Has anyone had counselling? If so, how did you find it? Was it beneficial?
This has been prompted by a conversation I've just had with a friend who I'd always considered very sceptical and yet has told me she's been recently having therapy.
I don't need to know what for/why etc. I'm just curious as to whether you thought it was beneficial.
I got 'advised' to go when I was a kid, I've done all I can to avoid it, then and since.
I've had counselling and am considering going into it as a career.
When it is done well (following the professional guidlines etc) by a good counsellor it is really useful. I found mine very helpful.
A counselling session may explore your childhood, your immediate past, your relationships, your feelings generally, your e,otions abotu work etc etc etc,. A (good) counsellor will never tell you what to do but they may make suggestings for you to consider.
The main point is you would dictate the pace, the subject and to a large extent the direction. Your counsellor will ask pertinent (or impertinent LOL) questions, often simply to get you to consciously think about a 'thing' or to get you to speak out loyd about it. hearing yourself say something can be incredibly informative to yourself.
They understand a lot about the general themes that occur in people's lives and can often spot a 'theme' you aren't even aware of.
If someone has got to the point of seriously considering it, bearing in mind how slow we can all be at thinking about our lives properly, I would recommend them to locate a qualified one (Yellow Pages is still your friend) and go into it with an open mind. You can walk away at any time.
There is an excellent book that explains what counselling is and how it works - it's called "Counselling for Toads" and features Toad of Toad Hall going to Mr Heron the counsellor. A charming little book that really explains it well.
Certainly, a lot depends on the therapist and the problem that's being looked at. Sometimes talking to family and friends is wonderful therapy. Sometimes talking to a total stranger is more beneficial. As a teenager I had a big family problem and a music teacher at my school was a terrific help. Whenever I think of him, I'm always grateful for the help he gave me.
A few years ago I saw a bereavement counsellor after the suicide of my long term companion. It was the best thing I ever did. The counsellor was a total stranger but I'd felt completely at ease with her very quickly.
Sometimes it's astonishing what comes up in a therapy session. Events and feelings from the past that outwardly seem to have no bearing on the problem at hand and yet get sparked off in some way.
Neither the music teacher or the bereavement counsellor were judgemental in any way. Sharing a problem with someone can be a great help but not all people are born listeners I guess.
I have 2 kinds of therapy, Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and another with a psychiatist and find them helpful, far slower results than I had hoped though.
Tony ;-)
I had counselling weekly for about 6 months, It helped a lot and I always felt better afterwards, like a weight had been lifted for a few hours/days depending on how much i opened up in each session
I was involved in an accident that resulted in the sudden death of a person and was offered counselling as a result.
It opened my eyes hugely and helped me deal with issues I never even knew I had. So my experience of counselling was a very positive one indeed.
Councelling can be extremely useful. It's definitely about having the right counceller, someone who you can trust and work with.
Sadly many people don't seek help early and struggle on only seeking help when they are desparate or feel they have no more options.
I say do it. And don't wait. Anyone who thinks they might benefit from some probably will.
Therapy can be either helpful or damaging depending on the therapist. A bad therapist, can do more damage than a negligent doctor. Our personal feeling is psychologists, counsellors, and therapist need to be registered. The move to make mental health professionals registered through the HPC is something we support.
Im a mental health nurse and as part of my job a few years back offered counselling in a GP surgery but have not been on the receiving end. There have been some important points made in previous posts and i would reiterate that it is important to have the right type of therapy/counselling for the issue/problem and for you, there are lots of different approaches as well as styles. Its also important to be ready for any therapy as it is likely to be a painful but enlightening journey. Ive met some people who have found it too painful and unable to continue.
it is the job of the counsellor/therapist to help you open up and also they have a duty of care to identify if the therapy is not right for you and signpost you elsewhere.
they shouldnt offer any judgements or advice rather enable you to explore, practice and decide for yourself what is best for you. Some therapies are more directive such as cognitive behavioural therapy but these are based on a detailed assessment and jointly identifying the problem and aims.
there are even some therapies you can access online now if talking to a stranger is difficult.
sometimes just talking to a loved one is enough but other times you need more professional help to move from thoughts going round and round your head to resolution.
I have had couciling after being burnt at work 6 years ago.
I suffered 22%, 3rd degree burns (not that you would guess that now!)
I was out of work 2 years recovering physically and mentally.
By far the hardest thing to overcome is the mental side! Which really surpised me at the time.
I believed thatIi could get through it with the support of my family and went on like that for a long time. However I could feel myself losing a grip more and more and nothing anyone said made any difference to me. At the time I just hated the world!
So in the end I knew I had to do something. So I asked for help, I went through six different councilors until eventually I found one that just understood!
She was one of the best things that ever happened to me! I now look at life totally different because of her. When i look back at my accident now I can only see positives it made me who i am today and gave me a much better outlook on life.
It surprised me how little she actually said, just the right questions or statements to make you think and direct you in a more healthy way. Most of my healing was done on the way home in the car lol.
So yeah therapy works if its the right kind with the right therapist....
deleted as ya all really don't wanna hear me dribble i know i don't :lol:
