One thing I find very interesting is how often I have people tell me that it was hard to schedule appointment due to the negative perception attached to getting counseling. It certainly is difficult to ask for help when needed in a culture where we are impressed with the notion from a young age that we must be fiercely independent and not rely on others (coincidently, a view point not shared by much of the rest of the world). The inherent difficulty is that many continue through their life carrying great pain which impedes ability to function and accomplish goals.
It is rather curious that there is a stigma around having a mental health issue despite the fact that a fairly sizable portion of the population deals with these types of problems. According to the mental health findings from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 41.5 million Americans (19.9%) were reported to have had mental illness in the last year. Though there may be difficulties with accessing services and other reasons people don’t get help, it is clear the views around getting help impede this as well. Only about 20 percent of those people who suffered from mental health problems sought services for their issue.
It is important to consider that most people come to counseling thinking that they are suffering alone, and that no one will understand their desire to get help, let alone what they are really going through. That being said, I like to put a spin on the statistics above to say that rather than seeing yourself in the minority by coming to counseling, your decision is shared in kind with millions of others. In Wellness- David