It’s stating the obvious to say that every one of us needs help of some kind at some point. Sometimes it’s in-the-moment help; sometimes there is a need for in-depth and ongoing help, support, and problem-solving.
For example, maybe you need to make a relatively simple decision, like what to wear to a dance or a job interview. Or perhaps you have a major dilemma: whether to accept a position on the other side of the country, a choice with life-altering implications.
Or perhaps you are dealing with a more pervasive problem, like sleeplessness or not knowing how to begin a fitness regimen that you will stick to. Are you concerned about the person you are currently dating? Having lots of fights with your coworkers or parents? You may be falling into the same patterns and conflicts that have plagued you for years.
Although all these situations are different in complexity and magnitude, they have one thing in common: they point to the fact that we all need some help—to gain clarity, consider options, and make a plan—or at least take the next step. The big questions are, “How do we get that help? Who should we ask? Which professional is best suited to provide what we need, when we need it?”
There are many different types of helping professionals, all with different training, experience, and styles. What they do, how they do it, how to reach them, and how accessible they are may differ—although many have overlap, at least in some respects. The important thing is to find someone with whom you can work and connect.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to get support and many different professionals who can help. Here's a breakdown of the roles they fill.
What Is a Mental Health Support Professional?
Mental health support professional is a broad, general term. It may also be referenced as mental wellness counselor, emotional support counselor, or some variation of those terms. Mental health professionals come from a variety of backgrounds and have different educational, professional, and personal experiences and perspectives. They listen, offer empathy and understanding, and help their clients develop coping skills, encouraging them to consider different ways of looking at their problems. They often reflect back what they hear, brainstorm possible solutions, and offer suggestions for approaches or resources that may be useful.
Here at Counslr, mental health professionals are available around the clock, on-demand and by scheduled appointment, to provide live, text-based support. While these professionals all are licensed and hold a variety of degrees and credentials—from LMHCs to LCSWs to PhDs and PsyDs —on the Counslr platform, they play a crucial role in supporting mental health, often through practical problem solving and sub-clinical work that has a lasting impact. This includes helping individuals navigate stress, relationship challenges, academic or career pressures, and life transitions—issues that may not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis but still deeply affect well-being. Through empathic listening, practical guidance, and emotional support, counselors provide a safe space for clients to process their experiences and build resilience. Their work serves as a preventative measure, promoting mental wellness and averting more serious psychological conditions.
Who Else Can Help? How Do They Differ?
Therapy or psychotherapy is focused on helping clients better understand themselves: why they think or behave the way they do, and the underlying reasons for their thoughts and behaviors that may or may not be in their control (such as something that happened in the distant past). Therapy may also involve learning how to think about these factors differently and systematically and addressing problems using various evidence-based approaches in which the therapist is trained and experienced. Though it can be shorter in duration, like counseling, it often spans many months or years. Therapists often specialize in treating particular populations, such as children or adolescents. They also typically specialize in therapeutic approaches, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), family systems, or psychodynamic therapy.
Counseling most often is provided by a licensed counselor or social worker and involves behavior change and, frequently, an individualized plan designed to address that change. It usually involves something specific, such as use or overuse of alcohol or drugs, losing weight, or making a decision about an important life change—but it can also be less explicit, such as improving relationships or learning and practicing new behaviors to avoid falling into the same old patterns. It is often relatively short-term, between one and 10 sessions, although a relationship with a counselor can last much longer.
Coaching typically consists of a collaborative relationship between the coach and client. A professional coach tries to understand their clients’ goals, often through several meetings, to learn about and analyze their problem(s) and the actions they have taken in the past to solve them. Coaches often focus on a particular task or lifestyle and create a plan for achieving personal and/or professional goals. They typically monitor progress and alter activities and objectives as appropriate while offering ongoing support and encouragement. Coaches may have varied backgrounds—in psychology, social work, other health-related fields, business, or organizational behavior. Coaches do not need a license to practice, although some do hold coaching certifications from professional associations, schools, and universities.
Conclusion
So, how do you decide who to call? Sometimes you may not even know what’s wrong—just a vague feeling that something isn’t right in your life, that feeling of free-floating mental unrest or anxiety with no apparent cause, or a sadness that seems to come out of left field—and you don’t know what it is or why. But that uncertainty is still a perfectly valid reason to seek support. While there is significant overlap among the available services and mental health professionals, the good news is that there are many options, in-person and online, so that just about everyone who needs help can get it. In the end, the answer to “Who do I call?” may matter less than making the call in the first place.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
It’s stating the obvious to say that every one of us needs help of some kind at some point. Sometimes it’s in-the-moment help; sometimes there is a need for in-depth and ongoing help, support, and problem-solving.
