Counseling for Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression begins with unconditional positive regard, and a trusting, acceptant relationship.
Good Counseling Is About You
The most important asset on the road to well-being is you. Research shows that your unique characteristics are more important to getting better than anything else. Especially your courage, persistence, and resilience in the face of pain, isolation, and confusion. So it’s important to recognize your strengths and values. While a good therapist should be an expert at how change happens, you will always be the expert on you.
Mental Health Treatment Should Be Supportive
The next important thing is the working alliance you have with your counselor. This relationship should be founded on unconditional positive regard, trust, and empathy. The first thing a good counselor does is listen. Therefore, I want to support and validate you, while we explore the factors that will bring positive change. This is not just being nice. This is an evidence-based approach.
Good Counseling Is Based on Solid Research and Evidence
Does it often feel like your thoughts and feelings work against you? Therapists today have years of research and evidence about how thoughts, emotions, and behavior should work together. So an effective approach increases your mastery in all these areas- thinking, feeling, and doing. Good counseling is also up-to-date on neuroscience research. This means understanding how our brains works to keep us sick or make us better.
This Process Should Be Empowering
Counseling brings greater cognitive and emotional awareness. It gives you skills to understand and manage emotions- both your emotions and the emotions of others. This means greater comfort and effectiveness in social situations, and better ability to solve problems with others. Furthermore, a good therapist helps you come to terms with the past, and find new, positive meanings in your personal history.
Good Counseling Honors Personal Cultures, Faiths, and Philosophies
Counseling must respect individual differences, preferences, and values. You alone must decide who you are, what you believe, and what your life means. Counseling should empower you to do that.