Preperation For Psychological Counseling

Motivation

It is extremely difficult to sufficiently help a person who is unwilling to help themselves. It is necessary for clients to have a certain amount of belief in their own abilities and in those of their counselor so that they can overcome their problems. Lack of motivation leads to a lack of desire for change, which may hamper progress in counseling. Thus, it is important to have a certain amount of faith in yourself, your counselor, and the world of counseling.

Dedication

Counseling involves dealing with personal matters that may have taken years to build up. Resolving these issues effectively can take a considerable amount of time, depending on the severity of the case. The benefits of counseling are cumulative and take place gradually over a period of time. As such, it is important to prepare yourself mentally so that you are able to invest yourself resolutely and consistently to the process of counselling.

Open-mindedness

It is helpful to be receptive and have a positive outlook towards therapy in order for it to be significantly effective. Try to be open-minded and willing to accept creative solutions to your problems. This may require a certain amount of change on your part, which may be unnerving but exciting at the same time. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new methods of dealing with old problems. Make a note of what solutions work best for you and use these more often.

Patience

People often expect a “quick fix” solution to all their problems. In a world where everything is easily acquired, one tends to under-estimate the crippling power of mental problems. Most of the times people do not take mental conditions seriously and often drop out of therapy before they even give it a fair chance. Applying a bandaid over a broken arm may appear like an easy fix, but it does not solve the root problem. Similarly, engaging in glossy, pseudo-scientific methods that promise results in short periods of time may sound appealing, but in reality they are ineffective. It is important for clients to realize that counseling provides long-term solutions and even if clients cannot see immediate changes, they will be able to notice significant positive effects over time.