Counseling

Have you ever had to do something you really didn’t want to do?

As a child, I can remember being dragged into the dentist office by my mom. I didn’t like the dentist probably because I always had cavities.

Fast forward twenty years...I went to my first counseling appointment kicking and screaming.

My wife took me despite me not wanting to go. I didn’t want to hear the stereotypical phrase,

“how does that make you feel?”

This is a common feeling to have due to the stigma depression carries in our society.

Looking back, maybe going to counseling wasn’t that bad, but I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t the nicest person on the planet. I cussed. I told the therapist I didn’t want to hear her solutions because she had no clue about my experiences. I laughed at the strategies she wanted me to try. I got up and walked

out of the room.

To summarize my first counseling appointment in one sentence, I threw a 10-year-old temper tantrum minus the flapping and crying.

As time progressed and I went week after week, I began to see the benefits. By giving me

books or working through a variety of strategies, I began to build up my confidence and felt

much better about myself as I left her office.

My counselor helps me see things with a different perspective. Sometimes we often see

things the way we want to see them. We look at life the way we want to see it. Having

someone look at my life from the outside provided a new perspective and a new direction for my

thinking.

From my experience, I’ve found I would recommend counseling for anyone, not just

someone suffering with depression or other mental illness. After my sessions, my mood is better,

I feel more focused and most of all I have a plan!

Find a counselor you are comfortable with and you can share your thoughts freely without

the fear of being criticized. Ask your coworkers, family and friends for recommendations. Speak

to them on the phone inquiring about their specialty, background, and treatment philosophies.

#book #counseling #C #resources