The word counseling is used to describe a therapeutic relationship or a collaborative effort between an individual, a couple, a family or a group and a professional who has been trained to assist people in times of hardship or crisis, or to help them grow and know themselves better. 

Professional counselors help clients identify the cause of their distress, set up goals and find potential solutions to problems that are causing emotional confusion. 

In counseling, clients learn to improve communication and coping skills, they strengthen their self-esteem and change their ways to perceive themselves, others and the world. In the counseling sessions, clients examine their behaviors, thoughts and feelings and understand how those are causing difficulties in their lives.

Why do people seek counseling?

There are many times in our lives when we all feel we need someone to listen to us without judgment. Counseling is not just for those who suffer from serious psychological problems. A counselor can help people to identify their real needs and assist them in the process of improving communication skills, making responsible decisions and finding what they really want to become.

The therapeutic relationship with a counselor is essentially empowering. Everything that is said in therapy is confidential and a professional counselor offers unconditional positive regard. Each counselor has their unique approach to their work. Many use a pragmatic approach, which means that they use their knowledge according to the evaluation they make of the client and the client's needs. Silvia Casabianca's approach is psychodynamic. She has been trained in Psychonalytic theory, humanism and systems and believes that one of the goals in therapy is freedom. She encourages the patient to safely explore inner experiences (many times through the use of art), and considers therapy a continuing process of change which will hopefully continue after counselling has ended.

The benefit of therapy manifest in the person becoming open to experience life at its fullest; being able to trust their own ability to make decisions; accepting themselves for who and what they are, and accepting responsibility for their own behavior.

If you are going through a time in your life when it seems difficult to understand why your relationship has become conflicting, when your levels of anxiety are mounting up, when you feel so sad that it is difficult to get up in the morning, you need to examine what's going on in your life. Maybe you lost your sense of purpose, you have lost a dear one, you have ended a relationship or have been diagnosed with a chronic and limiting condition. In all of these cases a counselor can provide assistance.

A professional counselor will encourage your personal growth and development in ways that foster your interest and welfare.