The Role of Counseling in Well-Being
The secret of health for both mind and body
is not to mourn for the past,
nor to worry about the future,
but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Gautama Buddha
Integrative Counseling is a way to make life a little easier and more effective to live in the present fully. There are obstacles in life that can prevent us from living in the present peacefully and joyfully. Sometimes it is obvious, like a major health issue that grabs our attention. Many times, psychological issues become noticeably big when life brings additional challenges resulting in anxiety, depression or psychosomatic issues. These are issues unseen or unnoticed, which are waiting to flare up later.
Let us take the example of a zoom lens to clarify how psychological counselling can help people in the face of challenges:.
When challenges are caused by personal or external factors, we can either zoom out or zoom in. When we need to see more specific details of a problem, we can zoom in, and when we need to find out how the environment and people affect our perceptions, we can zoom out.
When we want to work on a specific personal area, we can zoom in so that we can focus to get more clarity and evaluate if any change needs to be made. While working with clients, counselors help them to zoom in on exactly what it is that is causing them discomfort and thereby identifying the irritant. Similarly, zooming out allows one to see external factors, like the COVID situation, which an individual cannot fully control.
Integrative Counseling blends both the eastern and western approaches of psychology, highlighting the role of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors in our overall well-being. Focusing on psychological experiences allows us to address the mental and emotional aspects of our panchakoshas. This in turn can lead us to new paths, new approaches to deal with situations, and relationships with a more effective mindset to life. Counselors apply the integrative approach to assist clients reduce their symptoms, promote their strengths, and enhance their well‐being.
At any point in time of a challenging life situation, it is helpful to have a safe relationship to explore the roadmap and be a supportive GPS as you drive towards your destination of life. A counselor can guide you to build safety within yourself and safety in your relationship with the world.
When you feel stuck in a problem, as if your wheels are spinning but you are reaching nowhere, try to zoom in and then zoom out. And if you think you need help in finetuning your internal zoom tool, consider reaching out to a counselor to help redesign your life. Help us to help you!
Sarve Santu Niramaya
May all be well and free from illness.
