Mental health counseling is a professional service that helps people understand and manage emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, stress, and life challenges. A counselor provides support, guidance, and evidence-based strategies to help clients improve their well-being.

Counseling may help if you are experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, stress, relationship problems, grief, trauma, low self-esteem, difficulty coping, major life changes, or simply feel stuck and want support.

Counseling can support people dealing with issues such as:

• Anxiety and panic
• Depression
• Stress and burnout
• Grief and loss
• Trauma and PTSD symptoms
• Relationship difficulties
• Family challenges
• Life transitions
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Anger management
• Coping skills and emotional regulation

No. Many people seek counseling for personal growth, stress management, improving relationships, navigating change, or gaining a better understanding of themselves.

The first session usually focuses on getting to know you, discussing what brings you to counseling, reviewing your goals, explaining confidentiality, and creating a plan for future sessions.

The length of counseling depends on your goals, needs and circumstances. Some people benefit from a few sessions, while others choose longer-term support.

Many clients meet weekly, especially at the beginning. Your counseling will work with you to determine a schedule that fits your needs.

Counselors may use approaches such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Faith Integration
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Gottman Method
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Solution-focused therapy
• Mindfulness-based approaches
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Person-centered therapy
• Parts work therapy
• Play therapy/art therapy with children

The approach depends on your needs and preferences.

What should I talk about in counseling?

Counselors typically do not simply tell you what to do. Instead, they help you explore options, develop insight, learn skills, and make decisions that align with your goals.

Yes. Mental health counselors are required to protect your privacy, with limited exceptions by law, such as concerns about serios harm to yourself or others or situations involving abuse or neglect.

Counseling is private. Information is only shared with your permission except in specific legal or safety-related situations.

Many insurance plans provide mental health benefits. Coverage depends on your specific plan, provider network, deductible, and copay requirements. It is recommended that you contact your insurance provider to ask about your benefits. Catholic Charities accepts a number of insurance plans. In the even that Catholic Charities is not an in network provider for your insurance and you do not have out of network benefits, a sliding fee adjustment may be available.

Catholic Charities offers private-pay options, sliding-scale fees, community resources, or other affordable arrangements.

A counselor should make you feel respected, safe, heard and comfortable, It is okay to meet with more than one counselor before choosing who feels like the right match.

Online counseling, also called tele-health therapy, allows you to meet with a counselor through a secure video platform instead of visiting an office in person.

Research shows that tele-health therapy can be an effective option for many mental health concerns, especially when clients and counselors have a strong working relationship.

Usually, you need:

• A private space
• A reliable internet connection
• A computer, tablet, or smartphone
• A camera and microphone

You can schedule by calling Catholic Charities at 920-272-8234 or submitting an online appointment request. Catholic Charities offers in person or tele-health appointments with video & audio.

Feeling nervous is very common. Many people feel uncertain before their first appointment. A counselor’s role is to create a comfortable, supportive environment and help you take things one step at a time.

If you feel you may harm yourself or someone else, seek immediate help by calling or texting 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) or contacting emergency services.