Why Counselling? Why does it work? Why consider it?

My latest article on why counselling works was published on the following website on 11 June 2021. https://www.wellnessforwomensa.co.za/2021/06/11/why-counselling/

Summary of article:

There is a continued tendency to ask why we should attend counselling sessions and why it should even be an option for us? This type of thinking develops from a lack of understanding about the overall mental health profession and how it fits into the broader spectrum of health. Wellness is not the lack of illness but rather a healthy state of mind, body and spirit (World Health Organisation). There are various types of counsellors each registered and/or certified with different bodies and I am a Wellness counsellor as designated by the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners. We have a wide range in scope of practice that covers emotional, spiritual, mental and physical domains of wellness.

Individuals are afraid to seek help due to the unfortunate and undesired stigma around mental health. We get sucked into the view that counsellors are not Psychologists and therefore do not have the necessary skills to counsel an individual. Although Wellness Counsellors such as myself do not provide diagnoses nor medical treatment, we do have the required skills to focus on a solution-driven, holistic approach to counselling and/or coaching towards overall well-being.

Periods of major stress are accompanied by a decline in physical and psychological well-being and restoration of vitality, health and cognitive potency can be achieved through numerous sustained lifestyle behaviours and practices. Therefore, we ought to look at recovery from a holistic perspective; it is important to understand that managing your mental health condition is the goal and how we learn to manage and live with the condition that makes us able to continue with daily life. Learning to manage your condition means implementing self-care techniques and a daily routine must be in place and followed. These techniques can take the form of physical exercise, yoga, dancing, reading a book, improved quality of sleep, daily self-affirmations, breath-work, meditation, healthy diet and most importantly a continued effort to implement those techniques. Music and arts are also great ways of managing anxiety and stress. Our focus should be on seeing stress as challenging (something worth overcoming) rather than as something you are incapable of overcoming. Reconnecting with your inner spirit; your inner self will help provide clarity of mind and you feel more emotionally and physically resilient to stressors.