The proven benefits of counseling are well worth exploring, especially since life throws us curve balls from time to time. Relationship breakdowns, Social Security dependence, work-related stress, battles against substance abuse, and serious medical diagnoses are just some of the upsetting situations people may have to face. Counseling offers a way to navigate these difficulties in healthy ways so that you can keep moving forward.

As one of Tucson’s counseling service providers, we have seen countless benefits for individuals and families who go through counseling sessions. Are you unsure about signing up? Here are nine benefits to consider.

1. Enhanced Insight

Counseling sessions facilitate self-introspection. You learn more about yourself, including how actions and inactions contribute to your current mental state. Self-awareness is important, as it can hasten recovery from mental health challenges and other issues.

2. Conflict Resolution

Unsurprisingly, a trusted counselor can help you respectfully and positively resolve conflicts in your professional and personal relationships. Continuous feedback and discussion of this type may also significantly improve your interpersonal skills.

3. Space to Vent

In the counseling space, there is no room for judgment, ridicule, or shame. Counseling represents an invitation to share in a safe, non-judgmental environment. A good counselor will validate your emotions and help you feel more normal.

4. Assistance Against Self-Defeating Habits

Whether we knowingly or unknowingly develop bad habits, they contribute to our life problems without an objective counselor to bring them to light. People also become more aware of their negative emotions and thoughts during these sessions, the first step in avoiding self-defeat.

5. Improved Self-Esteem

Most people will experience self-esteem issues at some point, whether due to lacking skills,  abilities, or even appearance. One of the main benefits of counseling is that these discussions help individuals develop a stronger sense of self-compassion, self-confidence, and self-love.

6. Break Free From Harmful Vices

Are you struggling with mental health problems, anxiety, or daily stress? Counseling can help you reduce or, over time, completely avoid hiding behind drug use, alcohol, and other harmful pastimes when life gets tough.

7. More Effective Communication

When trying to face fears and anxieties, speaking to an expert can be invaluable. The counseling process can enhance your communication and social skills, providing tools to talk through problems and think more clearly about solutions. These sessions should also improve your questioning, listening, and understanding capabilities, making you a better communicator.

8. More Assured Decision Making 

Counseling can help you stay grounded when you have to make highly sensitive decisions. It can also help improve impulsive decision-making over time.

9. Better Stress Management

We all understand the huge impact of stress on physical and mental health. Managing stress levels effectively through counseling can give people a new lease on life.

Schedule That Counseling Session Today!

Counseling has a wide range of private and public benefits. You may even be doing yourself a disservice by shying away from a session due to common counseling myths or other reasons.

Don’t miss out on the many benefits of counseling programs—call In Balance Counseling at (520) 722-9631 today for sessions in Tucson, AZ, and the surrounding communities.

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed, nervous, apprehensive, or exhausted. Sometimes our work or home life can get stressful and make it hard to get through the day. However, some people struggle with a generalized anxiety disorder that makes them worried or fearful for no direct reason.

Severe anxiety disorders can even manifest in physical symptoms that can be unnerving if you don’t know what’s happening to you. This blog discusses the signs that you may need therapy for anxiety. At In Balance Counseling, we provide comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy for people with all types of anxiety disorders. 

If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder, contact our Tucson counseling service office to discuss your treatment options by calling (520) 722-9631.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The mental health community recognizes many forms of anxiety. Knowing someone with an anxiety problem with different symptoms than you does not make your problem any less real. Some of the most common types of anxiety disorders are:

• Social anxiety disorder: A fear, paranoia, or panic experienced when someone attends social functions or events with many people
• Separation anxiety: A condition that causes a child to panic or become fearful while their parents are absent
• Panic disorder: A condition that causes frequent panic attacks that include physical symptoms
• Agoraphobia: This condition makes sufferers uneasy in open spaces or crowds and can even render them unable to leave their homes
• Substance-induced anxiety: People with substance abuse problems, prescription medication side effects, or sensitivity to caffeine can experience anxiety attacks

Signs You May Need Therapy for Anxiety

Below are six signs that you should consider starting therapy for anxiety.