For example, maybe you need to make a relatively simple decision, like what to wear to a dance or a job interview. Or perhaps you have a major dilemma: whether to accept a position on the other side of the country, a choice with life-altering implications.
Or perhaps you are dealing with a more pervasive problem, like sleeplessness or not knowing how to begin a fitness regimen that you will stick to. Are you concerned about the person you are currently dating? Having lots of fights with your coworkers or parents? You may be falling into the same patterns and conflicts that have plagued you for years.
Although all these situations are different in complexity and magnitude, they have one thing in common: they point to the fact that we all need some help—to gain clarity, consider options, and make a plan—or at least take the next step. The big questions are, “How do we get that help? Who should we ask? Which professional is best suited to provide what we need, when we need it?”
There are many different types of helping professionals, all with different training, experience, and styles. What they do, how they do it, how to reach them, and how accessible they are may differ—although many have overlap, at least in some respects. The important thing is to find someone with whom you can work and connect.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to get support and many different professionals who can help. Here's a breakdown of the roles they fill.
What Is a Mental Health Support Professional?
Mental health support professional is a broad, general term. It may also be referenced as mental wellness counselor, emotional support counselor, or some variation of those terms. Mental health professionals come from a variety of backgrounds and have different educational, professional, and personal experiences and perspectives. They listen, offer empathy and understanding, and help their clients develop coping skills, encouraging them to consider different ways of looking at their problems. They often reflect back what they hear, brainstorm possible solutions, and offer suggestions for approaches or resources that may be useful.
Here at Counslr, mental health professionals are available around the clock, on-demand and by scheduled appointment, to provide live, text-based support. While these professionals all are licensed and hold a variety of degrees and credentials—from LMHCs to LCSWs to PhDs and PsyDs —on the Counslr platform, they play a crucial role in supporting mental health, often through practical problem solving and sub-clinical work that has a lasting impact. This includes helping individuals navigate stress, relationship challenges, academic or career pressures, and life transitions—issues that may not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis but still deeply affect well-being. Through empathic listening, practical guidance, and emotional support, counselors provide a safe space for clients to process their experiences and build resilience. Their work serves as a preventative measure, promoting mental wellness and averting more serious psychological conditions.
Who Else Can Help? How Do They Differ?
Therapy or psychotherapy is focused on helping clients better understand themselves: why they think or behave the way they do, and the underlying reasons for their thoughts and behaviors that may or may not be in their control (such as something that happened in the distant past). Therapy may also involve learning how to think about these factors differently and systematically and addressing problems using various evidence-based approaches in which the therapist is trained and experienced. Though it can be shorter in duration, like counseling, it often spans many months or years. Therapists often specialize in treating particular populations, such as children or adolescents. They also typically specialize in therapeutic approaches, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), family systems, or psychodynamic therapy.
Counseling most often is provided by a licensed counselor or social worker and involves behavior change and, frequently, an individualized plan designed to address that change. It usually involves something specific, such as use or overuse of alcohol or drugs, losing weight, or making a decision about an important life change—but it can also be less explicit, such as improving relationships or learning and practicing new behaviors to avoid falling into the same old patterns. It is often relatively short-term, between one and 10 sessions, although a relationship with a counselor can last much longer.
Coaching typically consists of a collaborative relationship between the coach and client. A professional coach tries to understand their clients’ goals, often through several meetings, to learn about and analyze their problem(s) and the actions they have taken in the past to solve them. Coaches often focus on a particular task or lifestyle and create a plan for achieving personal and/or professional goals. They typically monitor progress and alter activities and objectives as appropriate while offering ongoing support and encouragement. Coaches may have varied backgrounds—in psychology, social work, other health-related fields, business, or organizational behavior. Coaches do not need a license to practice, although some do hold coaching certifications from professional associations, schools, and universities.
Conclusion
So, how do you decide who to call? Sometimes you may not even know what’s wrong—just a vague feeling that something isn’t right in your life, that feeling of free-floating mental unrest or anxiety with no apparent cause, or a sadness that seems to come out of left field—and you don’t know what it is or why. But that uncertainty is still a perfectly valid reason to seek support. While there is significant overlap among the available services and mental health professionals, the good news is that there are many options, in-person and online, so that just about everyone who needs help can get it. In the end, the answer to “Who do I call?” may matter less than making the call in the first place.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
You Need Help! Who You Gonna Call?
