14 Signs that You Need to See a Clinical Counsellor

Each one of us has mental health and at some periods in our lives can experience challenges that may need to see a clinical counsellor.

The data showed that not all can have mental health problems or illnesses. Based on the Canadian Mental Health Association, about one in five Canadians may experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year. ((Canadian Mental Health Association. (2021, July 19). Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness. CMHA National. https://cmha.ca/brochure/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/))

Moreover, by the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, one in two have or had a mental illness. ((Canadian Mental Health Association. (2021, July 19). Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness. CMHA National. https://cmha.ca/brochure/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/))

Although mental health problems and challenges may bring bad news to us, however, the good news is counselling can help.

And here are the signs where you need to see a clinical counsellor.

When to Consider the Help of a Clinical Counsellor?

Sometimes, mental or emotional issues can be common. However, if you can’t manage it well and creates an imbalance, it’s time to seek some help. Discover the signs that will tell you that it is time to see a clinical counsellor.

1. You have trouble controlling your emotions. 

Sometimes it is okay to be sad, anxious or angry. However, if you have difficulty managing your emotions over a long period of time, you may need to consider seeking the help of a counsellor.

2. You may feel stuck.

There are some points in life where we may feel stuck. However, if you tried many things to be better or to feel better but it seems that you continue feeling stuck, it’s time to seek the help of a counsellor.

A counsellor can help you get unstuck by figuring out your goals, your fear, anxiety or the obstacles that keep you holding back.

3. Your productivity is affected.

There are times, that you may feel unproductive. Moreover, you may seem stressed at work. Stress associated with the workplace can lower productivity increases short- and long-term absences and contributes to mental health problems. ((Putting Stress on Stress. (n.d.). OHS Canada Magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://www.ohscanada.com/features/putting-stress-on-stress))

If you constantly experience that you are not 100% functioning at work and you observed that you can meet your task, it’s time to seek a counsellor’s help. A counsellor can help you manage stress at work or find the obstacles that are affecting your productivity.

Moreover, if you are a student and your schoolwork is constantly affected and you may always seem to skip classes, you need to seek help.

Take note that mental illnesses can affect a person’s way of thinking, feelings or behaviour which causes a person to be distressed and have difficulty in functioning.(( NCBI. (2012). Information about Mental Illness and the Brain. Nih.gov; National Institutes of Health (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20369/))

Sometimes the environment can affect productivity

4. You experienced trauma.

Each individual has various ways to cope with trauma. Moreover, not all traumatic events can cause a person to be traumatized.

However, for some people, traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents or near-death experiences may cause people to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD).

A clinical counsellor is trained to help you deal with a traumatic event and may help you to prevent PSTD. Moreover, if PSTD becomes your coping mechanism, a counsellor can help you to deal with it. Your past traumatic events may not be erased but counselling can help find more meaning in your life and be able to grow from that experience.

5. You may experience changes in your sleep (too little or too much sleep).

It’s normal that you may have difficulty sleeping at some point in your life due to stress.

However, If you are having a prolonged issue with your sleep, it’s a sign that you may have depression. ((CDC. (2018, April 23). Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html))

If you are having insomnia or any sleeping disorder, it’s time to seek help. Therapy from a clinical counsellor can help you navigate insomnia and sleeping disorders.

6. Your appetite change and you may tend to eat too much or too little.

If you have experienced a sudden change in your eating habits where you tend to eat a little, or don’t always feel hungry or crave more, you may need to seek some help.

A sudden change in weight and appetite is a sign of depression. ((Public. (2016, December 30). What is Depression? – Canada.ca. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/chronic-diseases/mental-illness/what-depression.html))

A counsellor can help you address your depression and eating disorder.

7. You may experience trouble in managing relationships.

There are a lot of factors that cause problems with your marriage or relationships. If this is not managed well it can lead to serious relationship problems such as broken marriages.

However, Couples counselling can help couples to have open communication and guide them to have a strong relationship.

8. You have lost interest in the things that you previously liked.

Losing interest in the things that we like may happen sometimes, however, if it is ongoing or happening for a long period of time, it’s time to get some help.

This can be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression. A clinical counsellor can help you.

9. You are grieving.

Overcoming grief can be a long and painful process. It can be harder especially if you don’t have a support system such as friends or family members to share your feelings and thoughts.

A clinical counsellor can help you deal with divorce, break-up or loss of a loved one with grief and loss counselling.

Counsellors can provide a safe, compassionate place while you are overcoming your grief.

10. You have a physical health condition.

Battling a physical health condition or chronic pain can affect your mental health. Our mind and body are always connected.

For instance, dealing with chronic pain can be depressing. Moreover, it can affect our sleep.

Researchers have discovered that pain shares some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression. And, this is the somatosensory cortex (the area of the brain which interprets the sensations such as touch) interacting with the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the anterior cingulate gyrus (areas involved in regulating our emotions and responding to stress) in order to generate the mental and physical experience of pain. Take note that this region is the same area that contributes to anxiety and depression. ((Publishing, H. H. (2010, May). Pain, anxiety, and depression. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/pain-anxiety-and-depression))

When your physical conditions impact your mental health, it is time to ask for help. A clinical counsellor can help you by providing a holistic approach to your health and chronic pain counselling.

Moreover, At Evergreen Rehab & Wellness Coquitlam and Surrey, we provide a multidisciplinary approach, so they can help you not only with your physical but also with your mental health. They can help you improve your well-being.

11. You are addicted to habits that suddenly popped out.

If you are currently experiencing mental or emotional stress and you noticed that you have a destructive coping mechanism such as substance use or addiction to sex, this is another sign that you need to go for counselling.

Clinical Counsellors provide various types of therapy that can help you overcome your addiction.

12. You are trying to improve yourself but don’t know how to start.

Clinical counselling incorporates a holistic approach that will help you in becoming the best person for yourselves and for others.

A skilled and experienced counsellor can help you uncover and better understand yourself. Moreover, he can help you understand others.

Counselling will also help you to point out the negative aspects of dealing with yourself and others.

13. The pandemic affects you.

If you are affected by the current environmental factors such as a pandemic or what is happening right now. You seem to be unproductive or you may feel lost or stressed, it’s time to get some help.

Counselling will help you prioritize yourself and give you some tips on how to deal with stressful situations.  It can help you navigate your emotion while you are under difficult times.

14. You don’t have any support system.

Sometimes, when we are bounded by stressful situations or you are having problems with how to manage your mental health and emotions especially if you don’t have someone to talk to.

Clinical counsellors can help you. They play a critical role in improving our well-being. They can help us deal with many personal topics in our lives such as anger, anxiety, stress, grief, relationships and many others.

Don’t let the stigma hold you back from seeking counselling

Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination attached to mental health illnesses or issues present a serious barrier to seeking help. But, symptoms of mental illnesses can be managed effectively with the help of therapy. Thus, people with mental health issues can thrive in society.

If you or your loved one currently experiencing mental health challenges or may experience some signs mentioned above, please seek help.

A clinical counsellor can help you navigate your emotions or mental health issues.

At Evergreen Rehab & Wellness – Coquitlam, we have registered Clinical Counsellors to help you with your mental health.

We don’t only have Clinical Counsellors in Coquitlam, we also have Clinical Counsellors in Surrey that are always ready to provide patients in these areas with custom and high-quality care.

Moreover, we also have Clinical Counsellors in Langley that can help you.