Time to switch counselors?

Question

My 16 year old daughter has been seeing a psychologist in conjunction with a nurse practitioner to diagnose and treat depression and mood swings. She has seen this female psychologist for 5 months, but I see no significant progress. The psychologist seems to spend an hour with her just going over what's been happening in her life the week before - - - - sort of like monitoring her life instead of helping her with coping strategies. With each visit, my daughter is beginning to detest this woman more and more. And I'm wondering if I'm just providing an easy income for her.

I'm not an expert, but I wonder if it is time to change counselors. I'm not satisfied, but it is so hard to get in to see other professionals and then there's ALL the paperwork and background to go over again with a new person. But considering my daughter's anger and depression problem, do you think we need to switch if she is beginning to dislike this woman so much?

Answer 1

Always goes with your first impressions... they are usually right!
Yes change at once... geesh I would kick the docs butt too while I was at it and tell her to diagnois that! LOL
I am serious though if you or her are not satified seek another Doc!
There are better ones out there! Your a great Mom ... keep fighting for your daughter .... in the end you both will be happy! Just a tip for the next Doc you choice.... if she or he is going to put her on medication theraphy ... please investigate what drug he or she will be putting her on before you let your daughter take the drug! You could type the name of the drug into googles search browser and it will bring up different sites you can read about that drug! Also webMD site is a good site to look up things on as well! Being a teenager is tough enough without depression making it harder! You remember! Get her some relaxation CD's to listen to at night or when she has alone time , it helps .... they have the sounds of the waves or oceans sounds and alot of others she will like! With this sleep study group I was involved in relaxation CD's were used to calm people down enough to fall asleep and gave them a better dream state! Meditation is another useful tool. Tell her to keep a note book around a write down her feelings in this and it can serve as a tool for her to help deal with her problem as well! I hope i have helped! good luck!

Answer 2

If both of you dislike her and cannot see any progress being made then its time to change. It may take some time for your daughter to find the right counselor. Sometimes people will hit it right off, and other times you know right away that this isn't the person for you.

However, it is important to remember that therapy does take time. You can't deal with the big stuff if there are too many little things that are in the way. Counselors may start off by trying to give the client tools so that they are better equipped to handle the issues that present themselves in a normal week. Once the client has managed to grasp and employ the coping skills, and strategies, then bigger issues can be discussed and treated. Just whatever you do- don't expect it to be something that happens overnight. It doesn't work that way. And there is no set amount of time that it takes to treat specific problems, it all depends on the person and the situation.

In regards to the paperwork etc: It would be helpful to ask for your daughter's file to be transfered to her new counselor, so that he or she can be made aware of the specifics of her case, and the details of her past treatment. This may help to eliminate some of the struggle. :) Good Luck!
Good Luck!

Answer 3

A psychiatrist prescribes medicine and a psychologist helps the patient work through the problems. I would suggest that you go shopping for a new one of each. Medication does help, but you have to find the one that works for you (or your daughter in this case.) It also takes some time for medication and counseling to make any difference. When I've changed medication, it's taken over a month to kick in. I also look on the Internet and see what side effects are connected with each medication and report any that I am experiencing to my psychiatrist, as well as telling my psychiatrist what medications I may be taking at the time. Your daughter should be comfortable, if not happy, with her doctors. I recently changed doctors because I wasn't satisfied. I hope this helps. I'm 34 and I've been diagnosed with bi-polar depression since I was a teenager, so I'm well practiced. Good luck.

Answer 4

Research studies have actually showed support that treatment is more effective if the relationship between the psychologist and client is good i.e. the client likes the psychologist, and feels comfortable with him/her. You can actually bring this issue up with the psychologist she's currently seeing, and if things don't go efficiently, you can, and do have the right to switch to another psychologist whom your daughter will feel comfortable with.

Depression takes time to treat, most people spent on average a few years on medication and therapy for symptoms to remit. It's a long process, but it'll be worth it at the end. You're a good mom as you do care a lot about your daughter. :) I know it's difficult and painful to have someone you love so much, have depression intruding in and interfering with your lives. Hang on, and don't give up. Don't let it win. :)

Answer 5

Certainly - but let your daughter be a part of the process. Not every therapists approach fits every patient. Just cant be that way.

