When should I seek counselling?

As we journey through adulthood, there are clearly times when we need help addressing problems and issues that cause us emotional anguish or make us feel weighed down.  After all as human beings we are not an island.  When you are dealing with these types of difficulties, you may profit from the assistance of a professionally trained and experienced counsellor.  Professional counsellors offer the caring, expert support that we often need during these demanding times.  A counsellor can help you identify the problems you are facing in a non-judgemental way.  Their job is to help you find the best ways to cope with the situation by changing behaviours that add to the problem or by finding constructive ways to deal with a situation that is past your personal control.  Professional counsellors offer help in addressing many situations that cause emotional stress, including, but certainly not limited to:

1) Bereavement and loss
2) Family relationships
3) Sexuality and intimate relationships
4) Addictions
5) Anger/expression of emotions
6) Eating problems
7) Depression and anxiety
8) Self harm

Good indicators of when you should seek counselling are when you're having problems at work, your ability to concentrate is becoming more difficult or when your level of pain becomes unmanageable.

If you are contemplating counselling then that is probably the best indicator that you should consider booking that initial appointment.  Trust your instincts, after all nobody knows you better than you.

And finally a really important  point to remember is that you don't have to be "sick" to benefit from counselling.  Counselling is far more than a treatment of mental illness as the aforementioned issues would suggest.  Some difficult issues you will face in life are part of your life's journey.  Sometimes it's helpful to see what you're going through is quite normal and that you are not losing your mind.