Should I see a counsellor?

Most families have a family doctor. We see them for a fever without a second thought, sometimes for generations. Yet many of us still hesitate to see a counsellor, as if needing help with the mind says something about who we are. Words like "mad" or "mental" still hover over the idea.

We are all prone to physical illness, and we are all prone to emotional difficulty. Both come in degrees. A cold may need a doctor; anxiety or a low mood may need a counsellor. Neither is a verdict on your character.

I believe every family deserves a family counsellor: someone you can confide in without fear, who listens without judging and responds with care and professional skill. A single session often makes more difference than people expect.

Searching Google or Quora for answers can do more harm than good. Self-diagnosis invites wrong conclusions and needless worry. Real change usually happens in conversation with a person who is trained to help.

How do you choose? Qualifications matter, but the best counsellor for you is the one you connect with, and who has the experience, skills and exposure your situation needs. So much depends on that connection, and on your own willingness to work on what brought you in. There is no single best counsellor for everyone, only the right one for you.

This article was first published on Practo Health Feed. Read the original on Practo