How to Get Individual Counseling Following a Divorce
Many individuals decide to see counseling after a divorce in order to help them cope with the emotional effects of going through such a life-altering event. There are a few things that should be kept in mind when considering the benefits of counseling in such a circumstance to ensure the best care is received.
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Instructions
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Take the first step. No matter what end you are coming from, divorce is never an easy thing to deal with. Many people seek counseling to help them deal with a divorce. Some signs that you may need counseling are: initial sadness has evolved into depression and does not seem to be improving as time passes, your feelings of sadness prohibit you from functioning normally on a daily basis, your children appear to be suffering, you are not moving through the normal stages of divorce recovery, you have feeling of suicide or thoughts of harming your ex-spouse or someone else.
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Decide in which type of counseling you wish to participate. Some couples participate in counseling to help them decide if they should get divorced, this type of counseling is called counseling for closure. Others choose couples counseling to work through issues surrounding an impending divorce or individual counseling to deal with personal thoughts and feelings surrounding their divorce. Decide what type of counseling best fits your needs and look for a counselor or therapist that specializes in that type of therapy.
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Find a good counselor. Once the decision to seek counseling has been made, seek recommendations regarding a good therapist or counselor. Ministers may act as counselors or have the ability to provide you with recommendations to a therapist outside the religious–based community. Friends and relatives may be able to recommend a counselor based on personal experience. Insurance companies that supply mental health benefits may also have a list of qualified therapists that meet your needs.
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Learn about the process your about to partake in. Before going to your initial appointment, learn about what results should and should not be expected from counseling. A counselor should not be confused with a friend. Counseling offers one a safe place to discuss your feelings, identify sources of depression or anxiety and suggests behavior modifications to alleviate these feelings. A counselor will not tell you how to “fix” your situation.
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Commit to the process. You will not feel better over night. Healing after a divorce is an ongoing journey, with both ups and downs. Many counselors prefer (and some require) individuals to commit to a specified number of sessions before beginning counseling in in order to ensure that counseling is not prematurely cut off before any real healing takes place. Trust your counselor and the plan designed for you enough to follow through with it.
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