Psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy involves understanding patterns of behaviour, and then using that understanding to help someone cope with difficulties that can have an adverse effect on their happiness and wellbeing.
The difficulty could be anything from dealing with bereavement to coping with the stress of a difficult job.
The problem is that simply seeking the help of a counsellor can in be a problem in itself.
There is the stigma of "being in therapy" to deal with, and the perceived weakness of not being able to cope with life on your own terms.
When such thoughts emerge, it's usually because the role of the counsellor isn't fully understood, and neither is the quality of the advice and guidance they are able to offer.
Overcoming these objections involves demystifying what it that is actually offered.
Common misconceptions about counsellors include: 1.
Counselling is quack medicine and doesn't actually help.
Much research has been completed on the therapeutic effects of counselling, which has shown a positive effect on the outlook and mental health of a great many people.
That's not to say it is a cure-all.
If there are underlying medical problems, or the mental health of a person is unsound, there are limits to what counselling alone can achieve.
The fact remains, however, that in a great many cases it does have a positive effect.
2.
Counselling is just somewhere for people with money to get things off their chest.
Counselling isn't just a place for the well to do to bend someone's ear about issues most people just have to contend with as a part of everyday life.
Although this is something that will be a great help to people who for some reason don't have someone they can open up to about things that are troubling them, a counsellor offers a much more focused analysis of a person's thinking and behaviour that can often penetrate to the heart of a problem in a way the person hadn't considered before.
3.
Going to counselling demonstrates personal weakness.
Throughout government and history, counselling is a positive and constructive activity.
It is the seeking of advice from others who can help you form ideas and undertake actions that allow the achievement of your goals.
Prime Ministers and Presidents seek counsel at both times of crises and times of prosperity to ensure the best outcome for whatever they do.
This principle applies equally to psychotherapy.
It supports a person to ensure that they are able to get the best out of their lives in all situations.
Seeking counselling is not a sign of weakness.
It demonstrates an understanding of the fact that we are social beings who perform best when we work together to overcome problems, and that we have the strength to ask for the help we can really benefit from.
4.
Counsellors have a "limp-wristed" and "touchy-feely" outlook on life that doesn't relate to the average person.
Counsellors are normal people with families of their own who live in the "real" world as much as the people who visit them.
It's simply a case that, whether they are male or female, they are comfortable dealing with emotions and are open and honest about feelings and their impact on day-to-day lives.
Rather than detracting from a robust outlook on life, this ability often lets them live life to the full.
This in turn allows them to relate to people from all walks of life.
Combined with professional training, such an outlook actually improves their ability to engage with the issues that are brought to them.
Dispelling the myths about counselling will help to bring the profession to the attention of a much wider audience.
This will then bring the benefits of their services to many more people.