Therapy, in its most basic form, is the act of consulting with a mental healthcare professional. Therapy is a “safe” and “confidential” collaboration between qualified counsellors and clients to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns. Therapy is a way to work through personal concerns, no matter what they are, with someone who is devoted to providing support and care for these types of issues.

Counselling is a form of “talk therapy”. Counselling can provide people with the opportunity to share their views, be heard and gain new perspectives on their situation and experiences. Professional counselling can provide guidance to help people navigate life’s challenges in a “safe” and “confidential” space.

A therapist is an individual who has a combination of educational credentials and professional qualifications, and who is skilled in delivering treatment intended to resolve mental health and/or psychological challenges.

You’re in the right place.

A few key points to remember when finding a good therapist are:

1. Get a recommendation – ask friends, family and/or trusted professionals
2. Look into the person’s background
3. Get a feel for the therapist – seek a free consultation and/or complete a full session with them
4. Pay attention to your reactions – better to be honest with ourselves paying attention to that inner voice and using good interpersonal judgment when considering the fit between you and your therapist

When you think of therapy, you may think of an intense and intimidating process strictly for people who struggle with mental illness.

There are countless styles and settings for therapy. Below are a few reasons why you may want to look into therapy even when you don’t believe you are experiencing anything severe:

1. It can help you learn to love yourself
2. It allows you to speak to some objective about your problems.
3. It helps make the good things in your life great.
4. It can help you navigate some big life choices.
5. It can help you express yourself in a healthy way.
6. It can teach you how to talk about uncomfortable things.
7. It can allow you to build better relationships.
8. It can help you identify personal patterns.
9. It can ensure someone is always in your corner.

Many people experience mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function.

The following symptoms could be signs of mental health problems.

• Being anxious and irritable.
• Having a low mood.
• Finding it difficult to concentrate or remember things.
• Sleeping less or too much.
• Changes in your mood.
• Finding it difficult to manage everyday life, for example, preparing food and washing regularly.
• Feeling teary.
• Becoming suspicious or paranoid.
• Becoming isolated and withdrawn.
• Having suicidal thoughts.
• Believing that your family and friends want to do you harm.
• Believing that people or organisations are out to get you.
• Experiencing hallucinations. This means sensing things that other people don’t, this can include seeing and hearing things.
• Believing that you have special powers or are on a mission.
• Excessive spending and problems managing your money.
• Having flashbacks or nightmares after a traumatic event.

These feelings can often be distressing and hard to cope with. But with the right support and help you can make positive steps towards the right direction.

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity. While mental illness can occur at any age, three-fourths of all mental illness begins by age 24.

Mental illnesses take many forms. Some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital.