The Benefits of Individual Counseling for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma

There are many periods of time and specific situations where someone may realize that they would benefit from counseling. This includes when they are experiencing chronic anxiety and stress as well as when they’ve recently been in a traumatic situation or haven’t resolved a traumatic event from their past. Depression is, of course, another reason why someone may decide to seek counseling or psychotherapy services.

There are approximately 350 million people throughout the world that are suffering with some form of depression. While men do experience depressive episodes and severe depression, women are actually 70% more likely to have this experience. Depression is not uncommon among adolescents, either. By the time they become adults at 18 years of age, 11% of adolescents will be diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

When someone begins seeing a psychotherapist for depression, the treatment period tends to last approximately ten to 20 weeks. This does, of course, vary, and is dependent on their individual situation. While antidepressants aren’t always prescribed, they may be necessary in some instances. When prescribed, however, experts contend that it may take four to six weeks for this medication to take full effect. Under these circumstances, it’s important to follow the prescriber’s recommendations and continue working with a therapist.

Most clients develop more effective tools to work with their issues after seeing a psychotherapist, such as a marriage or family therapist. A recent study showed that this applied to 93% of the participating patients. In addition to having more effective tools, these individuals also claimed that their physical health had improved and they were better able to function at work.

While some individuals may seek treatment for their depression, others may postpone it for a variety of reasons. It’s not unusual for people of all ages to hope that feelings of depression will just go away. In some instances, depression can be circumstantial and short-lived, such as not receiving a promotion at work or discovering that a partner has been having an affair.

Some people may not seek help because they’re concerned about the costs associated with counseling. This may particularly be the case when they anticipate the need for long-term counseling. It’s important to note, however, that a licensed marriage and family therapist will usually charge less per session than either a psychologist or psychiatrist. A recent review of fee scales for each type of practitioner revealed that licensed marriage and family therapists will charge between 20% and 40% less than either a psychologist or psychiatrist.

When left untreated, anxiety, stress, and depression can have an obvious impact on an individual’s physical and mental health as well as their overall quality of life. Given this, it’s important for individuals suffering with these feelings to reach out for the help they need. Once they begin sharing their story with a compassionate counselor, they will be able to develop personal insight as well as learn valuable tools to work through their issues.