What do I say when I go see a counsellor for the first time?

Question

I have been very depressed since June, and over the past couple of weeks it has just gotten to an extreme point that I cannot handle.

Tommorow I am going to find my universitys counsellor, so what do I say? "hello, i am not feeling very happy, please help me?"

If i did wtrite down everything on paper, would they be interested in reading it or would they just want it from my mouth?

Answer 1

An experienced counsellor will understand that you are nervous, and won't make you feel uncomfortable by expecting you to tell her everything in one sentence. It might help if you write everything down that's upsetting you, even if you think it's insignificant. Good luck :)

I just read your additional info - I don't think the counsellor would mind if you just wanted to show her what you'd written down. Please try not to get too stressed about seeing her, remember she's there to help you. Your sessions will go at YOUR pace, not the counsellor's.

Answer 2

I understand how you feel, you don't know where to start. Your counsellor would like to hear from you how you are feeling but will understand your difficulty in getting started.
Not a bad idea to write down a few points to remind yourself. Ask yourself what happened in June to trigger this off. During the past couple of weeks what drove this on to the point that you're unable to cope. Try to tell the counsellor how this makes you feel. Don't despair you will get through this. Best Wishes Jaycee bee

Answer 3

all you say is what you just said in your "question",

"I have been very depressed since June, and over the past couple of weeks it has just gotten to an extreme point that I cannot handle."

and your conversation will develop from there. if the counsellor is any good, they wont talk much and it will be down to you to do the talking. dont feel embarressed or ashamed of anything, they are there to help you and most have deep understanding by having gone through circumstances themselves. Goodluck and i hope you feel better. x

Answer 4

The counsellor will understand that you may find it hard to express your feelings. I have been through quite bad depression myself, my mum feared for my life. I saw a community psychiatric nurse once a week at home. When she first came I felt the same as you. What do I say?? You have to build up trust first and your counsellor will totally understand. We spoke about what was going on in my life at that time, and as the sessions continued it became much easier. Now I am doing great, no longer in need of medication, and I don't need to see the nurse again.
Persevere with the sessions, it will get easier, and hopefully will help you to overcome this.
Good Luck.xxxx

Answer 5

Basically they will know that this are not going well otherwise you would not be there to see them. Just go in and always tell the truth as you see it. They will bring out what they need by asking you questions, so don't think that you are going to have to run the conversation, that is their job. You will find that with the right questions that you may not be able to stop talking, if so just get it all off of your chest and start to feel well again. It just a matter of understanding and coming to terms with the things that are getting on top of you. Then the chemicals in your body will start to even out again and you will start to feel well again, but it all takes time. Be lucky !

Answer 6

Say basically say the exact same thing you just said here.
That you need to talk. That you have been feeling very depressed and over the past couple of weeks it has gotten more serious and you don't know what to do. Your counselor will probably ask you some questions and refer you to someone who can help.
It takes a lot of courage to ask for help when you feel like this.
You are doing the right thing.
Keep your chin up, you'll be OK.

Answer 7

I too have had councelling for depression after a whole life time of turmoil, im only 23! So I know counselling does help, if you are willing to be open & honest about your feelings. Your first visit will be an introduction & a basic laying down of the subjects in which you need to expand & talk about,(ie your miscarriages) then she/he will ask you questions & help you to come to terms with the cause of your depression, and give you coping strategies to practice at home. she/he will keep seeing you until you are ready not too, but dont feel pressured! just smile & introduce yourself on your fist visit, if you feel that is enough for one day you have already confronted your first hurdle of actually getting help, then continue visiting from then on and see what advice he /she is able to offer. good luck xxx

Answer 8

I agree with earlier responses that writing things down will help you.

A good counsellor will read through what you've written and then ask questions of you in an attempt to ascertain exactly what's wrong. (The chances are you won't have written things down in a way that would get to the bottom of your 'problem(s)'.

Don't worry about what you might wish to say, an experienced counsellor will have heard similar things in the past, and will be open minded about anything you wish to say.

Take care, and best of luck.

Answer 9

Hi April - Ive not been to a councellor but Id imagine they will lead you in what to say. So, maybe s/he'll say 'Hi April, how can I help you' and you'll say.....'Since June Ive been feeling down....' etc etc. S/he'll want triggers, so what started your depression and you'll go from there.

From experience, when I went to my GP last year for stress, all he asked was 'How are you feeling' and I burst into tears and talked for 20 mins about all the sh*it I was having to deal with, so he had to listen to EVERYTHING that was inside my head! Was a great help though.

Good luck and good on you for taking th first steps to getting help. Too many people have depression and just live with it rather than dealing with it. Hugs to you. Bxx

Answer 10

I have therapy every week for one hour see i was so screwed up that i attempted suicide that was along time ago but still i go because it helps but i remember the first time i sat there for one hour and never said a word it was like that for about 4 weeks and then i wrote everything down and posted it to her a few days before my next visit and you you know what she read every word.

Sometimes it is hard to say how you feel i thought about what i was going to say and then when i was there nothing came out.

My advise is to go in there and say whats on your mind dont worry what they think just blurt it out.

Funny really how the word help is such a hard thing to say but you can do it.

Good luck