Starting Counseling

First and foremost, I am proud of you. Starting counseling no matter what takes bravery. It can be very difficult for people to seek help for a variety of reasons. This can be related to a lack of a support system, cultural or societal norms still stigmatizing mental illness and counseling, lack of access, fear of the unknown or fear of the process itself. Healing can be scary. But I am proud of you for wanting to heal regardless.

Here at Hopeful Beginnings our trained social workers are available to hold space for our clients to allow them to grow as they work though the life experiences that brought them here. Our training teaches us to be unbiased and empathetic to assist our clients move through whatever struggles they are facing whether it be postpartum depression, grief and loss or adjustment to motherhood.

As a client, the best thing you can do before beginning counseling is to be as honest as possible with yourself and with your social worker. We are not here to judge our clients in any way; not in their position in life, in the speed at which growth happens or doesn’t happen, even their opinions and values. It is our job as professionals to guide and support our clients by providing insight, a shift in perspective, and resources to aid the process. There is no right or wrong way to do counseling, there is only how ready and willing you are to begin the process.

Rachel Sullivan MSW

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