How Can A Behavioral Health Counselor Help Me And My Mental Health?
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Behavioral health can be as important as physical health, and studies have found a significant mind-body connection including the concept of marriage cognitive dissonance, which can affect both mental and physical well-being.
Behavioral health in psychology
For this reason, healthy behaviors like exercising, eating well, and keeping a routine can keep your body physically well.
A behavioral health counselor can help you
Although mental health stigmas can make it seem that counseling is only for the most severe symptoms, that’s not the case, and outlooks are changing. One report found that 41.7 million Americans saw a therapist in 2021. You can see a behavioral health counselor for any reason, and they can often act as a guide as you navigate your life.
What is a behavioral therapist or behavioral health counselor?
Behavioral disorder counselors are typically professionals who have undergone rigorous education and training to help support individuals with mental health issues. They often work in clinical settings and have licensing requirements set by the state and national board to ensure they offer quality health care. Their education typically includes understanding human behaviors, substance abuse, and other health issues that may affect a person's well-being.
Licensed mental health counselor
With a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology, these therapists can practice and provide support to those facing various challenges, like substance misuse or addiction. Through their practice and clinical experience, certified counselors with clinical experience are specially qualified to manage complex mental health concerns. As behavioral health counselors, their role is not only to guide but also to educate their clients through various tools and resources.
Whether you see a behavioral health counselor is up to you. However, understanding the basics of behavioral health counseling and the common benefits of therapy may help you make an informed decision on your healthcare.
What can a behavioral health counselor provide support through behavioral counseling and therapy?
From mental health challenges and medication management to substance abuse and more, there are various reasons individuals might reach out to a behavioral health counselor. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mental health counselors held 351,000 jobs in 202, and behavioral health counseling is on the rise.
Common motives for seeking behavioral health counseling from a mental health counselor:
Therapy for depressive symptoms
Almost 300 million people worldwide are diagnosed with a depressive disorder. For that reason, mental health counseling with a mental health professional often addresses common symptoms of depression. If you are experiencing depressive symptoms, with or without a diagnosis of depression, you may benefit from discussing these with a trained mental health counselor.
Although you can also reach out to a psychiatrist for medication management for symptoms of depression, many clients choose to meet with a psychiatrist and a therapist to ensure a complete analysis of their symptoms. In addition, having the support of a licensed professional may help you feel less alone in your mental health experiences.
Treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and panic attacks with a behavioral health counselor
Anxiety disorders can also benefit from behavioral counseling with a licensed professional counselor, and there are various types of therapy suited to treating them, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Anxiety disorders include but are not limited to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social anxiety disorder. Feelings of anxiety can be tough to cope with because they can take away an individual’s sense of safety. If you experience panic attacks associated with panic disorder, you might also experience distressing physical sensations.
Suppose you feel like your anxiety drives your behavior. In that case, a licensed mental health counselor or family therapist can help you develop a treatment plan and learn new coping mechanisms, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, or creative activities. Addressing anxiety symptoms before they affect your life negatively can also be beneficial. Sometimes, mental health counselors work to address social, professional, and educational challenges, too.
Some behavioral therapists also utilize worksheets and at-home practices to help those with anxiety understand their symptoms with outpatient mental health treatment. Targeting your behaviors can help you make actionable changes regardless of the type of therapy you try.
Addictions and substance use support from a mental health counselor
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
Many mental health counselors have training in substance use disorders and symptoms of addiction. Although dependency is chemical and can physically change your brain, it can come with behaviors that many clients want to change. Substance use counseling can also target repairing relationships, choosing rehabilitation, or staying sober.
Counseling may also help you understand the motives and mental health issues you may have behind your substance use. Understanding why you turn to certain habits can help you learn how to break them. Although substance misuse is not your fault, support is available, and behavioral counselors can help you develop a plan when you’re ready.
Substance use can also feel isolating for many. If you feel lonely or withdrawn from friends and family, talking to mental health professionals can help you feel heard and valued. If you hope to repair relationships, you can also talk to a substance use counselor or other mental health professionals with your family or partner through marriage and family therapy or couples therapy sessions.
Support from mental health professionals trained in psychology
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) also offers educational classes and support groups for individuals with mental health concerns or substance use disorders. Other popular substance use support groups and community health centers may also be available in your area.
Treatment for eating disorders
Eating disorders are common, and it is estimated that 50% to 75% of those with an eating disorder are also diagnosed with depression. Whether you’ve been diagnosed or not, if you’re struggling with body image, restrictive eating, binging, purging, or another food-related symptom, it may be beneficial to talk to a behavioral health counselor.
Regardless of the cause of your eating disorder or distressing symptoms, a behavioral health counselor can help you with behavioral techniques to change your relationship with food or your body. For example, they might lead you to a guided journaling prompt where you write to the voice in your head that you might hear when you partake in disordered eating behaviors. They can also help you challenge self-beliefs through positive affirmations and critical thinking.
