Research Article

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COUNSELING FOR MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN INDIVIDUALS: SITUATIONS IN NORTH MACEDONIA AND THE USA

ABSTRACT

This research study examines crisis situations in counseling centers and their role in facilitating personal growth and development in clients/students. It emphasizes the importance of counseling centers not only as venues for therapeutic interventions but also as catalysts for personal and interpersonal development. Specifically, the study focuses on comparing crisis situations in counseling centers between the USA and North Macedonia, taking into account the number of admissions for specific psychopathological conditions over the course of one year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Desk analysis was employed to analyze admission data obtained from counseling centers in both countries. The research findings will shed light on the disparities in the number of admissions for specific psychopathological conditions between North Macedonia and the USA. This cross-cultural comparison aims to enhance our understanding of crisis situations and the demand for counseling services within distinct cultural and contextual contexts. The implications of this study are significant, as it can contribute to the improvement of counseling services in both North Macedonia and the USA, offering support to individuals experiencing psychopathological conditions during crisis situations.

Keywords

cross-cultural comparison crisis situations psychological counseling