Alternatives to Therapy or Counselling
Except in the case of court-mandated counselling or therapy, you almost always have a choice. It’s important to remember that once you’ve begun working with a counsellor or therapist, you should be there because you want to be there.
Almost always, you have a choice: there are alternatives to seeking counselling or therapy. You might speak with your family physician or speak with a friend or family member, seek assistance with your nutrition or your exercise regimen, participate in a self-help group, undertake simple changes to your daily routine designed to reduce stress or increase relaxation, seek spiritual or pastoral support — or you might even do nothing at all.
This directory exists to help you become informed about your options, not to direct you along any particular course of action. Whatever you choose to do, the main point is that it remains your choice — and research on counselling and therapy effectiveness suggests that if you do decide to try working with a counsellor or therapist, you’re likely to get a great deal more out of it if you really do want to be there than if you’re simply doing it because that’s what you think you’re supposed to do.
The NHS UK site offers another good starting place for assessing your options, and if you do decide you would like to try counselling, but you’d rather not do it in person, our sister site has information on online counselling or therapy services.
This article was originally published by Site Editor on .
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