Title: 
Therapy and Counseling:  Insanity Not Required

Word Count:
613

Summary:
Making that decision to seek help through counseling and therapy may be a welcome idea to some people, but others may feel embarrassed and unsure. It is important that people should learn about what therapy involves and what they can expect from it in order to pacify their apprehensions or eliminate whatever negative notions they have about such method or practice.


Keywords:
stress and anxiety, counseling, depressed, separation anxiety, mental health	


Article Body:
All of us go through some rough times in life.  Some people go through experiences that make them feel as if the entire world is closing in on them.  Family issues, troubles in school, and job-related problems can cause stress and anxiety which affect our physical, emotional and psychological well-being. When everything already feels so wrong and you become overwhelmed by troubles, you may already have one option left: find solutions to your problems through counseling and therapy.
However, making that decision to seek help through counseling and therapy may be a welcome idea to some people, but others may feel embarrassed and unsure about it. People might have some resistance when therapy is forced on them or was somebody else's idea. They may admit that they have a problem but would avoid getting an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist due to the stigma of being labeled “insane.”  or “crazy” --- terms usually associated with people who undergo counseling and therapy. 
It is important for people to learn about benefits of psycho-emotional therapy and how it is done. People should be educated about the methods on how to deal with their apprehensions or how to eliminate negative thoughts and emotions. 
Regardless of age, therapy can be effective for people who need emotional coaching and psychological treatment.  Therapy and counseling may be needed by a person who:
·	feels sad, depressed, worried, shy, or just stressed out; 
·	has a weight problem;
·	inflicts pain on self;
·	suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); 
·	is coping with a chronic illness (such as diabetes or asthma) or a new diagnosis of a serious problem such as HIV, cancer, or a sexually transmitted disease (STD); 
·	is dealing with separation anxiety, divorce, alcoholism or addiction; 
·	is trying to cope with a traumatic event, death of a loved one, or worry over world events;
·	is behaving in unusual manner such as nail biting, hair pulling, smoking, or spending too much money; 
·	is easily irritated or angered; and 
·	is under severe peer pressure. 
Therapy isn't just for maintaining one's  mental health. It can be applied as a healing aid to patients undergoing medical therapy, physical therapy or chemotherapy.  But the word "therapy" is often used to mean psychotherapy which is sometimes called "talk therapy."  This form of therapy allows people to learn new things about themselves and discover ways how to overcome difficulties, develop inner strengths or skills, or make changes in themselves or in their situations. It takes a lot of courage and maturity to find solutions to problems instead of ignoring or hiding them and allowing them to get worse. 
There are still those who resist the idea of therapy because they don't fully understand it or have outdated ideas about it.  Older generations hold the view that therapy was reserved for those with the most serious mental health problems.  Nowadays, therapy sessions are seen as an important part of a person's quest for personal change and fulfillment. 
It is your option to tell other people about your therapy. There are some people who find that talking to a few close friends about their therapy helps them to work out their problems and feel like they're not alone. On the other hand, other people choose not to tell anyone, especially if they feel that others won't understand.  Either way, it's a personal decision.
Therapy can make people feel better, be stronger, and make good choices as well as discover more about themselves. Working with therapists might help them learn about motivations that lead them to behave in certain ways or about inner strengths they have.  They may learn new coping skills, develop more patience, or learn to like themselves better.