It’s stating the obvious to say that every one of us needs help of some kind at some point. Sometimes it’s in-the-moment help; sometimes there is a need for in-depth and ongoing help, support, and problem-solving.
For example, maybe you need to make a relatively simple decision, like what to wear to a dance or a job interview. Or perhaps you have a major dilemma: whether to accept a position on the other side of the country, a choice with life-altering implications.
Or perhaps you are dealing with a more pervasive problem, like sleeplessness or not knowing how to begin a fitness regimen that you will stick to. Are you concerned about the person you are currently dating? Having lots of fights with your coworkers or parents? You may be falling into the same patterns and conflicts that have plagued you for years.
Although all these situations are different in complexity and magnitude, they have one thing in common: they point to the fact that we all need some help—to gain clarity, consider options, and make a plan—or at least take the next step. The big questions are, “How do we get that help? Who should we ask? Which professional is best suited to provide what we need, when we need it?”
There are many different types of helping professionals, all with different training, experience, and styles. What they do, how they do it, how to reach them, and how accessible they are may differ—although many have overlap, at least in some respects. The important thing is to find someone with whom you can work and connect.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to get support and many different professionals who can help. Here's a breakdown of the roles they fill.
What Is a Mental Health Support Professional?
Mental health support professional is a broad, general term. It may also be referenced as mental wellness counselor, emotional support counselor, or some variation of those terms. Mental health professionals come from a variety of backgrounds and have different educational, professional, and personal experiences and perspectives. They listen, offer empathy and understanding, and help their clients develop coping skills, encouraging them to consider different ways of looking at their problems. They often reflect back what they hear, brainstorm possible solutions, and offer suggestions for approaches or resources that may be useful.
Here at Counslr, mental health professionals are available around the clock, on-demand and by scheduled appointment, to provide live, text-based support. While these professionals all are licensed and hold a variety of degrees and credentials—from LMHCs to LCSWs to PhDs and PsyDs —on the Counslr platform, they play a crucial role in supporting mental health, often through practical problem solving and sub-clinical work that has a lasting impact. This includes helping individuals navigate stress, relationship challenges, academic or career pressures, and life transitions—issues that may not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis but still deeply affect well-being. Through empathic listening, practical guidance, and emotional support, counselors provide a safe space for clients to process their experiences and build resilience. Their work serves as a preventative measure, promoting mental wellness and averting more serious psychological conditions.
Who Else Can Help? How Do They Differ?
Therapy or psychotherapy is focused on helping clients better understand themselves: why they think or behave the way they do, and the underlying reasons for their thoughts and behaviors that may or may not be in their control (such as something that happened in the distant past). Therapy may also involve learning how to think about these factors differently and systematically and addressing problems using various evidence-based approaches in which the therapist is trained and experienced. Though it can be shorter in duration, like counseling, it often spans many months or years. Therapists often specialize in treating particular populations, such as children or adolescents. They also typically specialize in therapeutic approaches, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), family systems, or psychodynamic therapy.
Counseling most often is provided by a licensed counselor or social worker and involves behavior change and, frequently, an individualized plan designed to address that change. It usually involves something specific, such as use or overuse of alcohol or drugs, losing weight, or making a decision about an important life change—but it can also be less explicit, such as improving relationships or learning and practicing new behaviors to avoid falling into the same old patterns. It is often relatively short-term, between one and 10 sessions, although a relationship with a counselor can last much longer.
Coaching typically consists of a collaborative relationship between the coach and client. A professional coach tries to understand their clients’ goals, often through several meetings, to learn about and analyze their problem(s) and the actions they have taken in the past to solve them. Coaches often focus on a particular task or lifestyle and create a plan for achieving personal and/or professional goals. They typically monitor progress and alter activities and objectives as appropriate while offering ongoing support and encouragement. Coaches may have varied backgrounds—in psychology, social work, other health-related fields, business, or organizational behavior. Coaches do not need a license to practice, although some do hold coaching certifications from professional associations, schools, and universities.
Conclusion
So, how do you decide who to call? Sometimes you may not even know what’s wrong—just a vague feeling that something isn’t right in your life, that feeling of free-floating mental unrest or anxiety with no apparent cause, or a sadness that seems to come out of left field—and you don’t know what it is or why. But that uncertainty is still a perfectly valid reason to seek support. While there is significant overlap among the available services and mental health professionals, the good news is that there are many options, in-person and online, so that just about everyone who needs help can get it. In the end, the answer to “Who do I call?” may matter less than making the call in the first place.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
