- What is counselling?
Counselling is a voluntary help-seeking process involving conversations with a trained professional (called a counsellor or a psychologist). The person seeking help (called the client) can explore and discover ways of living more satisfyingly and resourcefully by overcoming the challenges and issues they are facing.As a client, you can learn to reach your goals through meaningful, well-informed choices and through resolution of problems. When everything seems to be going sideways – when you feel hopeless and lonely, when you are experiencing anxiety or negative thoughts, when you feel disconnected from the world or experience overwhelming emotions, a counsellor will hear you out in a non-judgmental manner and help you combat these issues. It’s not a lecture or an advice-giving process, but rather, a process requiring efforts from both sides. Counselling often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress.
2. Why should I go for counselling?
Everybody faces some challenges and obstacles where they might get stuck mentally, something which might be troublesome emotionally, or sometimes we just cannot get ourselves to look at the brighter side. At other times, we may need help defining and consequently, working towards our goals. Counselling can be a very helpful tool at times like these as it helps you to see the picture clearly and thus figure out the way ahead.We visit different doctors for bodily complaints. Similarly, a counsellor is a mind doctor who we can visit for all mind and health related concerns. (Except that counsellors do not give medicines.)
3. What’s the difference between a counsellor and a layman? Why can’t I just talk to my friends or family?
You can definitely talk to the people around you and ask them for help. They can be a good support system. Counselling encourages the same.
Due to the theoretical knowledge, skills and experience in the field, counsellors may have a more holistic and unbiased view of the person, their environment and their challenges. They offer a safe space for you to share your thoughts and feelings. In the process of this conversation, they help you understand your issues and thus, find your own solutions. They do not give advice. They patiently offer you time to talk about what you may like to discuss.
As we go to a doctor, we may choose to go to a counsellor for their expertise in their field of psychology, counselling and mental health.
4. What problems should I seek help for? Do I really need counselling?
Counselling is for anyone and everyone because the main objective is to achieve mutually agreed upon goals and improve the quality of life.
Some of the issues counselling at ThatMate focuses on are:
- Understanding the COVID-19 crisis and protecting self/ others
- Overcoming feelings of anxiousness and fear
- Managing difficulties caused due to the lockdown and its further extension
- Addressing feelings of loneliness caused by social distancing
- Tackling changes in behavioural/ emotional states
- Managing fights and arguments
- Learning techniques for managing screen time
- Regulating sleep and diet
- Setting realistic goals and timelines
- Making healthy schedules for self and family
- Building a happy and healthy lifestyle, mentally and physically
5. What would my counselling sessions consist of? What do I need to know/do before my first session?
The initial session will be about getting comfortable with the counsellor and building trust. Only when the client trusts the counsellor and has faith in him or her, can the conversations flow easily and effortlessly. Further, your problems and concerns will be understood and the areas that require help will be identified; suitable goals will be decided and thus the challenges will be worked upon.
You just need to fill in some details about yourself and provide ID proof. An online/telephonic appointment is given based on availability. You just have to be willing to share your issues so that our professionals can provide assistance more effectively.
6. Is my information safe with the counsellor?
Yes, absolutely. The counsellors take professional ethics very seriously. We understand that the information you share is very sensitive to you and hence it is not shared with anyone else other than your counsellor/ psychologist. They ensure confidentiality. You can freely discuss, your issues and challenges; they are safe and secure with your counsellor.
7. How do I choose a counsellor?
You may choose a counsellor based on the information provided about them on our website, or contact our team to know more about their background, session availability and session charges.
8. Is counselling really helpful?
Yes, counselling does help. Apart from the one-on-one conversations, difference evidence-based scientific interventions are used which the counsellor has been trained and supervised in. A client’s mental, emotional and social well-being may improve in the process of counselling and help them adjust better to their environments and other life challenges.
9. I have more questions. What do I do?
We understand that you may still have doubts and concerns. For further questions, you can contact the ThatMate team at 9370090217 and they will address them to the best of their ability, along with the support of our counsellors.