5 Ways High-Quality Counselling Services Can Improve Your Mental Health
Many people struggle with mental health conditions. Fortunately, counseling can help people overcome these challenges. Some types of psychotherapy are effective for specific conditions, such as depression or anxiety. For instance, unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to these conditions can be recognized and altered through cognitive behavioral therapy. Many factors can prevent people from accessing mental health services, including costs, transportation, and therapist shortages.
Better Relationships
Many counselors (therapists) provide a nonjudgmental, warm, and caring environment where clients feel comfortable sharing personal issues. Counselors often have a master’s degree in counseling or marriage and family therapy, extensive training, and state certification.
When mental health is compromised, relationships can become strained and dysfunctional. High-quality counselling services in Ottawa can help people reconnect with their loved ones and build stronger, healthier relationships through open communication.
In addition, relationships can also improve if individuals get help with underlying issues like depression, which tends to interfere with a person’s ability to perceive and receive social support from others. As counseling improves the quality of relationships, families, and communities, society reaps the benefits through enhanced economic and educational outcomes and increased social cohesion.
Improved Self-Esteem
Everyone questions themselves regularly, but people with healthy self-esteem are likelier to have positive emotions and lower stress levels. Additionally, they are less likely to contemplate, which is a behavior that exacerbates anxiety and depression.
Counseling can help individuals find a healthier and more balanced relationship with themselves. This can lead to improved self-esteem and stronger and healthier relationships with others.
In addition to individual counseling sessions, there are several types of group therapy, including psychoeducational and process-oriented groups. Each type has its unique set of benefits, but all have the goal of helping members improve their mental health. Individuals with similar experiences or concerns can connect through these groups and build community.
Increased Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is recognizing one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This helps individuals identify triggers and maladaptive coping, which can lead to negative mental health outcomes.
Additionally, it allows people to understand others better, leading to a greater capacity for empathy. This is vital in building healthy relationships, which can help people heal from the side effects of mental illness.
A person’s level of self-awareness can be enhanced through various methods, including journaling and mindfulness. However, regular therapy sessions are the most effective way to increase self-awareness.
Enhanced Communication Skills
A counselor can teach you how to communicate more effectively. They can help you find a better way to express yourself, avoid misunderstandings, and improve your relationships at work and home.
Many forms of counseling have been shown to increase resilience, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and person-centered therapy. These methods have been shown to improve resilience through discussion, role-play, and practical exercises (e.g., Positive Replacement Thoughts worksheet).
Individual or talk therapy is one-on-one time with a mental health professional. This setup allows for a more customized treatment to your unique needs. This type of counseling can also be combined with family therapy to address relationship dynamics. It’s important to note that nonverbal communication is as powerful as verbal communication in establishing trust and empathy.
Increased Self-Efficacy
High self-efficacy levels can improve how you deal with challenges and stress. This is because it gives you a more “can-do” attitude. Suppose you have greater confidence in your abilities. In that case, persisting with challenging activities or goals, like exercising, picking up a new skill, or quitting smoking, will be simpler.
According to Bandura, various factors, such as social support and mastery experiences, can influence self-efficacy. Your mood also contributes to your self-efficacy. A positive mood can increase it, while a negative mood can detract from it. Mental health counseling can help you build your self-efficacy through cognitive behavioral therapy and other talk therapies. In addition, it can teach you healthy coping mechanisms to manage symptoms and emotions, leading to better mental health.
