What is Counseling?
by Keith Milligan
What happens to you when problems arise at home, school or in relationships? Perhaps you struggle over the same difficulties again and again. Are you sometimes depressed, stressed, or anxious? Can a sudden crisis or newfound success create pressures you've never felt before? Is there something missing in your life, but you don't know what? Do you feel that you just need someone to talk to, but find it difficult to go to a friend or family member? When you experience undue emotional pain it is time to consult with a counselor.
What is counseling?
Counseling is a relationship between you and a professionally trained person who has the desire and willingness to help you with your concerns. A counselor will listen objectively and nonjudgmentally and help you explore issues of importance to you. Issues may focus on a specific concern such as choosing your major, managing your time or building self-confidence. Or they may be interpersonal in nature and involve your relationship with a boyfriend, girlfriend, family member or teacher. Counseling might also focus on your overall sense of well being, becoming a means by which you can gain greater understanding and acceptance of yourself and enhance your growth as a person.
Who seeks counseling?
Populations served by counselors include persons of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Examples of those populations would include students with career, educational, and cultural concerns, as well as those facing mild/severe personal difficulties. Counselors also consult with organizations seeking to enhance their effectiveness or the well-being of their members (e.g. campus fraternities and sororities).
What you can expect from your counselor
Your counselor will assist you, support you, and help you "sort out" and assess all aspects of your concerns. Your counselor will take you seriously and be open to discuss anything you wish. Expect your counselor to focus the session on you, and not on others. Unfortunately, counselors have no "magical" skills or knowledge, and are unable to solve your problems directly for you. Expect that everything you say to your counselor—with exceptions that will be addressed at the outset of counseling—will be strictly confidential.
Your responsibilities in counseling
You will benefit most from counseling if you can be open and honest about yourself. This means being willing to talk about your thoughts and feelings. Additionally, if you have questions or concerns regarding the counseling process, by all means ask your counselor.
How do I know if I need counseling?
Students who seek counseling do so because they are experiencing some form of discomfort or dissatisfaction in their personal lives. The following are some tell tale signs that counseling may be helpful for you:
- Physical complaints when no medical causes can be found
- Excessive anxiety for no apparent reason
- Prolonged feelings of despair and unhappiness, withdrawal, or lack of interest in daily activities
- An unusual amount of irritability or suspiciousness toward others
- Difficulty adjusting to new environments
- Not working up to capacity at school or work—inability to concentrate
- Personality changes that can't be explained, such as sudden shifts in mood or behavior
- Uncertainty about future
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Individuals experiencing one or more of these symptoms may be helped by counseling.
What if I go and the problem doesn’t?
In some instances, you and your counselor may decide that this counseling service does not have the resources to help you with your concerns. Part of the counselor’s role is to advocate for their client, so your counselor will make every effort to help you contact another person or agency that can better meet your needs.
The intent of this series of articles is not to provide counseling but to provide information about mental health and wellness topics. To seek help with your individual concerns, please contact Rider University Counseling Services at Lawrenceville (609-896-5157) or Princeton (609-921-7100 x8275) to schedule an appointment.
