Author: In Balance Counseling

counseling myths

Debunking the 7 Most Common Counseling Myths

Written by In Balance Counseling on . Posted in Individual Counseling.

If you’re considering professional mental support, you may have heard some counseling myths and be wondering if they’re true. This article will debunk seven of the most common counseling myths and show why counseling can be beneficial to anyone. Read on, and then schedule helpful counseling in Tucson, AZ, at In Balance Counseling.

Debunking Common Myths About Counseling

Myth #1 – Professional Counseling Is Unnecessary

While having friends and family to talk to is nice, you might not always feel comfortable being completely honest with them. Unlike those with firmly established views of who you are, a professional counselor will remain objective and will never judge your thoughts or feelings.

Myth #2 – Professional Counseling Is a Quick Fix

Many think they will only need one or two sessions to work through their issues. The fact is that there is no quick fix or one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to mental health.

Professional counseling will help you better understand yourself and allow you to work on your strengths, weaknesses, and worldviews for improved mental health.

Myth #3 – Seeking Counseling Indicates Personal Weakness

You might have heard that seeking professional counseling is a sign of weakness, but this simply is not true. The fact that you understand you need some outside help shows that you are brave and have the inner strength to recognize that need.

Myth #4 – Counseling Harms My Future Work or Academic Opportunities

You might think having or treating a mental illness will negatively impact your future opportunities. However, the truth is that you are showing initiative and emotional intelligence by acknowledging that you need assistance with your mental health issues, and institutions will see that.

Myth #5 – Once I Start Professional Counseling, I Won’t Be Able To Stop

This misconception often prevents individuals from seeking counseling, even when they know they need assistance to improve their mental health. You will not be stuck with a lifetime of counseling sessions if you begin seeing a counselor. Rather, you and your counselor will work together to evaluate your progress as you go, and you may reach a point where you no longer need counseling.

Myth #6 – Counselors Only Listen Without Helping

Counseling is a constructive process that aims to help you help yourself. Counselors do much more than just listen to you to vent about your problems. Your counselor will ask questions to clarify details, identify problematic thought patterns, and collaborate with you to help you define and reach specific goals.

Myth #7 – Seeking Counseling Means I’m Failing to be Independent

You don’t have to try to identify and solve the issues in your life alone. Seeking an expert in mental health will help you become more knowledgeable about yourself and the problems you are facing in life so that you can overcome obstacles more effectively.

Learn More About Scheduling Counseling

Now that you know those counseling myths aren’t true, you can begin your journey into mental health with professional counseling sessions at In Balance Counseling in Tucson, AZ. Learn more about the programs we offer, and call us today at 520-722-9631. 

why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective

Why Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effective?

Written by In Balance Counseling on . Posted in Intensive Outpatient Program.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used forms of therapy worldwide. Therapists rely on it to treat different disorders, which has proven very effective over the years.

CBT is a considerable part of the intensive outpatient program in Tucson by In Balance Counseling. Read on for the answer to “why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective?”

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of therapy that explores the connections between our thoughts and behavior. It helps people understand and challenge negative thoughts. It takes place over a fixed number of sessions.  

The goal of CBT includes the following:

  • Teach the patient how to recover from a despondency caused by mental health disorders and stress 
  • Help the patient to learn strategies to help themselves without the need for a therapist
  • Encourage patients to challenge negative beliefs and recognize positive ways to tackle life situations and achieve positive outcomes
  • Help patients live active, fulfilling lives

Why CBT is Highly Effective

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is effective because it relies on the cognitive model of emotional response. The model states that our behaviors and feelings come from our thoughts instead of external stimuli.

CBT embraces a problem-focused and goal-oriented approach and doesn’t rely on psychoanalysis. It is highly engaging, and the patient is accountable for the therapy results.

The therapy approach focuses on the present instead of analyzing the patient’s historical development. Most CBT treatments require five to twenty sessions to show results. Other therapies will require months or years of multiple sessions to generate similar results.

