Advice about first counselling session *bit ranty!*
I recently visited my doctor regarding depression, mood swings and self harm. She referred me to the CMHT for an assessment. I attended my appointment, which with some afterthought, I wasn't too impressed with. I know I need to play my part and be open and honest, but it's soooo difficult and the guy I saw didn't really help me out much. He basically just let me sit there and get out what I could and didn't really ask me to elaborate on many things, in fact he pretty much ignored one or two things I mentioned. He didn't ask me about things such as drinking too much, drug taking, suicidal thoughts etc, basically things that are difficult to bring up of your own accord. I assumed he'd just heard enough to make his mind up. Plus the fact I was so nervous I could barely think staight! Even when I was leaving he didn't ask if there was anything I'd forgotten or something like that, my GP nearly always asks me that, even if I've just been to see her for 5 minutes to make sure I'm doing ok. I can honestly say my GP was much more thorough and probably knows more than he does, simply because she asked! So I'm slightly concerned that I didn't have the best of assessments really. I haven't raised this concern with my GP, but she has already suggested the possibility of me having to be re-assessed, oh joy.
Anyway, it's been suggested by the bloke that I try counselling, which although nervous, I am all for doing because I want to improve. I have never done anything of the sort before so don't really know what to expect. I am also worried that the same will happen as in my assessment with the CMHT, be left floundering, not knowing what to say and not being assisted in getting the whole problem across.
Grrr, sorry this is more of a rant than anything by now! Just needed to get it out I guess. But yeah, was just wondering if anyone had or has encountered a similar problem? Any advice or input would be great!
this is part of the problem that i have with any counsellor type people. they listen loads let you talk about what you wanna talk about but are pretty quiet, they only ask the odd question(like how do you feel about it???) i hate it, i want answers though and they help you work it out yourself rather than giving you them (i dont know the answers tho-thats the problem).
i find that talking to a close friend(my manager) helps more cos she is quite blunt (so you know where you stand), but you can have a conversation and work things out and get a reaction with i dont get with my counsellor or the others ive tried but for some people they are fantastic and really really help. perhaps for your assessment that you were talking about they felt that they didnt need to know all the details but thought the counsellor was the best first line option
give it a go could be just what you need and you seem like you want to be helped and thats a huge step. good luck x
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!!
Obviously I can't speak for all of the CMHTs out there but my experiences with them have been pretty bad. I have to say though, my assessment was really thorough and involved 3 workers for some reason and a few weeks after I was allocated a care co ordinator which is where the problems began really. She's an a*** to be honest, rarely listens and after weeks of saying she was going to get the psychiatrist to assess me and I finally got an appointment both of them decided as I'm 17 and not technically an adult, I must obviously be an idiot, and proceeded to talk to me really loudly and slowly. Since October, all we've achieved is upping my escitalopram, which hasn't changed anything and no one's bothered to see me in 6 weeks despite being "high risk".
So while I'd lvoe to be really positive about it, I don't really have anything good to say, I just wish I was back safe in CAMHS. On he other hand I can totally relate with the GP situation. Mine is an absolute gem and has supposted me for the past few years and has gone above and beyond his job etc. So definitely definitely stick swith your GP like glue, good ones that care are definitely hard to find!
Thank you for the replies, made me feel more at ease about going. I went to see her today. She was really nice and I got on with her well enough but at the end of the session she confirmed what I had been concerned about, i.e my assessment with CMHT not going very well. She said that she would like to work with me and thought that she could help but was concerned that I would need more sessions than she was able to offer, this is because the counselling is through my GP surgery and is therefore limited to 10 sessions. She also thought that I may need more 'specialist' help than she can offer. So she in her own words is 'in a bit of a dilemma' as to whether she should take me on or send me back to the CMHT again. Either way she'll contact me next week to let me know.
Now whereas I totally understand the situation I'm in, I can't help but feel frustrated and pissed off. I just want to get better and get on with my life, at the moment I just feel as though I'm being passed from pillar to post and as though nobody knows what to do with me. I don't expect someone to just wave a magic wand and solve all my problems, all I want is for someone to decide what kind of help I need so I can pursue it and get away from all this crap. This is so frustrating! Argh!!
Sorry for ranting... again! Thank you for the replies
i saw my therpsit for 3 yrs i was very lucky she was fantastic but she said i needed more intense treatment so i went 2 the henderson hosptial shud of been a yr there but it was hard and brought alot of things that i wasnt ready2 deal with at that time so i od and got discharged 4being unsafe im now waithing 4a bed in another unit but i dont think i want2go back 2my past
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!! 
