Individual Counseling: You are Not Your Thoughts

If you are looking for individual counseling, you may be trying to learn how to deal with difficult thoughts that never seem to go away. Maybe you have recurring negative thoughts about yourself. Or maybe you can’t stop thinking about the future, worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet! 

If you can relate to these experiences, know that you are not alone, and individual counseling can help. Today, you will learn about how you can approach difficult thoughts differently, and how to start individual counseling for extra support (Related article: Should I Seek Individual Therapy for Depression Symptoms? and Is Counseling Right For Me?)

Feeling Stuck

Your mental health challenges may have started as difficult thoughts that just never seemed to go away. Maybe you tried to work around them. You might have tried ignoring them or avoiding them. And odds are, the more you ignore them or avoid them, the louder and more intense they become! (Related article: Individual Counseling for Anxiety)

As you try to deal with these difficult thoughts, you might start to feel like your brain isn’t functioning correctly. Or you might think something is wrong with you as a person. Even, that you just can’t overcome your problems. Difficult thoughts can make you feel like you ARE your thoughts, and you might feel like it’s impossible to overcome your struggles. Your brain is designed to create thoughts… for better or for worse. 

You Are Not Your Thoughts 

Thankfully, you are not your thoughts. And that might sound odd or strange, but when you are struggling with thoughts that seem loud, overwhelming, or impossible to ignore, it can feel like you and your thoughts are one and the same. Thankfully, this is not the case. Try thinking of it this way: you are a person who has thoughts, but you are not your thoughts. 

Individual Counseling Can Help You Become Un-Stuck

Your thoughts can also be helpful, motivational, and inspirational. But what do you do when they aren’t? That’s where individual counseling can help you learn the tools and strategies you need to manage your difficult thoughts that lead to overwhelming or confusing emotions.  In individual counseling, a therapist can work with you to help you understand your thoughts and feelings and how to cope with your challenges – even relational or dating difficulties. 

Start individual counseling in Orem, South Jordan, or Spanish Fork, or via Telehealth for anyone in Utah.

Written by Lauren Adkins