Dear counsellor, What kind of problems can I talk to a counsellor about? Brian Dear Brian, I t’s pretty clear that we understand that the world today faces a lot of atrocities and very many people perceive those problems in different ways. Many visit the counsellors while others decide to take radical decisions such as committing suicide and resorting to drugs. It is, however, important to note that problems vary depending on the victim and how they are handled. Some problems are in school settings while others may be general family issues. Whatever the case, it is advisable to visit a counsellor to help you identify and rectify problems like depression and trauma, without which consequences would eminently be overwhelming. The kind of problem that you should discuss with the counsellor will always arise from different unprecedented situations which are unavoidable as long as we still live in this world. As a student, you should prioritise issues related to your academics when talking to a counsellor or a senior teacher. It could be a problem to do with drugs, alcohol or a career path dilemma about which subjects to drop or take. Some female students tend to face complicated situations such as pregnancy and get worried because they have no one (not even their parents) to talk to. But talking to counsellors may help such a student to drop any thoughts about abortion, dropping out of school and committing suicide. So opening up to your counsellor is one step to a solution because they are good listeners, empathetic, non-judgemental and they are always working around the clock to find solutions to the problems. Feel free to talk to you counsellor and you will be surprised to find yourself a better person in the future. The writer is a teacher and counsellor
