COMMON Q & A IN COUNSELING
"Awareness is the greatest agent for change.” - Eckhart Tolle
Today, we are answering four common questions clients ask in counseling. These are beginner-level questions. The therapeutic process is individualistic, evolving, and most beneficial when guided by a professional. Based on where you are in your life, your questions and answers may look similar or different.
Q1. "How do I get unstuck"?
A1. Getting "unstuck" requires immense self-reflection and increased insight into the nature of the problems you are attempting to resolve. It's also imperative to explore your goals and where issues exist in your life in relation to your goals. Remember that your comfort zone may often be dysfunctional, and knowing that and seeking ways to change it is a start. Even positive change is difficult because it causes imbalance for a brief period in your life before adjusting to your new normal.
"To attain true inner freedom, you must be able to objectively watch your problems instead of being lost in them." - Michael Singer
Q2. "How do I create boundaries and stick to them"?
A2. The most critical boundaries are the ones you set in your relationship with yourself. You are often concerned with others not respecting your boundaries, but are you respecting your boundaries? You cannot ask people to give you something you don't believe you are worthy of receiving. The first part of setting boundaries is self-love and self-trust, followed by boundaries setting in your relationships with others. Boundaries are difficult! You can work with a life coach or therapist to help you develop healthy boundaries with yourself and others.
Q3. "What changes do I need to make"?
A3. The changes you need to create vary based on your individualistic goals. If you develop increased awareness about what is causing your dissatisfaction, you are more likely to change it. Examine these areas of your life and see where you are currently functioning and where you may want to be 3-6 months down the road:
Mind (thoughts and beliefs about self and the world)
Body (health and fitness)
Spirituality
Relationships
Family
Social
Career Goals
Finances
Q4. "How long will it take before I can be happy"?
A4. That depends on you and the amount of work you are willing to put into it. I often tell clients that dysfunctional behaviors that have been around for decades will take a significant amount of time, dedicated energy, awareness, and daily striving to change. Additionally, examine how you measure happiness and create realistic and achievable goals. They say happiness is fleeting. If you can feel joy or feelings of being content, these may be a more realistic measure of your wellbeing. Small incremental changes lead to satisfaction in different areas of your life, and what you practice daily grows. Create a daily practice that helps you get closer to your goals, whether that is eating healthy, working out, engaging in healthy relationships, meditation, yoga, etc. When practiced daily, these activities increase dopamine in your brain.
We hope that you learned something to help you along your journey in life
Take action and reach out to PHWB for mental health counseling to help you thrive!
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