Keys For Successful Counseling
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Willingness Motivation Commitment Faith
Many people who need counseling will not seek it out, or they will come to therapy, but are not willing to make any changes in their lives. They want others to change; They want their environment or circumstances to change, but they are resistant to making any changes in themselves. It is amazing how much pain a person can endure because they refuse to make changes in themselves.

Change can initially create some anxiety, it can push a person out of their comfort zones. For some, the habit of pain in their life is easier to endure than the idea of change. They become captive to their habits. New habits, new methods of doing things, and changing thinking patterns or behaviors takes a great deal of energy, time and especially courage.

Courage is defined as "the willingness to do something even if you are afraid." The person with courage is willing to do what it takes and will most likely be more careful about it because they do experience fear. But they are not paralyzed by fear, they are empowered by it. Seeking help and making changes requires courage. If you are willing to take the steps to improve your life, you are on the way to making your future a better place.
 Some people are willing to make changes in their lives, but lack the energy or drive to make those changes happen. They may even come in for counseling and express a desire for change, but will not make the effort necessary to actually carry out the process. They seek help because their lives have deteriorated to the point of crisis...perhaps their marriage is failing, or they are entangled in the legal system, or ready to lose their jobs. Their health can be bad as a result of the emotional pain they have neglected for so long.

An emotional crisis can be very painful, but it can be helpful as well. In many cases, things may have to get worse before change will take place. Crisis can be a life disaster, but it can also be a means to making life better because of the motivation for change it provides.

Without a strong drive for change, it is not likely to happen. When an individual has both the willingness and the motivation to do so, they are half way to success in the counseling process.		 People tend to be impatient with the personal growth process. Many of us want things, and we want them right now. Those who believe that "anything worth having is worth waiting for," will will persist in their goals of personal change, and they are the ones who will prevail over adversity. The counseling process requires just such a commitment, and patience. Many rush into what they think is a viable solution only to find the problem has not been resolved at all.

Real and lasting change rarely occurs instantaneously. The key to success in the counseling process, aside from having the willingness and motivation to change (adapt and learn) is to stay the course of therapy. Interpersonal problems develop over many years and they take time to resolve.
 If you do not believe in yourself, or in what you are doing, it is almost impossible to accomplish any project or task. The more you believe in something, the more likely you are to be successful at it. One of the reasons people suffer great emotional distress is they do not believe the counseling process can help them. They have seen counselors portrayed in unflattering ways in the media, or have bought into the stigma associated with seeking mental health help. Faith in the process is required for healing and change to happen.

Successful individuals understand that it takes believing in yourself and others to accomplish goals and tasks. They know a certain amount of trust needs to be placed in well-educated, well-trained therapists for the counseling process to be succeed. Lack of trust in others can stem from early childhood issues, and can be a primary source of pain. Someone who is really willing, motivated and committed to improving their lives will deal early on in counseling with any lack of trust issues.

Overcoming adversity and gaining achievement is a culmination of all four attributes: willingness, motivation, commitment and faith. With them you can have a complete opportunity of success in therapy as well as any other reasonable goals you set in your life.