How do you find counselling? - Page 2

Steel Maiden · 15-04-2009, 06:43 PM

So I have some positive views on counsellors, that's good.

Are university counsellors any good? Because when I start uni in October, they will be going on about me seeing the university counsellor. But I suppose that's just because of my DSA form...lists my diagnosis.

[Fog] · 15-04-2009, 08:57 PM

Hey Steel, I told my parents pretty much everything about my mh problems this week, but Anouk (the "bad one") is really angry because it was supposed to be between me and Her. Anyway I went to see a psych today and he talked about strong OCD and psychosis and depression and anxiety which all makes sense and I've been put on a sh*tload of medication which Anouk is also not happy about. Anyway I have suddenly understood what has happened to me, I wrote it in Serious.

Uni counsellors can be really good, as I wrote before though I didn't find mine especially useful. I think they're good for issues like stress, leaving home, bereavement etc, and at my uni they do a lot of group stuff for stress, but it wasn't right for me. If you don't mind me asking which uni are you going to?

matt1904 · 15-04-2009, 09:57 PM

I have had depression / depressive disorder since september 2008, have only recently started to see a counsellor - 3 visits. not helped me at all so far...

alienshe_cheesycake · 16-04-2009, 02:30 AM

I guess councillers aren't that qualified to help you sort out your problems, they are more just there to listen maybe?

The first action I ever took about mental health issues was to see my GP, first thing he did was give me prozac and refer me to the GP counciller

Oh god it was awful, I basically just talked to her, but she would sit there reading posters on the wall behind me, checking her watch, just obviously not listening to a word I said. I swear to god I tested her once, she was sitting there half way asleep, and I got so annoyed that I said to her that the first damm thing I was going to do when I walked out of the place was walk into the nearest bus, you know what she says a second later?
You want to see me next week still? in this monatone voice
she hadn't heard a word I said

It was totally pointless and I deteriorated badly in the month that I saw her and ended up trying to top myself and landing in the pych ward

so not so helpful to me

but once I was reffered to another counciller who it turns out was a lot more experienced and qualified, I only saw her that once (not too long after I got to see a pycholagist at last) but she seemed pretty good.

Arioch · 16-04-2009, 01:29 PM

I've seen three counselors in my time and they've all been useless. First was at school, second was an ethnic minority specialist (?) and the third was a volunteer-run project. All of them were crap.
The first one spent most of her time telling me about her kitchen and all of them were pretty patronising. I think I can remember all of them saying 'chin up!' or similar in response to me telling them I was low.
I think it made me hesitant to go into CBT, and although they're both just talking I found a massive difference.

Tomorrowwillcome · 16-04-2009, 06:45 PM

Yet another bad experience of counselling. I have had three in the past and for long periods of time and felt no better just kept going as there was nothing else on offer. Psychologist was better, I'm now just started with a CAT therapist, hope it works.

Sunshine · 16-04-2009, 07:35 PM

when i saw the school councilor she didnt really help me she made me feel worse after every session because i dont really like talking about why i have these emotions and feelings and she wanted to discuss my past and stuff! she also told my parents i was selfharming so it ruined our relationship after that as i didnt feel i could trust her. I was glad when i was refered to CAMHS and got rid of her!- but thats just my opinion whereas the psycgologist i was talked about the present and how to overcome problems i was having there and then

Katiee · 16-04-2009, 09:04 PM

I never thought counselling would help and I more or less thought it was pointless.. but infact.. it's helped me alot in the sense that I've found out things about myself I didn't know what or was confused about. It made my world less confusing and as I have AS the world is a very confusing place to me anyway.. so yeah I feel it does help me find things out. xo.

inblack · 17-04-2009, 12:03 AM

I have seen a few counselors and they were totally useless. Like many people here I believe that counseling is not really helpful for real mental health problems.

If you are dealing with stress or just need to talk/vent then sure they are probably as good as anyone else who has ears and is willing to listen.

I'm doing DBT at the moment and that seems to be helping some...still going through some major depression though. But at least its being worked on and there is action being taken. Its not just like going and talking every week about BS.

Steel Maiden · 17-04-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banana89

Hey Steel, I told my parents pretty much everything about my mh problems this week, but Anouk (the "bad one") is really angry because it was supposed to be between me and Her. Anyway I went to see a psych today and he talked about strong OCD and psychosis and depression and anxiety which all makes sense and I've been put on a sh*tload of medication which Anouk is also not happy about. Anyway I have suddenly understood what has happened to me, I wrote it in Serious.

