Counsellors, hallucinations
 

Quick question: For those that have experienced psychosis, hallucinations, etc-- what has your experience been like if you have been to a counsellor about it?

I'm thinking of going to my college's counsellor.

what sort of help are you looking for from the counsellor? help to deal with the experiences of psychosis, or an analytic view regarding reasons for the content of the delusions/hallucinations?

i certainly think it's worth speaking to your college counsellor about it. i am unsure as to whether she would be qualified for the former of the above thoughts (dealing with voices) and i'm almost certain she wouldn't be qualified for the latter (analytic perspectives). i may be wrong, though! also, she might be able to suggest other avenues if she is unable to help with the psychosis. she might help you find someone who can help.

I have hallucinations, and my experience speaking with a counselor was pretty good. I'm kind of a weird case, but she was really good about listening and not blowing me off, and insisting I was wrong about anything. She did ask me about 8000 questions, which got a little redundant, but I think thats because she was having a hard time understanding what I was saying. Like I said though, I'm a strange case, so all her questions didn't bother me because I knew she was asking all of them so she could really understand what was going on.

The first psych doctor I saw was....distant? But I think that is just his clinical manner because he was like that with everything we talked about. The second doctor I talked to was super awesome.

If you think you are experiencing psychosis/hallucinations I agree that it would be a good idea to speak with your Uni counselor.

Alternate Reality -- Thank you very much, I definitely, definitely appreciate it.

Whirlpools -- Just... at the moment I want someone to talk to about it and to possibly help me a little. I can't really casually talk about it with my friends at college as I barely know anyone yet and I wouldn't anyway.

~Aidey~ -- Thank you for sharing your experience. That's helped me get a little bit more confidence.

I'm still a little apprehensive, but I'm just nervous. I was originally just going to talk about my anxiety stuff but I realised that I do need help with this. I've just got to get the confidence to say something.

I haven't experienced those things but have found academic counsellors to be really helpful. They will listen to how you are feeling but aren't normally able to do more than help you explore your feelings. If it gets to the point where you think you need more support then they would be able to direct you to someone who could help.

The appointment is tomorrow. I'm really nervous. I need help though. It's screwing up my college life now too-- the night before last I got about 3-4 hours sleep because I was frightened as hell of the hallucinations I was having.

I know, I know... I did try. I wanted to sleep so bad but it just wasn't happening.

Today is the day.

Good luck! I'm sure it'll go fine. Also don't worry if you don't manage to disclose everything today, a good counsellor will understand it takes time to trust and open up to someone. Have you considered approaching your GP about it aswell? Because a GP could deal with the medical aspects of the hallucinations, whereas a counsellor can help you deal with the impact they have on your life.
xxx

I've thought about it. But I'm not ready for that yet.

It went OK, apart from I had the wrong day (oops) and my appointment was next week, but we had the appointment anyway. I didn't manage to say anything about my hallucinations yet, in fact I barely got to say anything.

She said their method is to let the person talk about whatever they want to talk about and them not being the ones in control. When she asked me what I wanted from them I said something like "someone to talk to. Maybe advice." and she said they generally don't give too much advice (???) so I'm not sure what to think about it all.

I'm bipolar and with me psychosis is a part of it I see lights and shadows, and become delusionally paranoid (ie i know what people are thinking about me, know they are looking at me etc)

Like you aI can't talk to my friends, hopefuly you will find your counsellor easy to open up to. Even if she can't give you advice hopefully she will be able to point you in the right direction.

I thought this would help. I guess it doesn't. I don't want to have to go and find someone else. It's too hard to try. I'm not going to be able to talk in the sessions, I know I won't. There's no way I could say to someone face to face "I have hallucinations". There really isn't. I wouldn't be able to write it down either-- that idea fills me with dread. I've been fighting off a panic attack all night thinking about this. ****, ****.

Sorry to keep bumping this topic.

In my experience, the first sessions with counsellors always feel a little tense. There is nothing wrong with going back and saying about the hallucinations. They can not give advice in the sense that they can not tell you to do anything, or direct you in the way a Citizens Advice Beureau (sp?) can... but, if you talk to them about the issues, they can help you explore them, work out ways to help with your college work and suggest a referral should you need it, to a therapist that can deal more directly with the hallucinations. It is worth going back, although I know how hard that can be - stick with it.

*hug* failing that, there is nothing wrong with asking to see a different counsellor if you do not feel comfortable with that particular one.

Roiben