For Individuals

Personal Growth Counseling

At times, some of us seek out therapy not just because of suffering, but because we desire personal growth and development.  “The unexamined life is not worth living,” rings true for some of us.  We desire self-understanding, and we long to grow past patterns and limitations that may have held us back in life.  The therapeutic process provides a unique opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth for anyone. With the guidance of a trained therapist at Newark Behavioral Health, clients can engage in introspection and make positive changes in their perspectives and behaviors. There are several techniques our therapists use to facilitate exploration of growth areas.

Image of a female sitting on a rocky beach reading a book after a personal growth session at Newark Behavioral Health
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How Can Personal Growth Counseling Help?

Our licensed therapists have many tools to help clients evaluate their thoughts, emotions, relationships, and lifestyle choices. Identifying discrepancies between current life and ideal life illuminates growth areas. For example, a client may realize they suppress emotions, even though their values prioritize emotional expression. Or a client may value assertiveness, but find themselves afraid to speak up in certain relationships. Exploring growth in therapy also involves discussing developmental needs and life stage challenges. Therapists help clients work through Erikson's psychosocial stages, like establishing identity in late adolescence or finding meaning in midlife.

  • Therapists also aid clients in discovering how past experiences and childhood events affect current growth. Treatment modalities like psychoanalytic therapy illuminate how unconscious drives, defenses, and repressed memories shape personality and current relationships. By making the unconscious conscious, clients gain self-understanding and tools to mature. Family systems theories may also address these issues, and our therapists are trained in all these modalities.

    Cognitive-behavioral techniques identify distorted thought and behavior patterns some clients may wish to change. Therapists assign exercises like monitoring automatic thoughts, role playing new behaviors, or problem solving around cognitive distortions. This builds skillsets to actualize growth goals. Many of us can benefit from working with a therapist to achieve our relationship or career goals, even if we do not have a diagnosable mental health condition. Our therapists at Newark Behavioral Health are ready to accompany you on this journey.

    While at times challenging, exploring growth areas in therapy empowers clients to take control of their lives. They cultivate self-awareness, gain insights into motivations and behaviors, and learn new coping strategies. By working collaboratively with a therapist, clients can overcome barriers to become the person they strive to be. The therapeutic space encourages the honest self-reflection necessary for true personal evolution. If you are ready to grow into your truest and best self, give us a call today!

Get the help you need today

You deserve dedicated time with a caring mental health professional—we can help.