1. Lacking Emotional Control

It’s normal to feel sad when the anniversary of a loved one’s death comes around or you miss your family during the holidays. However, you may need therapy for anxiety if you find yourself getting unreasonably sad or angry without a clear cause.

2. Your Relationships Are Suffering

People with anxiety disorders can withdraw from friends and family or lean on them too much for support. It can put a strain on your friendships and romantic relationships.

3. You’re Always Overwhelmed

Life can get stressful, but if you constantly feel like you can’t keep up, there may be more to the issue.

4. Stress Is Affecting Your Physical Health

Chronic anxiety and stress can cause physical issues like:

• Chest pains
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Trembling
• Hyperventilating
• Light sensitivity

If stress causes any of these in you, it’s time to consider therapy.

5. Forming Bad Habits

Using sex, alcohol, or drugs to cope with emotional or mental issues is a temporary solution that will only exacerbate things.

6. Old Hobbies and Activities Have Lost Their Appeal

People with anxiety disorders often feel detached from the real world and no longer have the drive for things that once pleased them.

Call In Balance Counseling

If you think you need therapy for anxiety, In Balance Counseling is here to help. Consult our dedicated mental health professionals if you live in the Tuscon, AZ, area. Why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective? Learn more by calling us at 520-722-9631.

Unfortunately, many people neglect their mental health. They wait so long to get help that by the time they come for a counseling service in Tucson, it takes them a long time to parse through their mental health issues.

Don’t neglect your mental health. Let’s look at the eight signs you need therapy and should consider mental health treatment from In Balance Counseling.

1. You’re Consistently Overwhelmed

Being overwhelmed is the worst. As mental health conditions go, it’s challenging to overcome because it feels like you’re fighting a losing battle, negatively impacting your long-term health. However, you don’t have to go through it alone!

2. Your Anxiety Is Taking Over

Whether you’re overwhelmed or not, anxiety feels like you’re constantly drowning and can’t come up for air. It creates intrusive thoughts that undermine your confidence and cause you to worry about every little thing you do. Fortunately, behavioral therapy can help!

3. You’ve Stopped Caring About Things

One of the first signs of clinical depression is apathy. Research shows that therapy and routine counseling can help treat the symptoms of clinical depression. It is crucial to seek out help before the depression worsens.

4. You’re Eating Habits Have Changed

Overeating and undereating are both serious health concerns that can cause lasting damage to your mental and physical health. A change in eating habits could be symptomatic of a more significant mental health issue. Therapy is the best way to find the underlying cause.

5. Your Sleeping Habits Have Changed

Like food, sleep is vital for your health. Loss of sleep usually comes from stress, anxiety, or depression; however, excessive sleep is also a sign of depression.

One of the most prominent signs you need therapy is constantly sleeping late or refusing to get out of bed in the morning.

6. You Experienced Major Trauma

If you lost an influential family member or recently experienced another traumatic event, you need to find some way to express that discomfort. Bottling it up is the worst thing you can do for your health. Grieving is healthy as long as you do it the right way and in the company of others.

7. Your Social Life Has Dwindled

Self-isolation is a significant health concern for mental health professionals. People are naturally social, so isolating yourself is a cause for concern. Find someone with whom you can have healthy conversations, and consider scheduling a therapy session.

8. You’re Coping by Using Substances

Many people try to dull their feelings with alcohol or drugs. However, the pain never disappears, and the drugs or alcohol eventually stop working. 

If you’re going through something, don’t try to do it alone. It’s better for you to share your problems with another person because it makes them easier to bear. No matter what types of therapy you need, we are here to help you!

If any of these signs you need therapy apply to you, please call the mental health professionals of In Balance Counselling at (520) 722-9631. You can set an appointment to learn more about our intensive outpatient program and get the help you need.