4 Simple Steps to More Joy in Life

Feeling like you are "stuck in a rut?" Wanting to find more zest, enthusiasm, or passion in your life? Wondering how to even begin the search for more joy? Start here!

How Much Fear Is too Much; How Much Is too Little?

Fear can keep us safe; but fear can also keep us too safe. Too little fear may cause too much loss. So what's the difference? How can we tell if we have too much fear or too little?

Practical Exercises for Living with Fewer Regrets

Try a few of these 5 quick and easy exercises to help you identify what matters most in life so you can maximize the time and energy you spend on what's truly important (some of your results may ...

At Work: Handling Political or World-View Conflict

Strong differences in political, ethical, world-view and religious opinions can lead to workplace conflict. What can you do when opinion conflicts cause you problems at work?

Actually, Healing without Forgiving Is Possible

Reconsidering forgiveness. Do you have to forgive to move beyond the past? Forgiveness can liberate, but many people find healing and happiness without it - and in some cases, harboring a little past ...

23 Questions to Ask a Potential Therapist
© Always Curious

Find the right therapist! Here are 23 interview questions to ask to get to know a potential therapist.

Addictive Personality? It's Human Being, Not Doing
© Alex Proimos

While "addictive personality" is not an actual diagnosis it does seem that many people who do not abuse substances still show aspects of addictive behavior.

How to Feel More Thankful
© Loving Earth

What do you do when you just can't seem to feel as thankful as you'd like to? Well, firstly, don't be too hard on yourself (thinking changes aren't easy) and secondly, try a few easy ...

Identity: Do You Need a Therapist 'Like' You?
© Eyesplash

Are there any advantages to finding a therapist from your own cultural or sub-cultural group? If your therapist isn't 'like' you (for example, in recovery) how can you be sure he or she understands ...

The Work/Life Balance Myth - Consider and Prioritize!
© PublicDomainPictures

Everybody talks about achieving "work/life balance" as if it were an attainable goal (usually, it's not). But if we understand the trade-offs we make - and prioritize our wants and the needs, we can ...

Finding Spirituality - How to Get Started
© Jiuck

Believing in something greater than yourself can bring meaning to your life and help you feel connected to the world around you. Learn how to open yourself up to your spiritual side and find what you ...

Counseling: How to Find Love
© Camdiluv

High school and college provide instant social populations and ample dating opportunities most of the time. But what about after college? If a college graduate has only his new job, while his peer ...

Coping with Job Loss and Career Change
© Silvia Sala

Along with the grief of job loss, and the stress of starting a new career, later-in-life transitions can carry more potential complications than for those just starting out. Home, family and ...

Anxious or Depressed? Get a Medical Checkup
© Alex E. Proimos

Both physical and mental health problems can cause symptoms like: feeling tired, not wanting to get out of bed, not enough energy to go do “fun” things, sadness, feeling “hyped-up,” unable ...

Learning to Manage and Overcome Fears
© Notsogoodphotography

How a person chooses to deal with fear determines a great deal of what's possible in their lives. Make a choice to stop running from fear!

Meds for Moderate Mental Heath Problems?
© Sudden Fiction

Aren't I "weak" if I use medications? Does using medications mean I am crazy? What if I don't think I'm doing that badly? The appropriate use of psychotropic medications, with counseling, and under ...

Pastoral Counseling for Serious Mental Illnesses?
© White Ribbons

Bipolar or schizophrenia...is a pastoral counselor really a valid option? Yes! Pastoral counselors are trained mental health professionals that ALSO have training in interjecting spirituality into ...

Couples Counseling - Going Solo?
© Shandi-Lee

Is it worth the time and effort to go see a counselor for relationship issues - even without the other part of the relationship in attendance? Learn what you can do when your relationship is in ...

Is My Mid-Life Crisis Normal?
© Fatboyke

Is a mid-life crisis cliche? When is a mid-life crisis normal? Can counseling help? Here are a few thoughts about what a mid-life crisis means and when to seek help.

