What is Counseling?
Counseling, or mental health therapy, is becoming more and more popular. We often hear of friends and family, even celebrities going to therapy, which makes us wonder, what is counseling and what can it do for me?
Counseling is “professional guidance in resolving personal conflicts and emotional problems.”
In other words, counseling is an avenue to help an individual work through difficulties in their life with a licensed professional. Counseling is NOT a glorified gossip session to avoid having real conversations. Avoiding real conversations is not helpful, though it may seem more convenient, easier, or less emotionally risky.
Identifying why you want to begin counseling is a helpful first step. It might be that there is a clear trauma or “issue” you need help navigating. It might just be a feeling that life can be a lot to handle, and you need a safe place to talk through things and work through where you are and where you want to go next .
Ask yourself some questions:
Am I feeling overwhelmed with life in general?
Do I need a safe place to share my feelings?
Am I using alcohol, drugs or sex to cope?
Do I need help setting boundaries for myself?
Am I on a path to reach my goals?
The course of treatment ultimately rests in the hands of the client. Think of counseling as riding in a car with your therapist: you are in the driver’s seat, your therapist is in the passenger seat. They might have a road map to help guide you where you want to go,
but you are ultimately in control of where you are headed.
So, what does a counseling appointment at Parkridge look like? A first session looks a lot like having an honest conversation with a trusted, safe person. It might feel a little awkward and intimidating at first, but it is absolutely worth it. Like we said earlier, it is completely up to the client how much they are willing to share. But, since everything said in counseling is confidential, it can be very beneficial to take this time to focus on YOU— and that is not selfish. Parkridge counselors will work closely with you to help you reach your goals and develop a trusted therapeutic relationship. If someone is trying to take care of themselves so that they can better care for the people in their life, counseling is a great step to take.
Did you know counseling at Parkridge is FREE of charge? Parkridge desires to care for our clients holistically—mind, body, and spirit. Counseling is a valuable component of service because it enables our team to walk through life with a client. We want to be there for you! Parkridge provides options counseling—a unique approach to assist a client during a pregnancy decision. We also care for clients with anxiety and depression, relationship issues, pregnancy loss and grief, and those needing after-abortion support. Although these are some specific counseling issues, we also see women (and men) at Parkridge who are walking through a wide range of life circumstances. We offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD/STI testing and treatment, as well as counseling from licensed professionals. Therapy can be expensive, but so many people need someone to talk to—this is why we are glad to offer it as a FREE service. Click here to request an initial consultation.
We hope the information included here is helpful, and is received in conjunction with other medical information. This blog post is not intended to replace information directly received from a medical or mental healthcare provider. Parkridge provides initial medical care and counseling for women experiencing unintended pregnancy. Through pregnancy testing, ultrasound confirmation and STD testing & treatment, we serve women who are considering both abortion and other pregnancy options. Our counseling team serves women in many situations, including those who need post abortion support. All of our services are always free of charge, confidential and delivered by licensed professionals. Please reach out to us and let us know if we can help! Call 806.794.8555 or make an appointment online by clicking here.
