About Counselling and Psychotherapy

Both counseling and psychotherapy are what is known as "talk therapies." Counseling is defined as professional guidance in resolving personal conflicts and emotional problems. Psychotherapy on the other hand is defined as the treatment of psychological disorders or maladjustments by a professional technique, such as psychoanalysis, group therapy, or behavioral therapy. Both are powerful modalities to help a person handle the various difficulties they face. In summary, counseling deals more with emotional issues and psychotherapy more with psychological issues.

Today, the division between these two talk therapies has narrowed considerably and many of the techniques used in psychotherapy are applied to counseling and vice versa. Our emotions affect us mentally and psychologically. Similarly, when we are mentally and psychologically unbalanced, we become emotionally unstable.

At Asiahypnosis, we believe that we need to address emotional, mental, psychological and physical state in a more holistic manner in order to affect lasting beneficial changes within a person.

Almost everybody at one time or another in their life need some help with their mental health.

Knowledge and understanding of mental health have come a long way in the last 50 years. The current generation of older adults grew up at a time when therapies for mental health problems was not as available and accepted as it is today.

People were lead to believed they had to handle difficulties alone or only with the help of a close friend or family. Sometimes attitudes prevented people from seeking help. There was also the fear that seeing a counselor or a psychologist was a sign of personal, or moral failure, or weakness; losing his or her mind, or going crazy.

Today, counseling and psychotherapy are sought by people of all ages. These therapies helps one to handle a variety of difficult situations and personal concerns. Often just a few visits are all that is needed. Before deciding to seek help, it is advisable to seek a consultation to discuss the situation and decide with your mental health expert whether counseling or psychotherapy is necessary. It is difficult to know for certain whether these form of therapies are needed. Only a trained professional can diagnose and determine the need for treatment.

Therapies may be indicated if a person has major changes in behavior:

* Withdrawing or refusing to participate in normal, everyday activities
* Being too anxious or panicked to participate in activities
* Displaying sudden outbursts of anger without a good reason
* Hearing or seeing things that are not actually present
* Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
* Having constant feelings of sadness and disappointment
* Wishing to be dead or expressing suicidal ideas

Those who are facing major changes in life often benefit from our therapies. Some examples are:

• - A man who is diagnosed with an illness. He will need to learn to cope with the illness, make short- and long-term plans, and deal with family relationships.
• - A person who has been the victim of a crime. In one case, a woman was robbed and physically assaulted. She thought she was doing fine, but a few days later a friend came by to visit and saw a look of terror and panic on her face. The friend pointed this out and suggested she see her family doctor, who arranged for short-term counseling.
• - Couples facing major decisions. Financial or housing decisions, problems with family members or changes related to retirement might be reasons for a couple to see a counselor.
• - A person suffering from losses. This may include loss of property, loved ones, job, trust, modesty etc.
• - A person with obssessive compulsive disorder who spend hours washing their hands, or checking that they have locked the doors, or obssessed with a person or object, etc.