The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

I’m of the opinion that all of us would benefit from therapy or counseling of some sort. 

Determining what kind of counseling is be best can be very confusing. There are dozens of modalities, scores of techniques, and a plethora of underlying theories.

For the purposes of our discussion here, I’ll use “counseling” as a general term that may include cognitive, behavioral, systemic (family), interpersonal, humanistic, group, play, or art therapy (to name only a few), as well as psychoanalysis, life coaching, chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and spiritual direction. To simplify things, I’ll use “counselor” as a stand-in for therapist, psychotherapist, clinical social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, pastor, chaplain, life-coach, and spiritual director. I know they’re all distinct, but for now, let’s talk in generalities.

Basically, you have two decisions to make:

1. Are you seeking short-term goal-focused counseling to solve a particular issue, or are you seeking counseling to be spiritually and emotionally whole and actualized?
2. With whom should you seek counseling?

Would you benefit from time-limited counseling?

If you’re looking to resolve a specific issue, like marriage communication, lessening anxiety, or coping with loss, time-limited, goal-oriented counseling is most likely for you. “Time-limited” varies greatly – it might be anywhere from a few months to a few years. Most cognitive-behavioral, family, interpersonal, humanistic, and couple counseling is time-limited. Fix the problem and call it quits, but come back for periodic tune-ups.

Some common forms of time-limited counseling aimed at specific problems include:

• PTSD is most effectively treated with psychedelic assisted therapy (if you can get into a clinical trial) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Both are normally coupled with some form of talk therapy.

• Obviously, marital issues are the scope of marriage counselors. Sexual issues belong with sex counselors. Kids respond to play therapy. Art therapy is very effective in unlocking the unconscious. Music therapy can reach even people deep in dementia. 

• Dysfunctional families with a rebellious teenager or allegations of possible child abuse or neglect are effectively treated by systemic family counselors.

• Fears, phobias, anxieties, and most depressions respond best to cognitive-behavioral counseling.

• Healthcare chaplains are skilled with dealing with end-of-life issues, bereavement, and life-altering accidents or illnesses. They work with patients and their families. 

• Military chaplains and specially trained pastors are helpful with relationship, marital, financial, and spiritual issues.

Psychotherapeutic medicines can only be prescribed, monitored, and regulated by a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors. Medication may be temporary or ongoing.

All of these forms of counseling are good, well-tested, and proven useful. If the presenting problems are symptoms of much deeper issues, longer term counseling is needed. The deeper the pain, the longer it takes to resolve and heal it.

Would you benefit from long-term counseling?

Some specific issues require long-term, even life-long, intervention. For those who are addicted to substances, the best-known treatment is a 12-step program like AA. For family members, the best treatment is a codependency group like AL Anon or Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA). A recovering addict never stops going to meetings.

Serious mental illness, psychosis, personality disorders, treatment-resistant depression, severe PTSD, deep childhood trauma, and traumatic victimization are examples of issues that respond best to skilled long-term depth-psychology. Depth-psychology is often called psychoanalysis, or analysis for short. It typically comes in two forms – Freudian and Jungian. Generally speaking, Jungian psychoanalysis is more open to the spiritual and religious than is Freudian. A psychoanalysist will either be a PhD, a Psy.D, or an MD with advanced training. It is normally very long-term.

But you don’t need to be mentally ill to benefit from long-term counseling. If you’re seeking emotional wholeness, psychological well-being, an actualized personality, spiritual wellbeing, or meaning and purpose in an integrated state of being, then you want something long-term. It’s a process of continuous growth. 

If it’s spiritual and emotional wholeness you’re after, you’ll want a spiritual director. 

Spiritual directors are specialized counselors who help people grow emotionally and spiritually, get closer to God, deepen their understanding, discover meaning and purpose, connect with ultimate reality, and expand their capacity to love and be loved. 

Finding a counselor

Regardless of issue or modality, probably the singularly most important factor is finding a counselor who is wise, caring, experienced, educated, ethical, and compassionate. That can take a bit of trial and error. Don’t be too quick to decide it’s not working out. Give the relationship between you and the counselor time to grow.

If you or someone you care about might benefit from long-term spiritual guidance, coaching, direction, or pastoral care, my website is: https://www.theunstuckspirit.com (https://www.theunstuckspirit.com)