Overcoming Depression: Finding Hope and Healing Through Counseling

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be an overwhelming and isolating experience, but it's important to remember that help and support are available.

Counseling, in particular, can play a vital role in the journey of depression recovery and overcoming the weight of this issue.

For those seeking professional assistance, we, The Counseling Hub, serve clients at two locations, Jefferson City and Columbia, Missouri and come highly recommended as a resource.

Understanding Depression

Depression is more than just feeling sad or down temporarily. It is a persistent and prolonged state of low mood, accompanied by a loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of hopelessness.

Depression can significantly impact an individual's personal, social, and professional life, making it crucial to address it promptly.

The Role of Counseling in Depression Recovery

Counseling offers a safe and supportive space where individuals can explore their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, guided by a qualified professional. Therapists are trained to help clients understand the underlying causes of their depression, develop coping strategies, and learn healthier ways of thinking and behaving.

The Counseling Hub: Your Source of Support

If you're seeking a therapist in the Jefferson City or Columbia, Missouri areas, The Counseling Hub is highly recommended. With our commitment to providing quality mental health care, The Counseling Hub offers a compassionate and personalized approach to therapy.

Our experienced team of licensed therapists specialize in treating depression and related mental health conditions, ensuring that each client receive the care they deserve.

Finding the Right Therapist

When searching for a therapist, it's essential to find someone who understands your unique needs and provides a comfortable environment for open communication.

The Counseling Hub offers a diverse group of therapists with various specialties, ensuring that you can find a professional who resonates with you. Whether you prefer individual therapy, group therapy, or couples therapy, we have clinicians available to guide you towards healing.

Convenience and Accessibility

Convenience and accessibility are crucial factors when seeking therapy. The Counseling Hub has two locations, one in Jefferson City and another in Columbia, Missouri. These locations make it easier for individuals living in surrounding areas to access our services. We’ve got flexible appointment scheduling and a lot of commitment to providing timely care, The Counseling Hub strives to make the therapy process as smooth and convenient as possible.

The Importance of Local Resources

Choosing a local therapist has its advantages. Not only does it reduce travel time and costs, but it also allows for a deeper understanding of the community's unique challenges and resources. The Counseling Hub's locations in Jefferson City and Columbia ensure that clients receive personalized care that considers their individual circumstances and the local context.

Embracing the Journey of Recovery

Recovering from depression is a journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and professional guidance. Our goal at The Counseling Hub is to empower individuals to embrace the journey and support them in rediscovering joy, purpose, and a sense of well-being. With evidence-based approaches, tailored treatment plans, and genuine dedication to our clients and their well-being, our therapists offer a beacon of hope for those seeking depression recovery.

Depression can be a formidable foe, but with the right support and guidance, it is possible to overcome its grip.

The Counseling Hub, with its locations in Jefferson City and Columbia, Missouri, serves as an invaluable resource for individuals seeking therapy and depression recovery. By seeking the help of a qualified therapist and engaging in therapy, you can embark on a path towards healing, rediscover your inner strength, and regain control of your life. Remember, you are not alone, and there is hope for a brighter future.

I Hate My Job... Now What?

Well, of course the easy answer is to “leave it and find something else.”  

It’s not that simple, though. Technically, it is that simple, but in actuality, there’s way more that goes into making changes than just impulsively deciding on doing something. 

Here are five questions to ask yourself when you’re faced with hating your job and feeling stuck about it.

1. Is this sudden or ongoing?
   This is an important question. If this is something sudden, then the idea is that it might pass. If it’s something that’s ongoing (i.e. for longer than three months), then it might be a sign that things aren’t going to get better for you. Maybe you’re being undervalued, underpaid, or overworked, but the longer something goes on, the higher the likelihood that it will continue.
   

2. Is your company in a transition or has there been a recent transition?
   Also an important question. Transitions suck. They’re uncomfortable and foreign. They lead to people feeling unsettled and off-kilter, questioning whether they’ve done the right thing and/or wondering if they’ll ever feel better and grounded. Which is why it’s important to reflect on whether there’s been any recent transitions (or current transitions) where you’re working.
   
   If you’re in the middle of one, it might be worth it to stick it out and see were the chips fall. If you’re not in a transition and horribly unhappy, then maybe it’s time to start to look elsewhere (or to think about looking elsewhere).
   

3. What aspects of your job do you like?
   Take a second and reflect on your current job. What aspects of it do you like? Maybe it’s your coworkers, or your boss, or the company values, or your time with clients/customers, or your time away from clients/customers, or the meetings you have, or something else entirely. The point is that identifying some aspect of your job that you like (if any) is going to result in more clarity for you when you go to make a change. You’ll know what you’d like to keep and what you’d like to shed.
   

4. What aspects of your job do you dislike?
   Similar to the previous question, it’s equally important to get a sense of what you don’t like. Then, when you go to make a change, you can say (with confidence) what you’re looking for in a position and what you’re not looking for. Both are important.
   

