Does Psychotherapy/Counselling work?

DOES PSYCHOTHERAPY/COUNSELLING WORK?

It works sometimes. In fact, it compares very well with the use of medication as a means of treating mental health problems. Controversy and argument is rife in the health field about what works best with what problems. The truth of the matter is that both can work, and of course their is nothing stopping you from having both forms of help.

It is important to remember that there is no magical cure for your emotional or mental health problems, that is why Doctors haven't invented a pill that will do away with the problems. By the time most people get round to thinking about having therapy or counselling they would have probably already tried some sort of medication from the Doctor.

We don't say this to be pessimistic, but be prepared for therapy being hard work. At the end of the day the power to get better is mainly in your hands. Think of the therapist as a guide. If you have a stong enough desire to make it work, then you increase your chances considerably.

There are a lot of skilled therapists out there who are excellent, and have probably seen other people with similar problems to yours. But that is no guarantee that things will work.

One further point is probably useful to say, if you have reached a stage when you are prepared to visit a therapist then you have achieved a considerable step along the road to getting the problem sorted. It is not easy to face the fact that you have a problem, let alone face the fact of what other people will think. It depends on who your friends are, but most people who know anything about therapy won't think you are a loony or mad. The more other people know about it, the less people will feel scared about what it is, and what it means to be seeing a therapist.

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