological counseling is meant to help individuals overcome specific problems or issues that they are dealing with in their daily life. Counseling services can vary in the amount of time they take depending on the needs of the patient, but can play a key part of mental health care and psychological well-being.

Counseling psychology (or psychological counseling) is a form of mental health care provided as a general practice or as a specialty clinical health care service. Counseling helps patients deal with specific issues over a period of time. Examples of these types of instances include:

Grief counseling: A patient may see a counseling psychologist who specializes in grief to help cope with the loss of a loved one.

Career counseling: A patient may want to undergo career counseling to work through career goals, stress related to work, or depression about work.

Couples counseling: Couples may seek couples therapy with a licensed professional counselor to talk about issues related to marriage or the improvement of communication in a relationship.

There are a number of different types of counseling that can address individual needs and specific needs of a group. But most counseling sessions center around a specific issue or difficulty. Counseling may be a more short-term relationship, as opposed to long-term therapy.

Conversely, therapists work more with clients managing mental health, behavioral, or personality disorders. Therapists tend to work with clients on a deeper level, addressing psychological and emotional issues, mental health disorders, and facilitating personal growth. They often utilize various therapeutic modalities to help clients explore and process their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Therapists use a broader range of therapeutic techniques and interventions to delve into clients' underlying emotional and psychological issues. They might use psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, or other approaches.

In sum, counselors will work with clients to overcome a problem or concern. Therapists will work with clients to address why that concern is occurring in the first place while addressing the underlying causes of behavioral or emotional challenges.

Counseling services can help with a variety of issues and difficulties related to mental health and emotional well-being. A patient may seek counseling for any number of situations, but some of the major types of counseling include:

- Individual mental health counseling: Mental health counselors deal with patients on an individual basis. They may assist patients with depression, emotional issues, behavioral problems, or stress management. Mental health counselors are licensed professionals that help individuals toward mental wellness through personalized sessions addressing the issues listed above.

- Substance abuse counseling: Substance abuse counselors help patients deal with chemical dependency, substance abuse, and the underlying causes of addictive behavior. Substance abuse counselors may work with individuals or groups in group counseling. A substance abuse counselor may help patients develop coping mechanisms, create goals, and give referrals to support groups.

- Couples counseling/ couples therapy: Counselors working with couples will usually meet with both partners to help with relationship distress. Examples of relationship distress may include a history of domestic violence, communication issues, parenting conflicts, and intimacy problems.

- Group Counseling: Group counseling brings together a group of individuals, usually dealing with a common issue, to discuss, interact, and work together under the supervision of a group counselor. These groups act as support groups, giving individual patients a safe space to work out problems and speak freely. Examples of group counseling examples include academic support groups, individuals coping with divorce or grief, or individuals dealing with substance abuse issues.

- Family therapy/ counseling: Family counseling helps families improve communication and resolve conflicts in the family unit. Family counseling may deal with issues between parents, children, and parents, or the wider family. These counseling services can also help family members deal with mental illness in the family or domestic abuse.

- Career counseling: Career counselors help clients work toward career goals while identifying strengths and areas for growth. Career counseling may help clients deal with stress management, anxiety, and mental wellness in the workplace. These counseling sessions can also help clients determine interests, and personality types to place the individual in a conducive work environment.

Counseling sessions help individuals work through or deal with an issue in their personal, social, or work-life. Counseling is usually centered around a specific issue or need of the patient/ client, unlike therapy which addresses the individual's thoughts, and behavioral patterns.

Counseling sessions will take different forms depending on the type of counseling you are undergoing. Most sessions will start with the counselor asking a number of questions to help assess how best to assist you. These include:

-Why are you seeking counseling? This question helps the counselor determine the basic reasons why a patient may be led to counseling services.

-Have you seen a counselor before? This helps the counselor determine personal history, past examples of any mental, social, or behavior issues, and experience with counseling sessions.

-What is the problem from your perspective? This helps the counselor determine the present circumstance of the patient. It also allows the patient to try to put into their own words what they have been dealing with and goals they may have. This question might also help the counselor determine how the patient approaches problems or difficulties, and how best to assist the patient toward their personal goals.

It is advised that you are open, honest, and prepared for your first counseling appointment. This not only helps you focus in on what your goals are during your counseling sessions, but also helps the counselor determine the best way to assist you toward those goals. Most counseling sessions are merely conversations, and are not meant to be a quick-fix. It is helpful to think of counseling as an on-going collaboration to help you, the patient, address any issues or goals in your personal, social, or professional life.