Counseling options
There are various options for behavioral health counseling available. Many people may talk to their primary care physician to get a referral for mental health services. Others might search online for behavioral health counselors, who may have backgrounds in social work, including those who practice independently. However, you can also join an online platform that matches you to a professional based on your symptoms, preferences, and concerns.
Online counseling services allow you to seek out a counselor discreetly from the comfort of your own home, potentially including those with their own practices, instead of going to mental health centers. It can also be more affordable than the counselor’s in-person counseling fee, which often ranges from $100 to $200 a session. In contrast, online therapy may cost about $65 to $90 a session.
Effectiveness of online behavioral counseling
A recent study on internet mindfulness-based CBT found that online therapy reduced psychological distress in those experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety and improved the emotional control skills of those individuals. These impacts are similar to previous research on the effectiveness of in-person therapy, showing online treatment can be beneficial to clients.
If you’re interested in signing up for an online therapy platform, consider a website like BetterHelp, which offers therapists trained in various modalities. You can also find behavioral therapists or those who are experienced in other types of behavioral disorders or mental illness counseling.
Takeaway
What is the role of mental health counselors and mental health professionals in mental health?
Oftentimes, mental health counselors work with clients in focused, short-term periods to address specific problems such as grief, substance misuse, or excessive stress, and develop treatment plans that suit the clients’ needs.
Why do people seek counseling or treatment from a mental health counselor?
People may seek counseling services for many reasons. They may feel overwhelmed by stress due to dealing with life’s problems, mourning a loss, looking for help to overcome substance misuse, stressing about large workloads, seeking treatment for mental health concerns, dealing with crisis situations, overcoming relationship problems, and understanding their emotions.
They may also seek therapy to improve communication and coping skills and develop strategies for personal growth. These are just a few common reasons clients may seek patient care and guidance from a professional counselor.
Can a counseling psychologist diagnose?
Generally, a counseling psychologist is still a psychologist, so they are qualified to both diagnose and treat mental health disorders. A psychologist usually has a doctoral degree in the field of psychology, often with additional clinical experience and education acquired following a master’s degree program in a related field.
A psychologist typically works with those who are experiencing more severe mental health conditions, and their role often involves significant clinical work. A psychologist must also adhere to ethical standards and complete licensure requirements to obtain a state-issued license that permits them to diagnose mental health conditions.
What is the role of a licensed mental health counselor in behavior therapy or psychology?
Often, mental health counselors work with an individual in cognitive behavioral therapy in a structured and focused manner, guiding them through a limited number of sessions. They typically have the ability to teach clients strategies to identify inaccurate thoughts or beliefs, helping clients develop awareness of what is contributing to undesired behaviors or different types of mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.
What is the difference between counseling and therapy in terms of treatment?
Mental health counseling is a part of the wider field of therapy. Counseling is more goal-oriented, short-term, and focuses on specific challenges such as substance misuse or grief from a major life change. Therapy as a whole may encompass longer-term healing and growth, aim to develop strategies for seeking self-actualization, or treat mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
The term therapy or therapist is an umbrella term that can include mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists who offer therapy services to patients. To find a mental health professional that’s right for you, it can be helpful to determine what you need. If you are looking for medical advice, diagnosis, or medication management, a psychiatrist can help you. If you are seeking treatment for a severe mental health disorder, a psychologist is often more appropriate, as a psychiatrist doesn’t usually provide therapy. A licensed therapist or counselor may be a more affordable option if you want help with stress management, working through anxiety or depression, or understanding and managing emotions. Also, if you are a student and looking for support in exploring career paths for your future or facing social challenges, you may seek out career counselors or social workers.
How does counseling help individuals?
Counseling services may help patients in a number of ways. Counselors may offer tools and strategies to manage stress, improve communication skills, enhance coping skills, modify problem behaviors, overcome trauma, grief, and addictions, and resolve other problems related to mental health.
What is behavioral counseling based on?
Typically, behavioral counseling is based on the idea that to create lasting change in your life, it can be essential to shift patterns of problematic thoughts and beliefs to support healthier emotional well-being.
What is behavioral counseling theory?
This theory posits that an individual engages in problematic thinking and behavior when it is supported or reinforced by their environment, and until that environment is challenged and changed, these problematic patterns of thought and behavior will continue.
What can a mental health counselor do with cognitive behavioral therapy?
A mental health counselor typically begins with a high school diploma, earns a bachelor’s degree in psychology or in other fields, and then obtains a master’s degree in counseling. This education, along with training in related areas, qualifies them to work with clients on stress management or healing trauma. A mental health counselor may often use different approaches, like cognitive behavioral therapy, for example. This therapy helps clients recognize and change negative thought patterns, leading to healthier emotional regulation and behaviors.
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