5. If you were to change jobs, what would you need to do to ensure it was a successful shift?
   This is just to get your mind going regarding the barriers and bridges that could help you with a career or job change. Think hypothetically about yourself, ask yourself what your best friend would say (or your partner or your family), write about it first thing in the morning in a free-flowing way (i.e. to hell with grammar and structure), draw - do something that can get you outside of your head.

That’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s enough to get your gears grinding (hopefully). It’s not as though this is an easy shift for people to make, and it’s definitely not always the case that you can (or should) make a quick decision without thinking it through just a little bit. When you can answer question five with some confidence, then I’d say you’re closer to making a change than you were previously. And if you’ve known the question to answer five, then maybe it’s time to whittle down a little further and start actually planning that change. Tim is great for that and can help you along the way. It’s hard to go at it alone!

6 Myths About Counseling Every Client Needs to Know

Myths of Counseling

Individual Counseling | Columbia, Mo

No long intro here - just keep in mind that any of the following may (or may not) fit with you. These are common, even if the first one is kind of silly, but still important!

1. Your counselor can read your mind.
   Ha! I wish. Seriously, can you imagine a counselor with telepathy? Best. Counselor. EVER. I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but it’s just not true. Counselors can’t read your mind. This is probably why you might think that, though
   
   We’re trained on people and how they engage in peopling in the world. We’re trained to not only listen to the words you’re saying, but also how you’re saying them (i.e. inflection, tone, pacing, pauses), as well as your facial expressions and your body language. I remember reading a statistic somewhere that said communication is 70% nonverbal. SEVENTY PERCENT. That’s a crazy high number, and we make good use of it.
   
   No telepathy, though. ;)
   

2. Once you fully understand the problem, then you’re done with counseling. I mean, yes and no. Yes, having a full understanding of the issue or problem you’re coming in with is important. And no, having a full understanding of the issue or problem is not enough to stop doing the work. The reality is that understanding is the easy part. It’s easy to “know” what you’re supposed to do. Just because you know what to do, do you do it? Exactly.
   
   What most people don’t know or realize, however, is that the actual process of change is where the difficulties really lie. It’s hard to make changes in life. When we understand our problem, that’s the starting point. It’s not that we want to see you forever, but it is that we want you to actually make changes related to your problem before calling it quits with us because that’s where the work really is.
   

3. Personal development has a finish line.
   Most people think that they’re going to be pristine at the end of counseling and that they’re never going to deal with their problem again - they’ve got it totally figured out, have made changes, have been practicing their new way of being in the world, and accept (for lack of a better word) perfection.
   
   WRONG.
   
   I love y’all, but that’s so wrong. Our growth is perpetual. The point of counseling is to unblock a jam that’s impeding growth, it’s not to rush you to your finish line. And, technically, the ultimate finish line is death. Until that point, our bodies and minds are constantly evolving and changing. It’s seriously amazing how humans operate.
   

4. Counseling is the same thing as friendship.
   You know, this is one I really understand, but still need to put on here. Counseling and friendship are absolutely not the same thing. The counselor-client relationship can be such an intimate experience. Imagine being able to bare your soul with another person who not only makes space for it, but encourages it and is actually interested in hearing and listening. As in, really listening. It’s unprecedented for many people who come in the door. It’s also welcome.
   
   Here’s the difference, though. Friendship is a two-way street and counseling is not. You’re not going to have a counselor who relies on you to talk about and listen to their problems (yes, counselors are human and have their own issues - it’s a human thing, not a you thing). Counselors are also trained in how to say things at the right time, rather than just dole out advice. I love my friends, but if I want objective advice from somebody without their own agenda, then I’m probably going to my counselor.
   

5. Counseling is a sign of weakness.
   Ugh, this one grinds my gears. I’ll leave you with this (rhetorical) question. If it takes work and is difficult to be honest and feel unpleasant (and pleasant, for some people) feelings and to talk about things that are eatin away at you on the inside, then why is counseling a sign of weakness? If I told you to squat 1000 pounds or run 15 miles and you hadn’t trained at all, would you say that was a sign of weakness? NO. You’d practice and then you’d do it. For whatever reason, we think that talking about something that’s difficult means that it shouldn’t be talked about. WHAT. WHY?! It means that it should be practiced (i.e. talked about) and that muscle grown.
   

6. Counselors are humorless.
   Uuumm, I really, really hope that my clients don’t think this. Sure, one sense of humor doesn’t jive with everybody, but the counseling relationship isn’t one where there’s never any laughing or joking, where there aren't any niceties or catching up on random television shows - it’s a human relationship, not strictly a business relationship. It’s one where people can show up fully and if connection with others includes laughing, then that’s included in counseling, too. Counseling is all about connecting.

My favorite part about this list is that you can bring it up with your counselor and talk (or laugh) about it!

That's the beauty of a therapeutic relationship. There's nothing  that has to be left unsaid. The space you and your counselor co-create in sessions should be one of warmth, empathy, understanding, and safety. And all of those things would imply that you could talk about things that you might not feel comfortable talking about outside of sessions. Regardless of whether you do this or not, it's nice to know it's a possibility.

That’s all for today. We love myths and love to write about how, as the name implies, they’re not truths.  Happy counseling, everybody!

Email us right now to get your questions answered or your session scheduled!