In 2019, 9.5% of American adults received counseling or therapy from a mental health professional.
Considering that we all have some sort of stressor(s) in our lives, it’s not uncommon to seek help from a professional. Getting an outside perspective from an expert can do wonders for clearing things up and finding healthy outlets for stress.
You might be dealing with a tough time and need some direction. Or on the flip side of things, you feel a calling to help those who are struggling.
Whether you’re interested in receiving counseling, or you want to become a counselor yourself, it’s important to know the different kinds available. Read on to find out more!
Educational Counseling
Let’s start with one of the few types of therapy that don’t directly involve mental health.
Many people who graduate high school or even college might feel a bit lost afterward. Deciding on your potential career can be a high-pressure situation, after all.
Educational counselors are there to guide these young adults toward a career where they’ll not only receive a decent salary but also feel passionate about their job. They might even help adult professionals who are mid-career but don’t feel like they’re getting anywhere.
These professionals will often hold seminars and orientations, as well as private sessions to further guide their clients. This can prevent people from letting years go by, frozen and paralyzed by the big decision ahead of them.
Rehabilitation Counseling
Rehabilitation counseling isn’t completely focused on mental health either. This type of counseling is for those who have either emotional or physical disabilities and find that these are blocking them from leading a fulfilling life.
When these people receive this rehabilitation counseling, they’ll learn how to deal with the challenges they face every day, which the majority of other people don’t have to even think of. As a result, this can help patients become more resilient and independent.
For many that couldn’t find gainful employment beforehand, they’ll usually have success after receiving rehabilitation counseling.
Mental Health Counseling
This is perhaps one of the most well-known types of counseling techniques out there.
Human beings are complex creatures, which means our brains differ vastly from one another’s. One type of stressor might not phase someone while it drastically affects another person’s life.
For this reason, people must seek out mental health counseling.
Not only can it assist in getting an official diagnosis (such as OCD, BPD, ADHD, etc.), but it can also provide patients with healthy ways to cope and lessen debilitating symptoms.
Mental health counseling isn’t just for those who are suffering from disorders or conditions either. We all go through ups and downs in our lives, and when you’re in the downswing of things, it certainly doesn’t hurt to get a different perspective! It might just be what you need to change things up and get on a better path.
There are subsets of mental health counseling, which means every professional might specialize in a certain type of therapy. Here are some examples of psychotherapies that work:
- Humanistic therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
You might have to try one or two therapies before finding the one that works for you.
Marriage and Family Counseling
Chances are, you’ve had squabbles with your parents, siblings, spouse, and/or even your children. It’s pretty much impossible to get along with people 100% of the time!
But if you find yourself arguing with a family member or spouse a lot, then it might be an indication that something’s wrong. This is especially true if you often feel fed up and/or hopeless.
A marriage and family counselor can’t tell you whether or not you should break off a relationship. If they do, then that’s not very professional.
However, they can help you see things more clearly. A counselor in this field can also provide you with valuable tools to communicate better with one another, which can help you improve the relationship.
Substance Abuse Counseling
Substance abuse counseling is a bit more complicated and can involve some of the above types of counseling as well.
First, the concentration is on what drives you to use alcohol and drugs. In many cases, there’s some trauma involved, whether it’s conscious or subconscious. Mental health counseling can be useful in this case.
Marriage and family counseling is also beneficial here because your loved ones probably don’t know how to deal with your addiction. Having a professional’s guidance can accelerate healing for everyone involved.
Lastly, you’ll return to mental health counseling to learn how to handle your cravings and how to resist triggers. This can involve healthy ways to self-soothe and be firm to those who encourage you to get into substance abuse again.
If you’re interested in becoming a counselor in this field, you can get an addiction counselor certification online.
Counseling Can Help With Mental Health
As you can see, there are many types of counseling out there. But no matter which one you choose (either as a patient or counselor), one thing is for sure: it can help people with their mental health issues, no matter how big or small they are.
So if you’ve been struggling, it’s a good idea to make an appointment. And if you’re interested in helping others, get started on taking classes! You’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career.
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