Getting Professional Help is a Strength

People often avoid getting professional help because they fear the stigma of it. I am one to tell you that obtaining professional help is something I did, dramatically improving my ability to grow personally and professionally.   

I also worked as an Employee Assistant Professional and experienced first-hand some people’s faulty perceptions about counseling. When I started encouraging people to obtain professional help, they would respond, “No, I am not crazy!” I would respond that going for counseling does not mean you are crazy. It may just mean you are experiencing a lot of stress in your life. I would also share my experience with counseling and be open to telling them why I went and how it helped me to transform my life.  

To help you understand how coaching can help, I often discussed the distinct types of counselors and how each can benefit you. Unless a person needs medication, I often tell them to find a psychologist or social worker to help them better understand their experiences.   

Oftentimes, a primary care physician would prescribe medication without a referral to counseling. Many psychiatrists only monitor medication. My personal experience is that counseling helps to resolve issues for which the medication is needed. I went for counseling and dealt with the issues that were bothering me, and I have not needed medication for decades. I am not a physician, so I am only sharing my personal experience, and it’s wise to discuss this with your doctor.  

There are many misperceptions regarding counseling and therapy. Seeking help is a strength, not a weakness. Often, my therapist would offer a different perspective than I had not even considered, and it would change everything.   

I suggest they obtain a few names of therapists, then set up a call and select the one you feel most comfortable with. If I’m being transparent, when I first went for counseling, all I did was cry. The therapist said, “Let the tears fall; every one of them is a tear of wisdom.” He also suggested I discuss whatever popped into my head, even though it did not make sense. I started doing that and made more progress with their insights. Oftentimes, things are connected that you would not expect to be.   

Find people who will support you on your journey and share only what you are comfortable with. If I can help you by answering more questions, please email me at beth@workplacecomm.com. Ultimately, it’s your decision whether you seek professional help, and I respect your decision. I only know, from my experience, I would not be writing to you today had I not gone for counseling and peeled back the layers of what was bothering me under the surface. That all allowed me to grow. 

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Beth managed to turn what I envisioned as another dreary training session into, not only an educational awakening, but an eye opening enlightenment of what may be to come and how we might better deal with the future. Keeping the group openly engaged with material that we all were currently involved with opened opportunity for each of us to better understand some different perspectives with not only those we supervise, but also with all who we interact with on a daily basis.
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Steven M. Chizuk | Director of Budget | Erie County Medical Center Corporation
Beth Sears has been an adjunct faculty member with Cornell University’s ILR School since 1993. During this time, she has taught a wide variety of college credit courses and training sessions related to workplace communication and interpersonal behavior…Thanks to Beth’s teaching skills, hundreds of working people in Upstate New York are now better able to manage their anger, interview for new positions, resolve interpersonal conflict, lead groups, and convey their intended message. In my 25 years with ILR extension, I have never worked with a more effective instructor than Beth Sears.
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NHRA Board, Rochester, NY
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Kenneth Siegel | Deputy for Prison Programs | Rural Opportunities, New York Division
Ms. Sears has an uncanny ability to listen, and to analyze a situation – her suggestions were organized, straightforward and on point. I am very grateful for her assistance and would not hesitate to recommend her services to any company or individual seeking conflict resolution or effective communication training.
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Mike Cook | Founding Partner | Vital Works, Inc.
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