Mental health counseling, also known as psychotherapy, is a shared  effort between the counselor and the individual, family or couple.   Professional counselors help consumers: 

• Identify goals and solutions to problems which cause emotional upset or stress 
• Seek to improve communication, interaction, and coping skills
• Strengthen self-awareness, self-esteem and self-empowerment
• Promote behavior change and optimal mental and emotional health

People may see a counselor to resolve issues that result from a  particular situation, such as the death of a loved one, divorce of  parents, or the loss of a job. Other times, people may need to seek  counseling to deal with issues that have been on-going problems, such as  continued sadness or depression, substance abuse, anger, or feelings of  being overwhelmed and anxious. Whatever the reason, counseling can help  a person deal with their feelings and resolve the problems causing  emotional pain.  

ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most  common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence  and adulthood. 

Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and  paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity  (over-activity). These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with  ADHD to succeed in school, get along with other children or adults, or  finish tasks at home.

 Anxiety is a reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some  situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive. A  person with anxiety disorder may have difficulty controlling it and the  continued anxiety may negatively affect their day-to-day living. Anxiety  disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive  disorder, and panic disorder to name a few. Anxiety disorders are among  the most common mental disorders experienced by Americans. 

Bipolar disorder — sometimes called manic-depressive disorder — is  associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to  the highs of mania.

• When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. 
• When your mood shifts in the other direction, you may feel euphoric and full of energy. 
• Mood shifts may occur only a few times a year, or as often as several times a day. 
• In some cases, bipolar disorder causes signs of depression and mania at the same time.

Depression is more than just having “bad day” or a normal response to  grief or loss. Depression is a mood disorder that affects the individual  as well as families and friends. A severe form called Major Depression  frequently goes unrecognized and untreated and may lead to impaired  interpersonal relationships at work and at home, as well as tragic  consequences such as suicide. 

This disorder is still misunderstood as a sign of weakness, rather than  being recognized as an illness. It is diagnosed when at least five of  the symptoms below are present continuously for more than two weeks: