Increasing Understanding of Mental Health, Trauma and Wellbeing Support to Enhance Informed Choice
Increasing Understanding of Mental Health, Trauma and Wellbeing Support to Enhance Informed Choice. There are many kinds of support available when it comes to mental health, trauma and well-being support, so much so that it may be confusing for some to know who to turn to for the most effective, safe, and ethical support.
This article aims to raise awareness about the different types of support offered when it comes to this topic, so that clients have a better understanding and, as a result, can make informed decisions, which not only empowers a client at the start of their well-being journey but also facilitates support that is better suited to the individual needs of the client. I want to highlight an important consideration: the titles therapist, counsellor, and psychotherapist are not legally protected titles in the UK (unlike psychologist and psychiatrist), meaning anyone without training can use them. Unfortunately, if someone requires therapy, they may assume that someone using such titles is qualified, even though this is not always the case. Despite the legalities, it’s unethical to mislead others who require qualified support for their best interest. Many in the wellbeing space choose to support others because of their own past struggles, which, while helpful to some, cannot replace qualified support, when it is required. Many people will turn to mental health support when they are at their most vulnerable, for example, when experiencing depression, anxiety, past trauma, or even whilst in an abusive relationship; therefore, many may not be in the right place mentally to constructively spend time assessing each practitioner that they come across, highlighting the need for transparency. When mental health support or talking therapy is advertised, many may automatically assume that such a person is qualified to offer such practices (I know I did in the past). Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Moreover, as I am increasingly observing unqualified mental health support advertised in places like GP surgeries (in my local area), many may automatically assume that qualified professionals provide such support and not ask questions. So, I feel it’s vital to increase understanding of the different types of support commonly offered to enable informed choice. The client should be aware if their practitioner is qualified or not, to make an informed choice. When we are suffering psychologically, we need support urgently; thus, we may accept support from the first person we discover, without asking the right questions (or any). For clients who require therapy due to trust issues, if they assume their practitioner is a qualified therapist/ counsellor when they are not, due to a lack of transparency, this could cause further psychological harm to the client.Counselling
A qualified counsellor (often referred to as a therapist) has received appropriate training to support clients safely through emotional and mental distress. Counsellors usually support clients with anxiety, depression, attachment issues, relationship issues, self-esteem issues, and past trauma – this is not a comprehensive list. Counsellors are more “past and present focused”, supporting you to “unpack” and heal from psychological pain. A safe, confidential space is provided in therapy, enabling the client to open up at their own pace. Qualified counsellors are trained to listen actively, entering the client’s “world”, keeping their own opinions and beliefs outside of therapy. The therapist is trained to manage dynamics, such as transference, and attends monthly supervision, which is vital to client safety. Additionally, a qualified counsellor has not only undertaken academic training but has also successfully completed at least one hundred hours of supervised counselling. Professional boundaries are essential in therapy; they maintain a professional relationship and ensure the safety of the therapist and client. Therefore, a counsellor would not work with someone they personally know or befriend. Continuing professional development is an important part of a counsellor’s role, as it ensures they stay up to date with the latest knowledge and research. Counsellors have undergone training that includes self-reflection, along with monthly supervision, which aids self-awareness and highlights strengths and limitations. A counsellor should signpost a client to someone more suitable if they feel that they aren’t the best therapist for them; this is ethical for both. Counsellors should clearly inform you of your rights, clearly communicate how your data will be protected, and provide a contract and privacy policy. Counselling in the UK is not regulated, despite this, many counsellors choose to be regulated with professional bodies, these include the BACP, NCPS and UKCP. If a counsellor is a member of one of these professional bodies you can be sure that they are qualified and follow ethical standards, including supervised practice.Coaching
There is a huge difference between a therapist and a coach; both can have a positive impact on a person’s well-being, but the key is knowing the difference so we can make an informed choice from the start. Coaches are more “present and forward-focused.” Coaches support clients in setting personal goals, such as career and health, goals; again, this is not a comprehensive list. For clients who have no psychological distress and want to focus on clarity over achieving their personal goals, working directly with a coach would be beneficial and appropriate. Despite this, if a client does have emotional and mental distress, they should seek help from a qualified therapist first. Counsellors and coaches both have their place within wellbeing; however, there are key differences that are vital to acknowledge, as they serve different purposes.Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Groups
In my local area, Stoke-on-Trent, I have noticed that many mental health and well-being support groups are becoming increasingly popular. These include (but are not limited to) women’s circles, men’s groups, and mental health support groups. Well-being groups are, of course, very needed and can offer great support for lonely individuals and/or individuals who desire connection and psycho-education. Despite this, I feel that the issue comes when groups are being used as a replacement for therapy. From my personal and professional experience, I feel that mental health and well-being support groups should not be used as an alternative to personal therapy. Over the years, awareness and perceptions of mental health have greatly improved. Despite this, mental health and trauma support should always require ethical, confidential and qualified support; this by no means implies stigma only safety. Yet, some may prefer mental health and trauma support through support groups; the choice is, of course, up to the individual. However, without understanding the differences, informed choice is limited, which is the need this article addresses. As a counsellor and from my own personal experience, I feel that encouraging others to speak about personal trauma and delicate mental health concerns in any setting other than therapy (or with a qualified professional) is not only unethical but is unsafe for everyone involved. I will further discuss the reasons why. Many will seek mental health/well-being support groups when they are struggling; therefore, listening to other people’s struggles when they are vulnerable themselves does not make logical sense, as this may add to psychological distress, and could also carry implications depending on what others share. Many clients may take home other people’s emotional baggage as well as their own, leaving them carrying more distress than they began with. People who are struggling with trauma and/or mental health conditions need more than connection and sharing experience; they require confidential, safe, qualified support to guide them through it. Some people may feel brave enough for the first time to unleash the biggest trauma of their life in front of a group of strangers. This is not appropriate for anyone involved, as there is no room, time, or privacy to delve into any trauma, no matter how big or small. This also questions the impact that hearing someone else’s trauma may have on the rest of the group. Furthermore, if someone is feeling suicidal or discusses self-harm, this could potentially have a dramatic impact on the other group members. Moreover, we cannot control other people’s reactions or responses; people may be vulnerable, and other people’s opinions and/or advice are not the appropriate way to support and could potentially have an unintentional negative impact. Additionally, there is no guarantee of confidentiality, as there is no legal requirement, causing major ethical concerns, especially for victims of abuse. Well-being-focused groups can be a great place for personal development and connection, especially if you’re trying to meet like-minded people. Although they should in no way be used as a replacement for therapy. Unfortunately, I feel that sometimes (and often unintentionally) they can lead to a “mini therapy session”, without the safety of a 1.1 therapy session. I say this from personal experience of attending women’s circles over the years, before my training, with no understanding of why the differences mattered for the safety and mental wellbeing of all involved. I view my younger self with compassion. I was reaching out for support and wasn’t aware of the limitations of group sessions. I hope my article can prevent others from experiencing such outcomes. I’ve been to many women’s circles in the past, and although they seemed supportive, looking back now as a qualified counsellor, none were actually safe or ethical. I was encouraged to open up about past trauma, which I instantly regretted, and I left with past trauma wide open, putting me at risk. Women’s circles (and other groups) are obviously more affordable compared to one-to-one therapy sessions, so to people who cannot afford to pay for private therapy, circles and/or groups may seem like a legitimate alternative. This is why the facilitator needs to explain that this is not a replacement for therapy, and why, as not everyone will understand the differences and importance of such. I have included a table to demonstrate some vital differences between 1.1 therapy and support groups and why this matters for clients with trauma, attachment, and mental health conditions. The differences highlight why support groups cannot replace therapy,| Mental Health Groups | Counselling |
| Sharing Experience The basis for a support group, may result in triggering others, projection, opening trauma and confidentiality concerns. Clients may come away carrying other people’s pain as well as their own. | Client Focus The client shares their experience; the focus is on the client only. This way, the client has the space to process and explore their inner world with their therapist. |
| Advice/Sympathy May not always happen by default but a group environment equates to high risk. Advice and sympathy will not empower a client and for clients who have insecure attachment types, and or past trauma this can be harmful. | Active Listening Counsellors are trained to actively listen, not to give advice, this empowers the client helping them to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings. |
| Opinions (may not always happen by default but a group environment equates to high risk). | Step into Client’s Inner World Even if the therapist can relate personally, the therapist is trained to step into the client’s inner world, the focus is on the clients’ journey. |
| Friendships/Power Dynamic Due to the nature of a group setting, friendships within the group maybe formed and connections made. The dynamics could heavily influence what and how people share. Due to different personalities certain members of the group maybe more vocal (or not) creating power dynamics. | Professional Boundaries Friendships are not formed in therapy. The relationship is purely the therapeutic relationship for the purpose of therapy. The counsellor is also prohibited from working with clients whom they personally know, to avoid dual relationships. |
| Trigger/Projection Due to the nature of a group, it is likely that clients may be triggered from time to time, and/or projection may happen due to sharing experiences. | Supervision Therapy isn’t immune to such issues. In a therapy setting, transference and countertransference may emerge, despite this, the counsellor is trained to deal with such issues and seek monthly supervision to manage safely if they arise. |
| Openness Many support groups are confidential in nature although there are no legal implications to enforce this. | Confidentiality Qualified counsellors are bound legally by confidentiality, of course there are limits concerning safeguarding. |