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pros and cons of counseling | benefits of eft tapping, cbt therapy & play therapy

Teri Karjala • Jun 28, 2017

Counseling is a form of psychoanalysis that therapists use to determine an individual’s specific needs and develop or recommend an appropriate process for improvement. Therapy can provide a person with coping mechanisms, behavioral and cognitive symptom reduction, confidence, and much more. The benefits manifest not only in the present – they may lay the foundation for healthy growth well into your future. There are many unconventional therapy methodologies that have become more popular in recent years thanks to their progressive and useful nature both in and out of professional sessions.

An invested therapist will most likely recommend the best type or combination of therapies based on your unique needs, but, as it goes, knowledge is power. Knowing the pros and cons of counseling methods prior to engaging in your therapeutic journey can help you set realistic expectations and eliminate any “fear of the unknown” you may be feeling.

There are many different modalities of therapy, but the pros and cons of counseling techniques such as EFT tapping, cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy are discussed in more detail here:

eft tapping | emotional freedom technique

Emotional freedom technique – or EFT tapping – is a form of therapy that involves releasing internal blocks in the mind to promote the release of tension on a cellular level. The end goal is to restore a balance cognitively and physically. EFT tapping pulls wisdom from acupuncture and works on the body’s meridian points to essentially create new, more productive ways of thinking and feeling. Learn more about EFT therapy here.

pros

Fast and easy ; once you learn the proper meridian points and how to perform EFT tapping, you can do it on yourself anytime

Once you learn EFT tapping, you can use it for other personal issues that arise in the future. For example, maybe you begin EFT tapping to help you cope with a debilitating phobia, but find it useful for working through stress at work later down the road.

You can perform EFT tapping anywhere, anytime : during your morning coffee when you’re stressed about work, while you’re watching a movie, late at night, or at the office on your lunch break.

Coping with stress, anxiety and phobias : EFT tapping teaches you to calm the mind and better cope with stressful situations in life. Imagine yourself relaxed and ready to take on the world!

Decrease your food cravings & lose weight : Losing weight can be a difficult task for some. EFT tapping may give you the extra push you need to stay on a nutrition plan and stick with an exercise routine!

PTSD ; PTSD is a real problem today for many who have been in the military or experienced a traumatic event. Coping with the real world can prove difficult. These positive techniques along with counseling may be your saving grace to lead a quality, positive life.

cons

Need to know how to perform EFT tapping correctly or you will not reap the full benefits. If you do not know where the meridian points are, and do not choose the correct phrase for your needs, the results may not be as effective. It is helpful to have a therapist guide you before attempting EFT on your own.

If abused, it can become a crutch. Use it when you need, but if performed too often it could become a mental crutch. Do not consider this a reason not use the emotional freedom technique – just be mindful and ensure that you are letting the tapping work in conjunction with your own self will to better your life.

cognitive behavioral therapy | cbt therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT therapy, is meant to challenge the mind and alter behavioral patterns by replacing negative thoughts with a more positive subconscious voice. The end goal is to provide a person with the coping skills and techniques he or she needs to live a happier, more positive life. Learn more about CBT therapy here.

pros

CBT techniques can be applied to your everyday life: It’s always awesome when you can take what you learned and apply it to all aspects of your life. There is nothing like gaining confidence and coping skills to keep you in the light while growth takes place.

Performed in a variety of settings & highly structured: When therapy can be performed in any setting, you may feel more comfortable facing the problems and opening to your counselor. The specific structure will help you to see steps and feel as you are making tangible progress in session and at home.

Completed in a predetermined, short period of time: The short period of time implies that there is an end in sight, which can be a huge motivator for you to keep up with the homework assignments and get the most you can out of your sessions.

May prevent life-long dependence on medication: If you are concerned about your dependence on drugs to heal and move forward, then CBT might help reprogram the mind to take enough control over your emotions and help you ween off the drugs.

cons

Requires the participant to be actively involved – advice alone will not work! The participant needs to be willing to put in the extra work and the progress will be hindered if there is no drive to stick with it.

Getting full commitment may pose difficult – homework is required. Performing homework is not something we want to do outside of schooling, but consider what you will get out of it if you immerse yourself fully and just commit. It takes commitment to make change!

Does not relate or dig deep into the person’s past – inward focus on patterns and thought. This method is not really focused on a past event, but more about altering a current thought pattern to enact results.

play therapy | play therapy for adults

Play therapy is a form of counseling, typically used with children, but that can be helpful with adults under various circumstances – especially those that involve digging into your past – through language and “play” in a relaxed, comfortable environment. When people perform activities they enjoy and are familiar with, it allows the trained therapist to observe, interpret and guide them through a healthy, healing process. Learn more about play therapy here.

pros

Relaxed environment – easy release and comfort : We are all familiar with playing games, with toys, and/or building sand castles, but little did you know these activities open the mind and provide a sense of comfort for counseling sessions!

A natural form of emotional regulation : Playing with toys during development is a natural relaxer for our brains and is a way for adults and children to personally regulate their emotions whether they are consciously aware of that or not.

Helps build a strong, trusting bond with therapist : Trust is huge when participating in therapy, because we trust that the counselor has our best interest at heart. During play we feel more connected and trusted of someone who helps us to perform an activity or puts a smile on our faces.

cons

Mixed reviews : There are mixed reviews when it comes to testing this method of therapy, but you will not know if it works for you until you try!

Need to find an appropriate therapist : Looking for a play therapist can be a difficult task, because you want to find someone who is trustworthy and knowledgeable, but who also has previous success stories. Creative Counseling Centers specializes in play therapy – take advantage of our offer for a free consultation and see if you connect with one of our play therapy experts.

Can be a long process : As play therapy’s nature relies on your ability to relax your mind, and the counselor to observe as you’re guided through play, you must understand that the time tables will vary, and some take longer than others.

Therapy is very beneficial to millions of individuals around the country who need support processing their emotions. These non-conventional methods are on the forefront of growth and development for people’s futures. They can provide you with coping skills and techniques for in-session and home progression, leading you in a direction of a positive and better-quality life from now on.

contact creative counseling center

If you think EFT tapping, cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, or any other therapeutic technique might be able to help you through whatever you’re going through, contact Creative Counseling Center via the brief form below. We can help connect you with a therapist who is well equipped to help you, or recommend other behavioral health services as needed. Just complete the brief form below and we’ll be in touch!

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teri

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teri Karjala is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Counseling Center, LLC. Working in the field since 1999, Teri and her team of therapists specializes in counseling for those who have experienced trauma. They work with children as young as age 2, as well as teens and adolescents, adults, seniors, families, and couples.

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