5 Signs That You Need Couples Counseling
© Josh Kenzer

When might a couple benefit from couples counseling? Anytime! But if that's too vague, here are some indicators that a couple might use to gauge their potential need for couples counseling.

Breaking Bad Habits, Like Smoking
© Tc Morgan

Learn more about what maintains your bad habits, how to prepare for change and how to cope with changes to your life-routines.

Couples Counseling - Differing Intimacy Needs
© B Tal

What do we do when our needs for intimacy are different? One person needs more cuddling. The other wants more sex. One person wants more talking time. The other wants more kisses.

The Best Expert Answers of 2012

ChooseHelp experts answered more than 700 addiction and mental health questions in 2012. After much struggle and deliberation we've picked the very best 20 or so from this impressive collection of ...

How Art Therapy Helps You Feel Better
© Mark Chadwick

How can you get better when you can’t say or don’t know what’s wrong? Well, with art therapy, you release subconscious thoughts and emotions into artistic creations that tell a trained ...

10 Ways to Change Your Thinking and Be Happier
© Thomas Hawk

Do you ever feel angry when people don’t act as they should? Do you ever get hung up worrying about the worst case scenario? Do you forget to value your positive qualities as you obsess over your ...

Understanding Existential Therapy
© Helena Erikson

Can a therapy rooted in existential philosophy really help you to overcome feelings of anxiety, depression or even substance abuse? Can eyeballing your mortality and the meaninglessness of human ...

Music Therapy – Healing with Hip-Hop?
© Michael D. Dunn

Even if you’re tone deaf and rhythm challenged, music therapy may be what you’re looking for. Music therapy uses music as a language of communication and expression, as something to get your ...

Marriage: Surviving Infidelity
© Namboo

Although infidelity can end a marriage, it doesn’t have to. Read what the experts recommend you do after learning of an affair and, if you decide to reconcile, learn what steps you can take to ...

What Is Pastoral Counseling?
© Jakebouma

For many of us, separating faith from a search for answers to the problems of life makes little sense at all. Pastoral counselors are mental health professionals that heal with conventional ...

How to Get the Most out of Therapy
© fe

5 easy tips for getting the most out of your therapy experience.

How to Select a Therapist
© PhotoJonny

5 things to think about when trying to find an effective counselor - and a to-do list for selecting someone that’s really going to be able to help!

Grief Therapy
© Movimente

Grief is a normal and healthy process during which we work through the emotional pain of loss. Between 10% and 20% of those in bereavement, however, will get ‘stuck’ in this process – never ...

Inside (37 articles)

Fear can keep us safe; but fear can also keep us too safe. Too little fear may cause too much loss. So what's the difference? How can we tell if we have too much fear or too little?

Try a few of these 5 quick and easy exercises to help you identify what matters most in life so you can maximize the time and energy you spend on what's truly important (some of your results may surprise you.)

Strong differences in political, ethical, world-view and religious opinions can lead to workplace conflict. What can you do when opinion conflicts cause you problems at work?

Reconsidering forgiveness. Do you have to forgive to move beyond the past? Forgiveness can liberate, but many people find healing and happiness without it - and in some cases, harboring a little past anger may be protective.

How to Interview a Potential Therapist. Twenty Three Questions to Ask © Always Curious

Find the right therapist! Here are 23 interview questions to ask to get to know a potential therapist.

Do You Have an Addictive Personality? How to Tame Your Drives © Alex Proimos

While "addictive personality" is not an actual diagnosis it does seem that many people who do not abuse substances still show aspects of addictive behavior.

Thankfulness Doesn't Come Easily - So Cultivate Gratitude © Loving Earth

What do you do when you just can't seem to feel as thankful as you'd like to? Well, firstly, don't be too hard on yourself (thinking changes aren't easy) and secondly, try a few easy gratitude-boosting attitude changes.

Cultural Considerations in Choosing a Therapist © Eyesplash

Are there any advantages to finding a therapist from your own cultural or sub-cultural group? If your therapist isn't 'like' you (for example, in recovery) how can you be sure he or she understands and can help you? Here's advice on finding a good therapist, whether from your shared group or beyond.

