Is therapy actually helpful?
I know that it may seem like I have to say “yes” because I am a counselor, but long before I became a counselor I saw the benefits of therapy. Like all people in this world, counselors have likely also experienced critical life events that can throw them off course, make them question things, and emphasize the need for change. Sometimes people just need to talk to an unbiased person in a safe space where they won’t be judged, sometimes people are looking for ways of coping with the events of their life, and sometimes people have difficulty understanding their emotions/thoughts and how to manage them. Counseling is that safe space where these things can occur. Counselors are trained to create a safe space for clients to explore and process their issues and are bound by a strict ethical code that outlines professional values for counselors:
“1. enhancing human development throughout the life span; 2. honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts; 3. promoting social justice; 4. safeguarding the integrity of the counselor–client relationship; and 5. practicing in a competent and ethical manner.
These professional values provide a conceptual basis for the ethical principles enumerated below. These principles are the foundation for ethical behavior and decision making. The fundamental principles of professional ethical behavior are
• autonomy, or fostering the right to control the direction of one’s life; • nonmaleficence, or avoiding actions that cause harm; • beneficence, or working for the good of the individual and society by promoting mental health and well-being; • justice, or treating individuals equitably and fostering fairness and equality; • fidelity, or honoring commitments and keeping promises, including fulfilling one’s responsibilities of trust in professional relationships; and • veracity, or dealing truthfully with individuals with whom counselors come into professional contact” (ACA Code of Ethics, 2014).
Having been on both sides of a counseling session, I can say with confidence that I believe counseling is helpful; however, the success of therapy depends on both the actions of the counselor as well as the client. A client could have the best counselor in the world, but if the client does not put into practice the skills learned in counseling or implement changes in their life, change will not occur; conversely, a client could be extremely motivated and ready to take action to change their life but encounter a counselor that is not a good fit for helping them make those changes. As a client you have the ability to choose the counselor that is best fit to help you and/or direct your counselor how best to help you. Entering a therapeutic relationship can be daunting, but it can also be an incredibly rewarding.
