Introduction: First, more people than ever are experiencing mental health issues in today’s world. This is also due to our lives becoming more unhealthier for mental health. Mental illnesses are taking the shape of an endemic. One in eight individuals globally, or around 970 million, experienced mental health issues in 2019. The most prevalent mental health disorders were anxiety and depression. Mental health illnesses like stress, anxiety, depression, and others are becoming unbearable. These issues can harm people’s overall health and quality of life.
Thankfully, counselling has become a potent and successful tool for helping people with mental health
issues. It offers people support, guidance, and faster recovery. Numerous research studies have conclusively shown its benefits. The role and function of counselling in treating different mental health issues are briefly discussed in this article.
What’s Counseling? Counselling is a step in the therapeutic process. It creates a direct ‘social’ connection between the patient and a trained expert. It is built on trust and cooperation. Counsellors use research-based strategies, validation, and compassionate listening. By doing so, the counsellor creates a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
In this supportive environment, people begin comprehending their mental health concerns on a deeper
level. As a result, individuals can start their healing process and acquire coping mechanisms through counselling sessions. It is a valuable tool for managing their mental health issues. In many cases, people don’t need medication.
Handling Depression and Anxiety: Numerous mental diseases threaten millions of people worldwide. The two most prevalent mental health issues are depression and anxiety. To address these problems, counselling is crucial since it offers a supportive and non-judgmental setting. The individuals can openly and honestly express their thoughts and feelings.
Counsellors assist clients in challenging unhelpful thought patterns and unhealthy negative emotions. The clients start gaining control over their lives through therapeutic strategies. These strategies include mindfulness exercises and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Regular counselling sessions help people develop the resilience and skills, which are necessary to navigate their emotional well-being.
Counselling’s Role in Managing Stress: Stress is a natural part of modern life, yet chronic stress can harm one’s physical and mental well-being. Getting help from a counsellor can help us handle stress effectively.
Clients and counsellors identify stressors. They both think through coping strategies and develop stress management techniques. Through fostering self-awareness and imparting relaxation skills, counselling allows people to reduce stress and improve their general well-being. As a result, people can lead more purposeful and balanced lives.
Resolving Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A person who has experienced trauma may carry emotional scars from it for a long time. Besides, they interfere with their daily activities. Recovering from trauma and treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also requires counselling.
Expert counsellors may use different evidence-based therapies. The therapist includes trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement disorder (EMDR), in their practice.
Trauma-focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): This therapy helps people who have experienced trauma understand their thoughts and feelings related to the event. It teaches coping skills to manage difficult emotions and gradually reframe negative beliefs about the trauma.
Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation while recalling the traumatic memory. It aims to help the brain process the memory in a new way, reducing its emotional impact and easing symptoms like flashbacks.
Counselling and Managing Addiction and Substance Abuse: An underlying emotional or psychological
problem is often the root cause of addiction and substance abuse. These methods assist people in making sense of their traumatic experiences. They can help the patients to ease painful symptoms and regain empowerment, safety, and control.
Through counselling, people can address the underlying issues that led to their addiction and create
healthy coping strategies in a safe environment. Counsellors help clients overcome addictive tendencies.
Also, they can develop resilience, and reconstruct their lives by using different therapeutic modalities such as motivational engagement, relapse prevention strategies, and support group participation.
Relationship Issues and Counseling: While relationships are vital to our peaceful lives, they can also cause conflicts, worry, and stress. In counselling, people can discuss and resolve problems in their friendship, family, or romantic relationships. Counselors support people in creating healthier relationships that result in increased emotional well-being and enjoyment by helping them with conflict resolution, empathy development, and communication improvement.
Takeaway: Counselling can, as explained, provide hope for people dealing with mental health issues. Therapists help clients explore their negative thoughts and feelings, create coping skills, and build emotional resilience by offering a safe and supportive environment. Counselling enables people to improve their mental and overall well-being, recover from disorders, and employ evidence-based strategies tailored to unique mental health concerns.
