April is the month for raising awareness about counseling and its importance. You have probably heard about counseling before in school or university, but have you ever given it much thought about it? Counseling is a provision of assistance and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties, especially by a professional. It is not the same as a family member or a friend giving you advice since it is a studied and neutral positioned professional that can give you an unbiased perspective and advice on how to confront any problem or issue.
What types of counseling exist?
There are many different types of counseling that exist that can adapt to the matter you are looking to resolve.
These are some of the most common types of counseling available:
- Marriage and family counseling: This counseling is ideal for people having issues with their own family members or their partners. Living under the same roof can bring many issues to the table that you might not know how to resolve or deal with. A counselor can help you mediate these issues or help you find a better way of coping.
- Educational counseling: Schools and universities have counseling available to students that wish to pursue higher studies and do not know which direction they should head. These counselors have experience helping students find their right path and will help find the right direction for a student.
- Rehabilitation counseling: Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.
- Mental health counseling: These counselors are licensed to treat different types of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of mental health and substance use conditions. Mental health issues include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and others.
- Substance abuse counseling: A substance abuse counselor is one that has learned to deal with addiction and understands the behavioral patterns of a person that needs rehabilitation whether it is from a mental disorder, alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and others.
These are just a few examples of counseling, however, there is always a type of counselor that can adapt to your situation. If you are thinking about getting help, this is the perfect month to understand that you are not alone in your situation and can get the support you need. You can look online for counseling in your area, online counseling, or ask friends for recommendations. Getting help is a self-love act towards yourself.