Everything's a Trade-Off, So Prioritize to Find Life Satisfaction © PublicDomainPictures

Everybody talks about achieving "work/life balance" as if it were an attainable goal (usually, it's not). But if we understand the trade-offs we make - and prioritize our wants and the needs, we can stop blaming ourselves and actually find our own satisfaction and happiness.

Discovering Your Spiritual Side - A How-to Guide © Jiuck

Believing in something greater than yourself can bring meaning to your life and help you feel connected to the world around you. Learn how to open yourself up to your spiritual side and find what you believe in.

A How-to Guide to Finding Love Later in Life © Camdiluv

High school and college provide instant social populations and ample dating opportunities most of the time. But what about after college? If a college graduate has only his new job, while his peer group has also moved on, where does he look for friendship, for dating and romance?

Coping with Job Loss and Sudden Career Change Later in life © Silvia Sala

Along with the grief of job loss, and the stress of starting a new career, later-in-life transitions can carry more potential complications than for those just starting out. Home, family and community responsibilities coupled with the new logistics and emotions of a new job can add up to a lot of stress.

Diagnosing Mental Health Problems - Why You Need to Start with a Medical Checkup © Alex E. Proimos

Both physical and mental health problems can cause symptoms like: feeling tired, not wanting to get out of bed, not enough energy to go do “fun” things, sadness, feeling “hyped-up,” unable to calm down, worrying about everything all at once, too much energy to settle down, not being able to sleep, constant arguing, constant fussing, constant irritability...

Should You Consider Psychotropic Medications? © Sudden Fiction

Aren't I "weak" if I use medications? Does using medications mean I am crazy? What if I don't think I'm doing that badly? The appropriate use of psychotropic medications, with counseling, and under proper physician supervision can be a potentially useful way to get mentally healthier!

Getting Pastoral Counseling for Serious Mental Illnesses © White Ribbons

Bipolar or schizophrenia...is a pastoral counselor really a valid option? Yes! Pastoral counselors are trained mental health professionals that ALSO have training in interjecting spirituality into the therapeutic process.

The Real-Life Mid-Life Crisis - Why It Happens, When to Seek Help © Fatboyke

Is a mid-life crisis cliche? When is a mid-life crisis normal? Can counseling help? Here are a few thoughts about what a mid-life crisis means and when to seek help.

When to Seek Couples Counseling - 5 Signs to Watch For © Josh Kenzer

When might a couple benefit from couples counseling? Anytime! But if that's too vague, here are some indicators that a couple might use to gauge their potential need for couples counseling.

How to Break a Bad Habit, Like Cigarette Smoking © Tc Morgan

Learn more about what maintains your bad habits, how to prepare for change and how to cope with changes to your life-routines.

ChooseHelp experts answered more than 700 addiction and mental health questions in 2012. After much struggle and deliberation we've picked the very best 20 or so from this impressive collection of knowledge and compassion.

Creating Balance and Life Satisfaction: A 23 Question Diagnostic Tool to Identify What’s Missing from Your Life © Jesse.Millan

You don’t get addiction treatment to create a life without drugs or alcohol - you get it to create a BETTER life without drugs or alcohol. Finding moderation and balance in life helps to protect you from relapse and ultimately, to be happier and more fulfilled. Take this quick self test to find out what areas you need to work on.

Understand Art Therapy: Healing Through Creative Expression… Could Art Heal You? © Mark Chadwick

How can you get better when you can’t say or don’t know what’s wrong? Well, with art therapy, you release subconscious thoughts and emotions into artistic creations that tell a trained therapist what’s really going on…and once you know the problem, you can get to work on the solution.

Change Your Thinking and Feel Better: Learn to Identify These 10 Very Common Cognitive Distortions © Thomas Hawk

Do you ever feel angry when people don’t act as they should? Do you ever get hung up worrying about the worst case scenario? Do you forget to value your positive qualities as you obsess over your less favorable attributes? If you answered yes to any of the above, then cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) might be just what you need.

