How open does a person need to be when seeing a councillor?

Question

Is it wise to keep some things back?Or should one be open in order to get better help?

Answer 1

there's no point in holding anything back your just wasting there time and your own
surely that's the point of counselling getting your thoughts out in the open then dealing with them
pour your heart out
good luck

Answer 2

It all depends on you!

What I mean by that is, if you are the kind of person that CAN be open and honest from the first meeting, then that's great. However, some people just can't let all of their emotions and history out straight away because they need time to build up trust with their counsellor.

You might not even like the counsellor you chose/or were given, so you're certainly not going to blurt everything out unless you feel at ease with the person who is counselling you.

Take it one session at a time, and in time, as you build up a relationship with your counsellor, you'll find it easier and easier to talk about things.

Your counsellor should however, try to make you feel as comfortable as possible and will never end the session whilst you're upset.

Also, the help you need all depends on you...your counsellor will never advise you on what to do, but rather guide you into making your own decisions.

The person above has made a good point actually, if you're being pushed by others to go and seek counselling, then you might not want to disclose anything to them and therefore may deliberately hold information back or not feel comfortable doing so...but if you're going voluntary because you genuinly feel you need help with something, then as I said, take it one session at a time and let your feelings guide you

but everyone that's posted on here is right, you're not going to see the benefits of counselling if you keep things back. Otherwise, there's no point in going.

Hope it goes well for you

Answer 3

No be honest and open with everything, or it defeats the purpose of having councillor-ling. Under lying problems will still be there.

And the fact that you don't want to talk about whatever your hiding shows these are the very things you need to talk about.

Answer 4

The reasons for 'not telling' are the most likely cause for the need to see a counsellor in the first place.

If you KNOW what to tell and what to keep hidden, then you could probably solve your own problem without the help of a professional.

(that kind of arrogance is quite common, and can be the root of the problem, especially where the patient thinks they don't have a problem anyway...)

Answer 5

I would suggest you be as open as possible, otherwise the councillor won't be able to give you the correct help and advice that you need.

Answer 6

i see it as a box of boxes, the largest one has being opened for someone to look in. the other small and tiny boxes could be so many past hidden reasons behind the reason someone is seeing a councellor. i dont think it's wise to keep the lids on the other boxes . truthfulness to him/her is a facing the truth to yourself too. its all confidential no matter what you tell them

Answer 7

You can be a truthful as you like, if you don't want to talk of everything that is your choice, i would as then you can get it all out in the open and get the best support and care! The best of luck to you!!

Answer 8

you need to be straight forward and forth coming
sometimes it is the things you think effect you the least in your mind
that cause the biggest problems
you sound like you want and need help
he can't help you unless he knows everything
do not be embarrassed they have seen and heard it all and are trained to help you
as bad as you think things are there is always someone else worse off
and everything you tell them is confidential

Answer 9

if you want things to be help..then you need 2 open up all the way

Answer 10

You need to be as open as you can - if you keep things back the counsellor won't be able to help as much as they won't have all the details