One of the answers to “why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective?” is that CBT is an excellent form of therapy for helping patients understand how they can change their lives by changing their thoughts. It doesn’t try to change past fears or actions.

It also gives patients hope about their condition. It achieves this by highlighting how our thoughts are not always an accurate depiction of reality.

Most mental health conditions thrive off negative thoughts. CBT breaks the pattern and brings clarity.

What Conditions Can CBT Help Treat?

CBT can help with the following mental health conditions:

  • Anxiety. CBT is an effective therapy for different types of anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). CBT treats OCD by trying to understand the causes of unwanted intrusive thoughts.
  • Eating disorders. CBT effectively treats various eating disorders, including binge eating and bulimia nervosa.
  • Bipolar disorder. CBT addresses the feeling of guilt and other thoughts and beliefs that accompany manic episodes.

Get Outpatient Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Tucson, AZ

We hope we’ve answered the question “why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective?” in this post. Do you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.

At In Balance Counseling, we provide high-quality intensive outpatient services in a group setting for people dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and those dealing with co-occurring mental health issues.

Learn more about our intensive outpatient program.

Call In Balance Counseling at 520-722-9631 for quality CBT treatment in Tucson, AZ.

how long is intensive outpatient program

How Long Is an Intensive Outpatient Program?

Written by In Balance Counseling on . Posted in Intensive Outpatient Program.

How long is an intensive outpatient program? These programs do not all last the same amount of time. In fact, the recommended amount of time varies from patient to patient, depending upon their unique needs. 

You can learn more with In Balance Intensive Outpatient, Tucson’s trusted intensive outpatient program. Call us at 520-722-9631 to get answers to your questions. 

General Time Frame for Intensive Outpatient Programs

How long is an intensive outpatient program? As we mentioned, an intensive outpatient recovery program does not always last for the same amount of time. However, we can make a few generalizations about the length of these programs. 

Minimum Average Length

In general, intensive outpatient treatment programs last for at least 90 days or three months. However, some patients choose to discontinue their programs before this time. 

Maximum Average Length

Many patients continue with an intensive outpatient program for one or more years. However, patients generally do complete these programs. Therefore, they generally do not represent a lifetime treatment plan. 

What Happens During an Intensive Outpatient Program?

Intensive outpatient programs assist patients who want to pursue addiction treatment. The program also works for those who want help managing a mental illness, providing intensive care for these patients and tools they can use to grow healthier. 

When completing an intensive outpatient program, you do not have to stay in an in-patient treatment center. Instead, you can carry on your normal daily activities while making time for: 

  • Meetings with support groups
  • Appointments with your therapists
  • Discussions with recovery experts 

You start the program by attending daily meetings. Over time, you shift to attending only a few appointments every week. Each appointment may last for up to four hours, depending upon your unique mental healthcare needs. 

The amount of time you spend in the intensive outpatient program depends on your goals and needs. A mental healthcare professional can provide you with more information about these programs. 

Skills Learned in an Intensive Outpatient Program

While you complete an intensive outpatient program, you have the chance to address specific challenges you could face on your road to recovery. Specialists help you focus on strengthening: 

  • Social skills
  • Restructuring your attitudes and thoughts
  • Relapse prevention strategies 

The initial daily appointments help you thoroughly establish the habits that can help you through your recovery. There’s no time expectation or set amount of time pressuring you with this kind of program—you can heal at your own pace. 

Treatment After Intensive Outpatient Care

After completing your intensive outpatient program, you may join a more traditional outpatient program for continued support. These programs meet less frequently but reinforce the strategies you’ve learned. 

Speak to Us About an Intensive Outpatient Program

How long is an intensive outpatient program? The length of these programs can vary based on your unique needs. Allow us to assess your situation and learn more about our other treatment options, including programs for first responders, by reaching out today. 

Call In Balance Intensive Outpatient at 520-722-9631 for treatment options in Tucson, AZ.