Anxiety counseling in Birmingham, Alabama: How to find the best fit for you.
All mental health counselors are not the same. We each have our own theories of practice to which we ascribe. There are so many different theories of counseling, including but not limited to, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, Person-Centered, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and many more.
To find the most effective anxiety counseling for you, there are a few things you can think about before you begin therapy…even before you look for a therapist.
What concerns bring you to counseling? Anxiety Counseling in Birmingham, Alabama?
You would not go to just any doctor if you were having a specific medical issue, right? I mean, you would not go to an eye doctor if you hurt your foot. You would not visit a heart surgeon if you have asthma.
Therefore, you should not just go to any counselor for any problem. Certain types of therapy are what we call “evidence based” for certain issues. For instance, EMDR is an evidenced-based psychotherapy, and recognized by the World Health Organization, as a first-choice treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. That does not mean other forms of treatment would not be successful in treating PTSD. It does mean that there are studies, and evidence, proving that EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy is an evidenced-based, proven effective treatment for anxiety. At Empower Counseling in Birmingham, Alabama, all of our counselors are trained in Acceptance Commitment Therapy. We offer anxiety counseling in Birmingham, Alabama, and online counseling for clients anywhere in the state of Alabama.
What are your goals for counseling?
In addition to finding the type of counseling that is evidence-based and proven effective for the issue you are experiencing, you should look for a counselor who can help you reach your counseling goals.
For example, if you are experiencing social anxiety, one of your goals might be to be more comfortable talking to others. If you are experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), you might want to worry about the past and future less, and spend more time in the present moment.
If you anxiety causes a fear of judgment from others, one of your goals might be to focus on what you want and you think, instead of worrying about others’ opinions. In addition, you might want to work on establishing boundaries that let others know how you want to be treated.
Anxiety counseling with any of our counselors at Empower Counseling, will help you reach any of the above goals, in addition to any other goals you have for your anxiety counseling.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy can help you discover exactly what thoughts are causing your anxiety symptoms. Then you will learn mindfulness to help separate from these unhelpful thoughts. We will find clarity around what is most important to you and what you want your life to look like. Then you will begin to take action in ways that your thoughts have not allowed in the past. Our therapists will be there with you through every step of your anxiety counseling, encouraging you, and gently nudging you forward when you need it.
Empower Counseling specializes in anxiety counseling for college students, young adults, professionals, and teens. Whether online or in-person, we have male and female counselors who can accommodate your schedule-even evenings and weekends. We also offer depression counseling and counseling for difficult life transitions. You can enjoy counseling online from your dorm or apartment, whether you attend the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Samford, or Birmingham-Southern.
When you are ready for anxiety counseling in Birmingham, Alabama, reach out to Empower Counseling. Our male and female counselors are ready to set up your appointment. 205-730-6570.