This past week, I was asked by a friend, with tears in her eyes, "will counselling help me?" She was so desperate to be in a better place and she was longing for reassurance that there was hope for her on the horizon.
A lot of people have asked this question before and research has shown that counselling is helpful to the extent that the the person participates and engages in the work.
If you're willing to give it a try and engage in the process, you are likely to find counselling to be a helpful part of your journey.
It's also true that the most effective counselling happens when you have a good connection with your counsellor. Many studies show up to 70% of therapeutic impact is based on the therapeutic relationship you have.
If you feel like your counsellor cares for you, you're more likely to have positive change in the time you're meeting together. That's why a good fit is so important in counselling and knowing what you can expect in counselling from your counsellor.
But most of life takes place outside of the counselling room. If you really want things to change, it's important to take what you learn in counselling and apply it to your life outside of therapy.
Perhaps that means changing the boundaries you hold with friends, family or your time. Or taking time to stop and breathe before making decisions. The biggest changes in life happen when you apply what you learn.
So my answer is … If you're ready and you’ve found a counsellor you like, counselling will help.