A string of recent conversations has had me engage in many questions about counselling as well share what I enjoy about my work as a counsellor. While random and unrelated, these discussions illustrated that counselling is a bit of a mystery for many. It’s a word that seems to carry many connotations, some of which keep us from asking for the help we may need. Just consider this: what comes to mind when you think of “therapy?” Or even a “therapist?” I often ask this when introducing someone to the counselling process to get a sense of what they might be expecting. The responses I get are often negative, perhaps based on experience, uncertainty or even movies that insist on illustrating black leather couches and a suit holding a clipboard.

So how does one break through narrow ideas of counselling and share of why it might in fact be helpful? In a pursuit of an articulate, professional explanation, I got lost in articles, research and big words that seemed to bury the simple and valuable truth I was after: life is messy ! Let’s just say it as it is. Perhaps not academic or even professional sounding, yet this really does describe the reality of what brings us to counselling. Life is messy and unpredictable and at times, straight up hard. It is also amazingly beautiful, and yet what brings people to consider counselling is rarely, if ever, an experience of joy, success, and gratitude. We don’t find ourselves cruising counsellors on Google to excitedly share of the job promotion we just received, or of how great our family is getting along. While these moments no doubt exist, it is the stories of loss, hardship, crisis, question, hurt and everyday struggles that bring people to pick up a phone and sit in the company of a stranger. The support of someone outside of your day-to-day life can indeed:

• Help you make sense of what is happening
  
• Ask questions others may not
  
• Provide a safe space to be vulnerable
  
• Help develop new skills and understanding
  
• Help problem solve and
  
• Improve wellbeing and relationships
  

We might not always initially know what we hope to gain from counselling, but time and time again, I’ve seen and heard the following experienced by those who step out and engage in the process:

resilience growth awareness compassion understanding forgiveness change courage strength validation skill relationship acceptance calmness empowerment freedom confidence direction

Counselling, while by no means a “fix it”, can be a valuable means of experiencing life in a different kind of way. Life may still be messy, but these things may allow us to journey on with our head high and heart open to all it may entail.

Travelling with you,

Laurie