What Kind of Goals Can My Counselor Help Me Set?

Since many of the current theories of counseling focus on the client's needs and preferences, counselors can help individuals set virtually any type of healthy and adaptive goal. Additionally, if you are unsure about what type of goals you need to set, your counselor can provide you with suggestions that reflect your personality, cultural views and personal needs.

Relationship

• If you have strained relationships with your spouse, family or children, a counselor can help you set interpersonal goals. For example, if you are having difficulty setting boundaries with extended family members, your counselor can help you formulate specific ideas about how you can assert yourself. Similarly, if you are having difficulties communicating with your husband or wife, your counselor can assist you in establish goals for your marriage, such as setting aside a specific time every week to talk about your relationship concerns.

Behavioral

• Counselors can be particularly helpful in assisting persons that want to establish new behavioral patterns. Your counselor can help you set goals to help you break unhealthy behaviors, such as lying, shoplifting or compulsive shopping. Similarly, if you have difficulty managing your anger or engage in self-defeating behaviors, your counselor can help you identify the roots of these issues and set manageable goals that will encourage you to utilize new coping mechanisms and change your undesirable behaviors.

Mental Health

• Counseling is effective in helping persons with mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. If you have a diagnosed mental illness, a counselor can help you establish goals related to your wellness, including seeking out medications that may help you better manage your illness. Throughout your mental health counseling, your counselor will also conduct regular evaluations to help you gauge your therapeutic process and establish new wellness goals.

Career

• Most counselors, including those focusing on mental health, have some training in career development. As such, your counselor can help you identify jobs that are suited to your skills and personality by administering aptitude tests and interest inventories. Your counselor may also be able to assist you in establishing a career development plan, and put you in contact with employment agencies and other resources that can help you achieve your goals.

Personal

• Counselors often help their clients establish personal goals, even those that may seem minor or insignificant. For example, if the client is interested in learning to play a musical instrument, joining a book club, taking a vacation or making new friends, a counselor can assist in establishing timeframes for achieving these goals. Additionally, the counselor can provide emotional support and encouragement as the client works toward these personal aspirations.