Aug 21, 2019
Scripture:
Proverbs 11:14 "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. "
This blog post and video is for someone trying to find the courage to go to counseling or tell their friend they need it.
I discuss the following points in the video...
Why I went to counseling:
A concerned friend recommended I see a counselor after a bad breakup!
What counseling did for me:
My therapist gave me the space I needed for someone to JUST listen. She was very patient with me and only asked questions that made me dig deeper on why I felt that way. She aided me in unpacking childhood trauma I didn’t realize I had.
Seeing a counselor was more than just a “self-care” checklist. It was absolutely needed. It was me tackling my issues with the help of a trusted professional.
I recommend counseling for the three following reasons:
1. Talking to a family member or close friend is not always enough...
Sometimes our loved ones impeded us from our own growth because even though they want the best for us, they may not be fully patient with us. They may not know how to effectively peel back the layers of our subconscious as a Therapist/Counselor is trained to do.
Also, you may get to a point where you feel like you’re weighing your friends down with your issues or they may not be designed to carry it. This can make you feel discouraged and insecure to talk to them about every detail. Remember, everyone is dealing with something. The problem isn’t telling your friends all of your issues, the problem is, how do you effectively open up to a friend about a reoccurring issue and allow room for them to do the same? How do you effectively tell your friend bad news without them feeling bad about telling you good news? I think this is solely dependent on the type of friendship but having a counselor can mitigate some of these issues because you're talking to a licensed and experienced professional.
2. You deserve an unbiased objective ear to hear you out...
It felt great to unpack my issues without the fear of my friend judging me and getting frustrated with my recurrent mistakes. There’s something freeing about talking to someone that is trained to listen. Trust that they are being genuine when they reaffirm your worth by telling you that you are in fact worthy and your mistakes do not define you.
3. Learn to work through life issues by yourself and be comfortable with your feelings...
Before counseling I used to run to my friends about everything. I may have been very immature at the time but that’s what I did. But after counseling, I started to adapt the tools my therapist taught me. Sometimes we would take a long pause and she would ask, "why exactly do you feel that way?" Sometimes I wouldn’t say anything. And she would say, "Bless I want you to dig deep down inside and break down that wall. What is wrong?" I believe she did this so I wouldn’t trap myself in my feelings.
Lastly,
Even though you may be going through a hard time, always pray for your counselor/therapist or friends/family that take the time to listen to your problems! God sent them to help you, the least you can do is say a prayer for them!
Interested in online therapy? Check this out the link below! https://www.e-counseling.com/online-t...
Until next time…
***Peace and Blessings, XOXO***