Uni counsellors can be really good, as I wrote before though I didn't find mine especially useful. I think they're good for issues like stress, leaving home, bereavement etc, and at my uni they do a lot of group stuff for stress, but it wasn't right for me. If you don't mind me asking which uni are you going to?

Hugs. I'm glad you told your parents. I told my Mum recently. And your psych too, that's good. OCD, psychosis, depression and anxiety...man that's horrible. *hugs again* what meds are you on, if you don't mind me asking?
I'll see about the uni counselling service when I go to uni; my director of studies recommended it to me. I don't like the idea of group stuff for stress though.
I'm going to Cambridge Uni in September =]. Studying Natural Sciences: I chose physiology, chemistry, maths and computer science. I can't wait.
What uni are you in/did you go to?

Steel Maiden · 17-04-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katiee

as I have AS the world is a very confusing place to me anyway

*agrees* the world is so confusing with AS. When people joke around with me, I just stare at them shocked as I take most jokes seriously unless I think about them for a while and attempt to work them out logically.

xXMessedUpXx · 18-04-2009, 02:12 PM

Everytime i've had counselling (4 times?) i've hated it. The first time was when i was 16, hated her that much i ended up discharging myself...then ODing. Then had to go back but they said that (despite trying to kill myself) i didnt need counseling. Then i went again when i started uni but that just dragged up a whole load of stuff to do with my dad that made life 10x more complicated, and then the final time it was like talking to a brick wall. He just never said anything and it irritated the hell out of me.

Personally its cos they always focus on the past. They're convinced there has to be something in the past that made you this way. And that doesn't help me. At all.

Steel Maiden · 26-04-2009, 04:43 PM

See? Proves my point. Counselling is sh*t.

rustedchains · 28-04-2009, 05:33 AM

For the first time ever, I am being productive in therapy. It took at least five different therapists over the course of 7 years, but I at last found one I fully trust. I have been able to share things that I have not shared with anyone before.

Second Chance · 28-04-2009, 06:54 AM

It's useless. I've had several, but they never understand. It's really hard for me to open up, and its really frustrating when they don't understand what's going on in my head. I'm so sick of having to do it over and over. I don't want to anymore because I know it's not going to help, but my parents force me. I have no choice. And they all say that I need more help than they can give me, but the waiting list for a therapist is over a year long! It's just hopeless.

one lie at a time · 28-04-2009, 07:01 AM

I don't know if I've ever had counseling. I never asked what it was. I've had lots of therapists, though, and love my current one.

Ninja Orange · 28-04-2009, 02:05 PM

I had 3 counsellors before. None did anything much.
I'm going to a clinical psychologist now, and there's a huge difference.

jen-x · 28-04-2009, 02:43 PM

I think it can be helpful, if you need to talk through something that's happened, but in terms of mental illness, it hasnt worked for me at least! You definately need to know whats caused the problem in there eyes. Wouldnt wanna go there again. Just made me uncomfortable. I did 3 months, then with someone else another 4months... so i did try..lol

jenx

jen-x · 28-04-2009, 02:46 PM

oh just had another quick look through the thread, and yes i think at uni they can be helpful in terms of helping you manage the stress of the workload, the struggle of coming back after being ill etc, just coz they kind of know the university system as well, which you dont always get from your other support workers, you know CPNs/Psychs/SWs etc.

sorry just had to add that...
jen x

marilyn2662 · 28-04-2009, 05:12 PM

*wanders in* Hi there,

I'm currently in college, and I saw the counsellour there, originally for my SH, but the I started to tell her more and she recommended that I register with a GP locally, she didn't push me or anything, just let me do things at my own pace. I managed to register with a GP and got an appointment which led me to being referred and now I'm awaiting my psychiatric assessment.
I still see the counsellour but not as often, because I was getting outside help (so to speak) we were finding our sessions being cut shorter and shorter, so we reduced it to half an hour every 2 weeks, which is great, because I know if I have a particular rough patch of days, that the time is always there if I need it. I suppose it does help that the counsellour I'm seeing was a trained mental health proffesional, but now she works in the colleges.
So I guess my experience of counselling has been pretty positive, because without it, I don't think I'd be where I am right now. Actually getting the help I NEED.

xx