Today, I share with you what I think is a solid description of the nuts and bolts of mental health counseling. The source for this information is HealthyPlace, which you can find at www.healthyplace.com.
Mental health counseling is a formal, purposeful partnership between a client and a mental health professional. It’s sometimes referred to as clinical mental health counseling; not because it’s cold and dispassionate but because it is based in sound research and uses techniques proven to be effective.
Counseling is a process of varying lengths during which a mental health counselor and a client work together to explore problems and develop the skills and mind-set needed to transcend challenges and live a life of emotional health. The length of the counseling process varies depending on the individual and the mental health disorder or distress. It can continue anywhere from a few weekly sessions to months or, sometimes, years of occasional sessions.
People seek counseling for many different things. Counseling is for mental illness as well as for specific life stresses, such as a toxic workplace with a bullying boss. Counseling happens individually, in one-on-one sessions with a counselor. Additionally, people can engage in couples therapy, family therapy, or group therapy.