Is There a Difference Between Counseling or Therapy?

Counseling zeros in on real world, everyday problems which include such concerns as "I'm facing foreclosure. What should I do?" "My son is hanging out with the wrong crowd. What should I do?" "My boss is too demanding. What should I do?" "I think my husband is having an affair. What should I do?

Therapy is another option. It has the goal of helping you to develop competencies to deal with the world in which you live. It is not about telling you how to live. But, it will offer options to you that extend beyond your worldview and will result in a disruption of your usual, rigid, thinking patterns. 

These patterns are those which have created the stress you are experiencing and have limited your spontaneity and creativity.

The types of questions therapy tend to deal with are associated with thoughts, moods, and actions. When you have such concerns as: You feel as if you can't go it alone. You feel boxed in and as if there is nowhere else to turn. You are constantly worrying and never seem to find a solution. 
Moreover, it is affecting your sleep, eating, employment, and relationships. And, you have tried to change, but you are just not experiencing any improvement.

Effective therapy will engage you in an active educational process. It will go far beyond conversational therapy and actively guide, coach, model, and teach you how to solve problems, feel better, relate better, and achieve goals. Problems are solved when you make a determined effort to solve them. 

If you continue to feel, act, and think in a certain way, chances are you are choosing that way when you could actually find out how to change and, with help, make the special effort to change. 

I hope that this clarifies what I believe is a real distinction that has to be made. Let me know what you think. Need immediate help? Call (773) 614-3201. 

Leave your comments below.

Need a Therapist? Here are 6 Attributes to Look for

Clients are often referred to therapists by their employers' health service provider, their physician, their pediatrician, their lawyer, or other professionals with whom they may have a professional relationship.

However, it is important that the therapist has specific attributes that would allow for a productive professional relationship--a relationship that would be beneficial to you in your efforts to find solutions.

Also be prepared to talk with several therapists if necessary before choosing a therapist.

Here are some attributes that I think therapists should have:

1. Expertise in a given area and enough honesty to say when that expertise doesn't exist. Examples of mental health expertise can include such areas as depression, anxiety, manic-depressive, marital problems, and parent-child relationships.

2. Good listening and questioning attributes are important. Focused questions and careful listening is important to acquire an adequate understanding of your presenting problem. If the therapist draws conclusions too quickly, he or she may miss some key elements of your problem that must be addressed properly if the therapy is to be effective.

3. Working knowledge of multiple theoretical approaches and the ability to use these approaches when necessary. Some therapists makes the mistake of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

A behaviorist therapist may try to apply this theoretical orientation to every problem or a cognitive therapist may try to apply this theoretical orientation to every problem. This would be a disservice.

4. A theoretical approach or approaches that are culturally neutral - that is, can be applied cross-culturally. Such an approach must recognize that all human being beings have certain basic needs and have relationships of one type or another and problems often arise from pursuing unproductive ways of addressing these needs and having unhealthy relationships.


5. Freedom from pre-conceived notions and prejudices with regards to race, sex, or occupation.

6. And, the attitude that everyone has the capacity to change, but sometimes just need help by choosing the right therapist.In choosing a therapist look for these attributes. You will be more likely to find one that you can relate to and can provide you with the help you need.


Do you know any other attributes that you think a therapist should have?  Leave your comments below.

Who’s at Risk for Stroke?

My mother had a stroke in the early 80s but miraculously recovered after being in a coma for 10 days. I use the term miraculously because the doctors said that she likely would not recover and that we should get prepared for her death.
However, my brother and I prayed everyday for her recovery and she recovered. Not only  did she recover, but she didn't show any after affects of having a stroke and lived for about 10 more years before dying of natural causes. I was very fortunate to get her to the emergency room in time.

Frequency of Strokes in the U.S.
Of the approximately 795,000 strokes that occur in the United States each year, about 610,000 are first strokes, and 185,000 are recurrent attacks.

Although the incidence of strokes has declined significantly since the 1960s, the strokes that do happen are just as severe. In fact, strokes  are a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

Risks of Having a Stroke
The odds of having a stroke more than double every 10 years after age 55. More than two-thirds of strokes involve people over 65. If you have a stroke, the risk of dying from it also increases with age. 88% of deaths from strokes are in people 65 and older.

Women have about 55,000 more strokes than men each year, and women make up about 60% of stroke deaths. Race is another risk factor. African Americans, for example, are almost twice as likely to suffer a stroke as are whites.

Warning Signs of Having a Stroke
Everyone should learn the following warning signs of stroke. If you experience any of these symptoms, immediately dial 911 or go to an emergency room:

• weakness in an arm, hand, or leg
• numbness on one side of the body
• sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• sudden difficulty speaking
• inability to understand what someone is saying
• dizziness or loss of balance
• sudden, lasting, excruciating headache.

Do you have any thoughts on this subject. Leave your comments below.