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Mental health series: 1 | Finding a therapist

Looking after my mental health and learning how to cope has been a big part of my life after suffering with poor mental health issues during my teen hood. Because of this, it is a subject I am very passionate about and believe should be more openly discussed. I have previously made posts on the topic in the past and recently, I have been given the pleasure in teaming up with 'BetterHelp', an online counselling platform. I am going to begin a series discussing how to spot poor mental health, when it is time to get counselling and the various types of therapy on offer. Throughout this, it is important to remember that I am not a qualified therapist but I have had first hand experience in each of these stages.

                                                 Who are BetterHelp?

BetterHelp is the largest online counselling platform offering their service worldwide. They offer  convenient, discreet and affordable access to licensed therapists whilst providing their professional concealing via computers, tablets or smart phones making their sessions available anytime no matter where you are! They also promise to match each person with the right councillor within 24 hours - an upgrade from the general 1-2 months waiting lists you would generally be on if you were referred via the doctors. (Check them out! https://www.betterhelp.com) Why i support them

BetterHelp are a platform supporting and offering everything I believe in. I went through numerous councillors until I was matched with the right one and finding someone you connect with is extremely important in bettering your mental health. This platform offers you the chance to receive help at a quick speed and with over 2,500 councillors, you are bound to find someone you connect with. They also give you the option to remain anonymous. I can only wish that I had known about a platform like this and believe it would have had a positive impact in my journey through counselling which is why I want to make as many of my readers as possible aware of them. 

                                          Finding a therapist

Being ready to find a therapist shows that you recognise there are problems you may not be able to face on your own. It is easy to look at those who already have counselling as being weak but accepting you need help and support shows that you are already on your way to successfully bettering your self.

My experience in stepping forward and seeking help was challenging for me and my family. Whilst

my family have always been very supportive, they were hesitant in admitting that I had problems and that I was facing challenges that couldn't be faced without professional help. Through a change in personality in school, it was noticed by a teacher that I was not acting my normal self and after a discussion, supported me in contacting my GP. After going through the general steps in being put on the waiting list and being matched with a therapist, I was soon to figure that it wasn't simple steps from that part on. Unfortunately, I worked with numerous councillors but non i connected with so made the decision to sign off the company i was with and find a new method of help. This is where it is important to understand that some styles of therapy don't help everyone.

There are many types of therapists and finding the correct one for you is the most important part in getting help. Depending on the type of challenge you are facing often depends on the type of therapist you should find. At the time of my counselling, I was struggling with anxiety and depression triggered through a bad experience in school. I personally found that sitting at a desk talking about the challenges I was facing wasn't right for me, hence why it didn't work. If you are going through any type of counselling and it isn't working for you, it doesn't mean there isn't hope, it just means that maybe you need to try something new. 

For me, hope was found when I was given the opportunity to try music therapy. This meant attending a recording studio set up especially for young people with challenging backgrounds or personal struggles where worked with a young peoples mentor and rather than discussing my problems, expressed them through sound and lyric. This is the type of therapy that worked for me.

BetterHelp provide advice on the different types of counselling you can find depending on your situation and how to find it. Check out there page on finding a therapist near you! https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/how-do-i-find-a-therapist-near-me/