Classes and Retreats

The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, counseling is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

This is a common fear when joining a group. Each one of these is set up to establish rapport and trust before anyone is asked to share anything too personal. One thing to remember is that everyone else in that group is struggling with the same issues. Each partiicpant’s level of interaction is based on their own comfort level.

Community support groups like AA meetings can be a critical part of healing. Therapeutic Classes & Retreats are different than AA meetings because they are facilitated by a professional, focused on a specific topic, and are not always focused on substance use issues.