Do I Need Counseling? Ask a Different Question.

“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.”

—Robin Sharma

Generally speaking, people need counseling when some kind of mental health challenge (anxiety, depression, adjustment to trauma, etc.) begins to impact a major area of functioning (relationships, employment, physical health, etc.). In this case, many have found counseling to play an important role in their treatment and recovery.

But if you find yourself thinking, “How bad do things need to get before I should talk to a counselor?,” then I’d like to challenge you to ask yourself a different question.

“How could my life be better with the help of a counselor?”

The difference is subtle, but, in my mind, huge. Do you need counseling? Maybe. Maybe not. But my hope is that you would give yourself permission to talk to a counselor without the presence of an intense problem forcing your hand.

A good counselor will want to help you do more than just manage your problems. A good counselor will want to help you thrive.

Here are a few examples of why you might want to see a counselor…

• You want to communicate better with your spouse

• You want to find clarity with an upcoming decision

• You want to learn new parenting strategies

• You want to establish life goals

• You want to identify and process sources of stress and frustration

• You want to increase your self-awareness

None of these reasons scream “need,” but they all represent potential areas of growth. Your life matters, and any work you put into it is well worth the effort.