What Is Mental Health Counseling?

Life is full of frustration and difficult times. Most adults will usually have to deal with such things as balancing family and career life, and paying bills that they can’t afford. These stressful times can be very hard to get through and extremely overwhelming for some. Not coping with this type of stress in a healthy manner, however, can lead to mental and emotional strain.

person sitting alone at sunset

Mental health counseling can be used to pull some people out of their mental din. Professionals in this field offer counseling, support, and guidance to individuals that are having trouble coping mentally or emotionally.

There are a number of mental problems that mental health counselors might help people through, from dealing with everyday stress to those with diagnosable mental illnesses and disorders. For instance, counseling can help those experiencing hard times due to family, job, or social issues. They also can offer counseling to individuals experiencing:

  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
  • Grief
  • Phobias
  • Eating Disorders
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Addiction
  • Grief
  • Chronic Pain
  • Substance Abuse
  • Suicidal Impulses
  • Self-Esteem
  • Marital Distress

Mental disorders are sometimes considered to be the most common disability in the United States. In fact, research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that over a quarter of all adults suffers from a mental illness each year. More and more people are finally realizing the importance of not only their physical well being, but also their mental well being.