Existential Therapy: Self Examination and Change for a Meaningful Life © Helena Erikson

Can a therapy rooted in existential philosophy really help you to overcome feelings of anxiety, depression or even substance abuse? Can eyeballing your mortality and the meaninglessness of human existence really lead to peace and well being!? Read on to learn more about existential therapy and find out if the self examined and deliberate life is the life you’ve been looking for.

Music Therapy – Healing through the Primal Emotional Language of Music © Michael D. Dunn

Even if you’re tone deaf and rhythm challenged, music therapy may be what you’re looking for. Music therapy uses music as a language of communication and expression, as something to get your muscles moving or as a tonic to deep stress or anxiety, or even physical pain – and it’s been found helpful by those with conditions as diverse as substance abuse, Alzheimer’s, developmental delays and many others. Learn more about how music therapy heals and find out if it might be just what you’re looking for.

After Infidelity – Can Marriage Counseling Help? © Namboo

Although infidelity can end a marriage, it doesn’t have to. Read what the experts recommend you do after learning of an affair and, if you decide to reconcile, learn what steps you can take to rebuild your marriage after such a betrayal of trust.

Life Coaching - Can a Life Coach Help You? © Hop Frog

Feeling ‘stuck’ in life or dissatisfied at work or with personal relationships? Wanting to make a change but not sure about how to change – or even what to strive for? Find out more about life coaching and learn if a life helper might be what you need to get yourself moving in the right direction again. Learn also about the limitations of coaching and get tips on how to find an effective coach.

Pastoral Counseling © Jakebouma

For many of us, separating faith from a search for answers to the problems of life makes little sense at all. Pastoral counselors are mental health professionals that heal with conventional therapies, but also through an understanding of spiritual needs and wants.

Couples Counseling © Batega

Although most people only consider getting marriage or couples counseling in the face of very difficult relationship problems (which is a good time to consider couples counseling!) couples counselors can also help people even in satisfying relationships get more enjoyment out of their union.

How to Benefit from Therapy © fe

5 easy tips for getting the most out of your therapy experience.

How to Choose a Counselor (Therapist) © PhotoJonny

5 things to think about when trying to find an effective counselor - and a to-do list for selecting someone that’s really going to be able to help!

The Difference between Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis © One From RM

A brief explanation of the differences between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

When to Get Counseling © Eliot.

Could counseling help you live a happier life? Counseling and psychotherapy are not only for those experiencing mental illness, they are appropriate for people experiencing a variety of normal challenges who want to live more fulfilling lives. Here are 20 common reasons why people might see a counselor to get some assistance.

The Different Types of Counselors – Which Kind of Counselor Do You Need? © Joe Houghton

An overview of the different types of professionals that commonly offer therapy and counseling services.

Motivational Interviewing © irina Souiki

Your family, friends and employer may all be screaming at you to change your ways – but until you develop a motivation for change that comes from within – lasting recovery is pretty unlikely. Motivational Interviewing is a proven effective form of counseling that helps you to overcome feelings of ambivalence and decide on and commit to a course of action.

Group Therapy - Info Sheet © Marco40134

None of us goes through life in isolation – and the problems we face in life are rarely as unique as we believe them to be! Group therapy is a very effective form of counseling that harnesses the power and authority of a group of people facing similar challenges for support and learning and toward behavior change.

Grief Counseling © Movimente

Grief is a normal and healthy process during which we work through the emotional pain of loss. Between 10% and 20% of those in bereavement, however, will get ‘stuck’ in this process – never making any real progress towards healing, suffering a condition known as complicated grief. People enduring complicated can benefit greatly from grief counseling.

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Overview
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: By changing the way you think, you change the way you feel, and when you change the way you feel – you change the way you behave. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a counseling technique that’s supported by a mountain of research, and it can get you feeling better fast.
  • Pastoral Counselors: Often members of the clergy, pastoral counselors are amongst the most educated of therapists, typically boasting an undergraduate or seminary degree in theology and graduate training in a counseling related discipline. Pastoral counselors combine secular science with spiritual awareness.
  • Finding a Counselor: Studies show that the people who get the most out of therapy are those that feel safe and comfortable during counseling, agree with the type of therapy being offered and feel liked by their counselor.
Counseling

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