The ‘Buzz’ word— Mental Health

Mental Health is a ‘buzz’ word these days. Everyone is talking about it. Some of us are concerned and seek the help we need. Some of us go for therapy and are open about it, while some aren’t. However, most of us don’t know what a counsellor or therapist really does.

Mental health, in simple terms, refers to our emotional well-being- that comprises our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Poor mental health could be a result of negative patterns in these elements and does not always mean that one needs clinical treatment to feel better.

As a mental health professional, I believe that there are several unanswered questions about therapy, and in this article, I will try to answer as many as I can. For further queries, you can visit my website www.anupmagupta.com and connect with me.

Q1. Why would going to a therapist/counsellor help?

Therapy/counselling helps us figure out our unhelpful beliefs, thoughts and behaviours. One can discuss, analyse and understand their blockages and get clarity about the things holding them back in life. It helps us clarify our issues, explore options, develop strategies using simple yet effective tools and techniques.

Going to a counsellor/therapist is also helpful because,

• Most of the time, we just need to be heard and understood (not fixed because we aren’t broken) in a non-judgemental environment.

• We need empathy, not sympathy and we need clarity in understanding why we do what we do.

• We need help in figuring out our blockages which act as hindrances in achieving our goals.

• Many times all