The Advantages of Seeking Counseling

One profession for which the Anxiety Support Network is a strong advocate is the counseling profession. Many mental health professions can be beneficial or have their advantages, but counseling seems to take the cake over all the others.

One of the more common professionals that anxiety sufferers may choose to see would be behavioral therapists, and in particular, cognitive-behavioral therapists. These professionals focus on the thoughts (cognitions) that are not beneficial to an individual. They then attempt to help the individual realize why these thoughts are not beneficial and are unrealistic. This, in itself, can be very beneficial, but therapy addresses anxiety in much too narrow of a manner. As noted in other places by the Anxiety Support Network, many other things such as supportive friends, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can be very helpful as well.

Another professional that the anxious person may choose to visit is the psychologist. Psychology as a whole can run the whole gamut of different methods and viewpoints of treating anxiety. Psychology is very scientific in nature, but one of its weaknesses is that it can forget about the person. It bases itself on different ways that the brain is malfunctioning and is not nearly as effective at engaging people as is counseling. Counseling has a different approach to treating the person than all other professions, and more about that will be said later.

Another professional that one may choose to see (and this is the last professional one should see) is the psychiatrist. Psychiatry has a methodology based totally on the use of medication. The client, in general, will talk about his or her struggles with anxiety, and the psychiatrist will help the client to assess which medicine to use. The client and psychiatrist will agree on one; the client will use it and report regularly back to the psychiatrist so that adjustments can be made, if necessary. Psychiatry as a whole has much too narrow of a focus and reliance upon medicine, which often does not work, and can be best described as something that "suppresses symptoms." Used correctly and at a minimum, medication can be effective, but eventually its effects will wear off, and some times it will cause more damage than good. See Anxiety Support Network's articles Melatonin: An Overview, Further Thoughts on Medication, and Medication - Don't Believe the Hype! for further thoughts on this issue.

Eliminating these other professions eliminates virtually all other professionals except counselors. So, why use counselors instead of these other professionals? First, counselors are the best at engaging people and creating a relationship where the client is able to make progress. Counselors do not set the goals for the client, but rather help the client to establish his or her own goals. Counselors may try to help the client realize the benefits of establishing loftier goals, but ultimately, they leave it up to the client. The other positive about counseling is that the profession is founded on the belief of the fundamental worth of the individual. Psychiatry (medical doctors act in similar ways), psychology, and therapy (therapy is closest to counseling of the three), are not founded on this viewpoint, and as a result, clients may find themselves being treated like idiots or worse yet, numbers. Another positive for clients is that their input is valued and taken into account during the whole relationship; this often does not occur in the other types of relationships. Another plus is that counselors, because of their client-centered focus, are very empathetic, compassionate, and understanding. Clients are listened to, appreciated, and treated in a compassionate manner. A final plus is that counselors are open-minded, and also understand things from a big-picture viewpoint. This means that, like the Anxiety Support Network, counseling will encourage other ways of treating anxiety such as medication, a supportive social network, and a healthy diet, among other things.

Overall, counseling is far and away the healthiest and most comprehensive method for recovering from anxiety for the previously described reasons. Other professions can be helpful, but in general they are too narrow and do not value the individual as much as they should. Remember, there is nothing wrong with counseling; everyone needs help and there is nothing shameful about receiving counseling, and counselors will be the first ones to tell the client that. Good luck and if it seems right, find the courage to get out there and get help!