Are you feeling more anxious than usual or can’t seem to keep your mind from going over and over things that didn’t work out? Maybe you have just been feeling low and can’t figure out why. No matter how hard you try to “get over it”, you’re finding it difficult to fulfill even your daily obligations. Relationship difficulties, life transitions, and the loss of a loved one can all be triggers to your mood taking a negative turn, but sometimes there’s no reason to explain why you feel depressed or worried.
Are the people in your life suggesting that you should talk to someone because your anger seems to be out of control? Are your loved ones expressing concern over your quick temper or lack of motivation? From your perspective, no one seems to understand what you’re going through; when you try to explain, they just don’t get it.
Your way of coping may be just trying to get through the day, avoiding spending time with friends or family, drinking or smoking marijuana, or sleeping just to escape for a while. Although things seem like a mess right now, counseling can help you sort out what could be influencing your mood, develop healthy coping skills, and provide you with support while you navigate through this difficult time.
Many people struggle with adjusting to life’s ups and downs.
Things were going just fine until everything changed. It’s normal to struggle with changes in life since you’re learning how to adjust to your new situation. It’s also normal to seek out help when things are not going well. This could mean leaning on friends and family, seeking advice, or reading self-help books.
Some people may try other strategies to escape their problems like substance use, shopping, or eating, but these things do not really help – they may even make things worse. Your loved ones are concerned that you’re not coping well and that is where we can help improve your mood.
Counseling can help find hope that things can be different
Counseling is a healthy way to take care of yourself. A trained counselor is here to not only support you and be your sounding board while you’re sorting things out, but also to work collaboratively with you to help identify your strengths and create a plan so that you can begin to move forward. Additionally, your counselor can provide unique tools to help you learn new skills specific to your situation in order to help you overcome the barriers currently in your way.
You might have additional concerns about counseling…
I’m afraid that talking about everything will make me feel worse.
Your counseling will go at a pace that is comfortable for you in order to best help you build coping skills, express your feelings, and gain confidence. Your experienced counselor will work hard at creating an atmosphere in which you feel safe discussing whatever is on your mind and will gently guide you toward insight and solutions. For those who feel they have gotten as far as they can with traditional counseling, EMDR might be an option for you. It can also be used to compliment therapy.
I worry that once I start, I’ll be convinced that I need to stay in counseling long-term.
Our objective is to help you get to a place where you don’t need us anymore. We’ll help you figure out what you want to get out of your counseling so that you can accomplish those goals with confidence.
Can I afford this?
Counseling is a healthy way to invest in yourself. You will learn lifelong coping skills and get to know yourself better so that you can anticipate potential challenges and be confident in your strength to overcome them. The great thing about counseling is that the work you do right now will improve your mood and relationships, both now and in the future, so you don’t have to keep coming in to manage those successes.
AACA counselors are experienced in the issues you face.
Our clients leave counseling with confidence in their ability to manage their emotions, relationships, and careers. We have helped them strengthen their family relationships, cope with difficult people, and manage their substance use. Our clients end their counseling experience feeling satisfied with their life and hopeful for the future.
Reasons why others have chosen counseling:
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
- Having anxiety that is getting in the way of work, school, or social life
- Difficulty managing substance use
- Individuals in unsatisfying relationships
- Individuals seeking healthy relationships
- Coping with the thoughts and feelings associated with grief or loss
- Finding balance with transitions or new life stages
- Managing the emotional stress of being a caregiver
- Managing the complex feelings of having a chronic illness
- Coping with the lingering effects that trauma has had on your life
- Managing life after a divorce
- Having mood swings or behaviors that have interfered with success at work, school, or in significant relationships
- Women’s Issues
- Coping with postpartum depression and bonding with a new baby
- Family Counseling
