Improving Your Health and Wellbeing

3 Times When Seeing a Counsellor Is a Good Thing

by Ernest Smith

As self-sufficient as people like to think they are, no one really ever has everything all figured out in life. Going to counselling can help you cut through the confusion and provided clarity. Here are three times in life when choosing counselling may be the best decision you've ever made.

1. You've reached a major milestone

Most people would agree there is a big difference between the average 20-year-old and a 50-year-old, and it's not just the age span. A 20-year-old is just beginning adulthood. They likely are focused on school or what they want to do for a career. Most young adults are not concerned with the pressures of marriage or child-rearing.

In contrast, a 50-year old is preoccupied with other thoughts. Many are going through a midlife crisis, looking back over their past decisions, wondering if they made the right decisions, and trying to determine which path they should take for the future, which could affect the rest of their life.

Regardless of how old you are, anytime you feel you have reached a major milestone in age or have just come to a crossroads, attending a few counselling sessions can help you regroup. A counsellor can ask the questions you should be asking yourself, provide feedback and help you define your goals.

2. You need a neutral perspective

Romantic partners and buddies are great, but they don't always have the best advice. Sometimes, it may be they have their own agenda. For example, if you are considering a move cross-country for a new job, your best friend may downplay the new job because they don't want to lose you. Different personalities also play a role.

When you look to your friends for advice, rather than help you clarify the situation, it's not uncommon for your dilemma to become even more muddled. A counsellor doesn't have a vested interest in what you decide. A counsellor just wants to walk you through your decision-making process, keep you on track and help guide you as you reach the right conclusion on your own.

3. You're in a rut

Virtually everyone gets stuck at some point. This can happen after a major trauma, such as the loss of a loved one or a normal life event, such as the birth of a child. Feeling like you're in a rut can even happen when life is going well. Meeting with a counsellor for a few sessions can help you discover why you feel stuck.  Once you have defined why, you can take steps to realign your life with where you want to be.  

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