April is Counseling Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for the counselors and therapists who make a difference in the lives of so many people.

All of us face times in our lives when we may need help addressing issues that cause us emotional pain or overwhelm us. Talking with a trained professional counselor can be beneficial.

Not sure if counseling is right for you or your family? You may want to seek assistance from a counselor if you—

• Feel you can no longer manage a problem on your own.
• Believe that your life is being harmed by a problem you cannot seem to solve.
• See problems as getting worse, not better.
• Have lost interest in life or think it's not worth living.
• Have emotions that cause lasting pain and distress, such as sadness or anxiety.
• Are having trouble getting along with other people.
• Find that your family members don't seem able to cooperate with one another.¹

You don’t have to be “sick” to benefit from counseling. Counseling is much more than a treatment for mental illness. It can help you in dealing with difficult issues from your past. It can be a relief to know that what you’re going through is normal.

A trained professional counselor will listen to your problem, ask questions, and aid you in clarifying what the problem is and how you want to deal with it. The counselor may help you think about different ways of looking at the issue or teach you skills for tackling difficult situations

Through therapy you can increase your self-esteem, develop healthier family relationships, or deal with past memories that may be affecting your present life. With your own hard work in therapy, you can acquire the tools to change many things in your life. You can take the skills you learn in counseling and apply them throughout the rest of your life.

In a successful counseling process, you can begin to feel that something has changed. You may try out new behaviors or tactics and get good results. People may begin to notice that something about you is different.

What can you do if you realize that you or someone you know needs a counselor? The best way to find a good one is from a referral—through your doctor, friend, or insurance provider. If you believe your child will benefit from talking with a counselor, you can contact his school’s counseling office.

Finding the right “fit” in counseling is important. If, after a period of time working with one counselor, you are not getting the necessary assistance or you just don’t click with that provider, let the person know. You might need to look for a different counselor. It may take several tries until you find the right counselor for you. Don’t give up until you’ve found someone with whom you feel comfortable. It can make a huge difference in your life and that of your family.

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