Now that you have decided to go to counseling, what can you expect? When people come to counseling, they sometimes have the wrong idea of what counselors actually do. Some people think that the counselor’s job is to tell people what to do so they can feel better. I must admit, that’s what I thought counselors did too. However, I eventually learned that a counselor helps people come up with their own answers of what works best for them. The counselor is there to guide, but not to tell the person what to do. What might work for one person, might not work for the next. The counselor’s job is to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for people to be vulnerable and share their deepest secrets.  

A counselor is a trained professional who brings their expertise to the room. Depending on their approach or their licensure, that’s how he/she will approach the session. Clients can expect to work hard and maybe even feel uncomfortable at times when talking about certain topics. For some people it is really hard to open up and share especially when it involves trauma. We tend to avoid things that make us feel any type of negative feeling. However, that is an opportunity for growth. Counseling can also feel uncomfortable when your counselor challenges some of your beliefs that seem to keep you stuck. A counselor is there to be as honest as possible while providing help in a kind manner. When people haven’t worked through their past traumas or issues, some unwanted behaviors might show up that can hurt their present and future relationships. Counseling helps people unlearn or change some of the behaviors that have gotten them in trouble in the past. If you are wondering why you always say or do certain things or end up in certain situations, a counselor can help you find clarity and answers.  

Counseling can teach you the necessary skills to not only exist but to thrive in life. Self-help books are wonderful, and they can teach you some skills to have a better life. However, books are written for the masses. They are not specific to your life or the things that you have been through in detail. Watching videos is like reading books; they are trying to be as general as possible to reach more people. When you go to a counselor, you have someone that you can ask questions and benefit from their expertise. You get to experience those “Aha! moments” instead of just staring at a book or at your screen.   

Going to counseling is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. You will learn to recognize what triggers you and how to avoid it or work through it. One thing though, sometimes things will get worse before they get better. After all, you will need to be vulnerable and face your deepest fears. The things that you don’t want anyone to know about you. The good thing is that you don’t have to make this journey by yourself. You will have a trained professional by your side that will help you through the process until you come out on the other side. Counseling will test your limits so be brave! Remember that the best view comes after the hardest climb!