Okay, so maybe you’ve had the thought, “Should I go to counseling?” But quickly shrugged it off with a “Nahhhh, I already know all my issues. I don’t need someone else to know them.” Or maybe you’ve already made an appointment, but you’re nervous about what to expect. Like, what if you see someone there!
In this episode of Life In Motion, Heather George and Jamie Jobe talk about what to expect and when to go to counseling. They even talk about helping their children go to counseling and allowing them to confide in someone other than a parent. Listen to the episode!
“SOMEONE LOOKS AT YOU, LISTENS TO YOU, DOES NOT JUDGE YOU, AND ASKS YOU QUESTIONS THAT REALLY HELP.”
If you’ve been hesitant about going to counseling, here’s some encouragement for you. There is great relief in being able to share what’s on your heart and mind without judgment and fear. To put it simply, counseling is a safe environment where someone with an outside perspective looks at you, listens to you, does not judge you, and asks you questions that really help. AND they’re professionals, so they have the tools to help you strategize how best to unravel the different parts of your story to find relief from the tensions you’re feeling.
Sometimes you might wonder … When is it appropriate to see a counselor? We would answer that by saying, “WHEN IS IT NOT?” Whether big or small, if you’re dealing with something, it’s appropriate to see a counselor about it. Here are 5 signs to look for when considering if it’s time to see a counselor:
If you are in a profession that requires you to care for others or carry a weight of responsibility, we urge you to see a counselor several times throughout the year to process what you are carrying at work.
Dealing with the difficulties in life is … Well, difficult. Like most things, you can’t let go of the past, present, and even future issues on your own. The lie of our lives is that you can do it yourself, but the truth is, you can’t. Life is lived in relationship with others and if you’re not processing life with people, you’re probably punishing people and don’t even know it. You can’t just let it go because you don’t know how and no Google search will tell you how. It is something that must be discovered in relationships with others. That’s the beauty of counseling, someone who has the tools to help you let it go, looks at your life with you, and guides you through a personal, custom practice of letting it go.
So you’re ready to see a counselor? Here are few quick pro tips for you:
It’s okay if you don’t connect with the first counselor you meet with. You may consider meeting with someone once or twice before deciding if you want to meet with them for all of your recommended sessions.
Cornerstone Christian Counseling
Hope Forward Counseling & Coaching
Joy Christian Counseling
COPES
Suicide Hotline
Read more from Life In Motion.
Heather and Jamie love to bring people together. So naturally, their podcast is a place where they want to do the same. Every season, we set aside episodes to hear from YOU and talk about YOUR thoughts. In each episode, you’ll hear Heather and Jamie mention their voicemail inbox; that’s where they hear from you!