I went to a lot of therapists who were a waste of my time because they weren't aggressive enough. Some were too much so.

In the end, it about a RELATIONSHIP - there has to be a bi-directional channel of communication between these two. They have to be able to relate - the therapist has to be able to identify the clients needs in the form of questions, and the client has to be able to communicate feelings and beliefs. Lots of times, the problem is a combination of an inability among those two things.
I know for me, I wasn't mature enough to be able to express what the problem was - and I wasn't for quite sometime. The other problem that I had was that I was ashamed of a lot of the things that made me angry, and feel worthless - and I was darned if I was going to go tell some stranger those things, y'know? Being open about your most vulnerable spots is difficult with the people you are closest to - its difficult with a therapist, especially if you dont have the right one.
It sounds to me like she isn't getting much out of this - ask her...
1) do you still think that you have a problem, well then 2) are you still willing to try with someone else...
And if so, please dont hesitate to fill out the paper work etc, and be supportive.
Good Luck.

Answer 6

I have suffered from depression since I was 15. I am now 21 and still fighting every day to cope with all that it brings. I can tell you from experience that if your daughter isnt putting some effort on her part to make things better, it doesnt matter who she sees. I saw a psychologist, a counsler and tried all kinds of anti-depressants and it wasnt until I realized that I had been wasting my life crying over everything that was wrong in my life instead of trying to fix it that I helped myself get better. You can never really beat it, but she has to realize that things arent as bad as they seem. Maybe have her talk to the school counsler, someone who knows more about her daily life. Ask her how her day was at school, show her that you care. Encourage her to spend time with friends, to go places, to enjoy every aspect of life. At first it will be hard and it will seem like things are not getting better, but they will. As for the mood swings, it all depends on her mood really. If she does things to keep her happy the mood swings will just go away or minimize. I still get mood swings occasionally. Good luck, and do everything in your power to help her, because there is nothing worse than living each day wishing that you could die.... And it does get to that point eventually, you just dont see a way out of all that goes on in your life. Dont let her get to that point. Its so much harder then.

Answer 7

I think that you should stay with your current counselor. However you might want to research and see if your state has any programs, as well as the federal programs, to further help your son at school. Speak with someone in Public Health, or Mental Health with the state. Also try the State's Board of Education. The actual names may be different where you live, but the intents will be the same.

Answer 8

I'm gonna say no on this one... don't switch yet.

Alot of times, things get real tough for the patient (and their mothers) right before a major break-through. Alot of people are actually afraid of becoming better people so they fight the process and look for easy outs. They don't always realize that they are self-sabotaging.

So I would say, don't leave 5 minutes before the miracle happens.

PS - the counselors will do alot of listening and when the patient seems ready, the counselors start to ask "deeper" questions... but they have to let the people talk it all out on a regular basis... it develops the good habit of talking through things instead of keeping it bottled up.

IMPORTANT - i agree with the person above who said "medication should be a last resort". It's better to actually DEAL with your problems instead of hiding them under a thick fog of druggie numbness.... I have known too many people who wanted a quick fix and have committed suicide while taking anti-depressants.

Counseling is better... trust me on that, please.

Answer 9

many of these counselors, sadly, just see it as a job and want the money...please, get your daughter some new help she is your first and foremost concern and will feel more like you really care if you don't complain about the paperwork and just get it going for her...I would feel horrible if someone complained about the paperwork to make me feel better, .you probably would too...I would just go forward with it no matter how long it takes..even if you have to talk to the woman yourself..for your daughters' best intersest...otherwise, get her out of there and find the Lord in Your life, and pray through Jesus to save you both

Answer 10

Absolutely. Try the Midwest Center for Anxiety and Depression website. It's a fabulous cognitive-therapy self-help program, which can be used in conjunction with traditional counseling and medication if needed/wanted. Good luck!