Individual counselling is always undertaken in a confidential setting with a trained professional who has a large range of skills to enable addressing many different personal issues which trouble you as a patient. Common reasons for seeking help may include feeling unable to control moods, getting edgy, panicky, worrying too often or feeling dissatisfied for no obvious reason, or not being able to sleep. Relationship issues or gambling, drinking, over-using drugs, over-eating or smoking are also common reasons for seeking help. Sexual difficulties or trouble meeting friends are other frequent difficulties brought to counselling as are work issues and old hurts and traumas.
A good counsellor should gather some thorough history initially to look for any other influences a participant may have missed, then begin exploring your thoughts and feelings over a period of an hour or perhaps slightly longer. Sessions will then continue if it appears benefit will be gained from them. Usually, someone undergoing counselling should begin to feel they are making progress in the first several sessions, though some may need a more long term approach if problems are longer standing. Individual counselling helps address maladaptive patterns of thinking and behaviour, helping a participant make changes to lifestyle that are beneficial to maintaining psychological wellbeing in the future.
Depression and anxiety are the most common psychological conditions.
Depression is a condition which has both physical and psychological symptoms. Some people develop depression early in life, but more frequently, it results from exposure to excessive, prolonged or unexpected stress which gradually overwhelms the body's usual neurological resilience. The result brings feelings of being overwhelmed by hopelessness, helplessness or unworthiness. Relationship and sexual problems usually increase, as do difficulties with concentration and memory.
Physical symptoms include extreme lethargy and fatigue in the absence of exertion, weight changes and problems with sleep. People seriously affected sometimes express wanting to die. Where this occurs, medical help should ideally be sought immediately. The condition's cause lies in imbalances occurring in a depressed person's central nervous system. Depression can range from being a minor issue, to having major impact on daily functioning. Less serious forms of depression respond very well to changes in lifestyle and thinking habits, which alone will help regain a more normal balance. The more serious forms of depression can require use of various medical prescriptions, to help correct the imbalance biochemically.
Anxiety is a term which refers to common symptoms experienced in a range of psychological disturbances. These include generalised feelings of being anxious and fearful frequently, but may also include problems with frequent panic attacks, obsessional thinking and compulsive behaviour issues or problems returning to normality after exposure to a life-threatening traumatic event. Symptoms of anxiety usually include restlessness, agitation or edginess, feelings of tiredness, concentration problems, increased muscle tension and problems with waking frequently or falling asleep due to worrying thoughts and feelings.
Career counselling helps to identify sources of occupation-related confusion, stress or concern, breaking these up into more manageable issues. Sometimes a change in career might emerge as being necessary through counselling, however often, making changes in the existing workplace or skill levels might also be indicated as the ideal outcome. Occupational skills and abilities are discussed in detail. More formal vocational suitability assessment may sometimes also be undertaken if requested. Coaching is given in handling workplace relationships more effectively. Specific areas of interpersonal stress at work are reviewed and how best to resolve these is discussed and resolved. Areas of other stress being caused in present workplace circumstances are also reviewed, for example, environmental issues or workplace training-related needs that are not met. Participants are screened by the psychologist conducting the counselling for excessive stress, and if early signs of psychological disturbance caused by unaddressed stress are evident advice about seeking medical or legal assistance where necessary is provided. For participants contemplating career change, assistance with networking and job search strategies is also offered.
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