What do you do in counseling?

Question

I am supposed to start going now because my doctor says I have an Anxiety Disorder and he says he doesn't think my medicine is working. I think I've been doing really good, but I agreed to start going to counseling. I am 15. Does anyone know what I should expect, and does it really help that much?

Answer 1

I'm a psychologist, so I do counselling with my patients. Counselling really isn't as scary as it seems. Really, you and your psychologist will just talk! He or she is probably going to start off by asking you a few questions, just to get to know. He may ask you what makes you anxious, why it makes you anxious, and how often it does. He may ask you about your childhood, your friends, or how you're doing in school. It's nothing scary; he's just trying to get to know you. He also may ask you to fill out some questionnaires (if you haven't already, actually). These questionnaires are usually standardizes and they're something they give to everybody. They're just a mix of questions about your life- school, family, history, etc. It's just another way to get to know you more. It's much easier for your psychologist to read your questionnaire then to have you tell him your entire life story. After that (usually within the next few visits), you'll just talk some more. You'll talk about your week and what's going on in your life. You'll talk about any anxiety your feeling to your psychologist. It will take a while, but it helps to talk to someone about your anxiety because it releases those fears. The more you talk openly about your anxiety, the less that anxiety will have a hold over you. He'll teach you some techniques to deal with your anxiety, too. He may reccommend you slow your breathing, he may reccommend that you imagine a safe place, or he may reccommend that you talk more about what makes you anxious. Eventually, you'll hopefully start to notice that talking about it and those techniques will help you to feel less anxious. It takes a while, though, so don't expect things to happen immediately. It won't even happen in weeks. It takes months, maybe longer. I mean, these are serious issues you're dealing with, so it's going to take more than a few visits to help you to be less anxious. If you expect it to happen immediately, you'll be disappointed and discouraged, which is never good. It really works, though. I've had patients who were unable to go shopping, go to school, or go to work without having anxiety attacks, and, after a few months of therapy, they slowly began to get better. I had one woman who couldn't keep a job because she kept having anxiety attacks at work. After she talked to me about her anxiety and after I reccommended some techniques for her, she began to get better. She now works at a local television station with absolutely no anxiety issues. She hasn't had an anxiety attack in over 2 1/2 years after seeing me for 1/2 year. Counselling is just an opportunity for someone to help you deal with your anxiety. And, yes, it really, really helps. Good luck, just relax, and message me if you have any more questions!

Answer 2

As a general rule, Yes, I think counseling does help. What do you have to Lose? You can always refuse to go back, the old try it, you'll like it. Seriously, I have been to many counselors and the better ones (remembering that 1/2 of all graduated in the lower half of there class) are really great asking a question or two to get you thinking about the wheres and whys of your life. You actually do the work, as you must, but a good councilor helps give you the tools to figure it all out yourself. Trust me, it isn't anywhere as bad as going to the doctor and you really just need to listen if you really don't feel like talking. Please try it and also try not to get to stressed about going.♥♥

Answer 3

Counseling is a place that asks you to look at why you do certain things and how you could change the things that don't work in your life. Talking about things that make you worry unnecessarily will help you see how to be more aware and teach you how to cope with that. It is just talking to the counselor and them guiding you to more comfortable lifestyle. It only works if you really want it do and are willing to make the changes that come up. Do not fear it but give it a chance.

Answer 4

You will probably talk to the counselor about whatever you want, usually your problems or things that bother you and he/she will every now and then give you some input, answers, suggestions but you probably will do most of the talking. After some time you might start hating to go and not want to go but this is normal since that is the place where you are talking about all these negative things, it'll pass.They might have you take some personality tests (they give you written questions). People can go to therapy for years and they're still not well but if it's a dr. that knows what to tell you it could help you. It did me.

Answer 5

Counseling is somewhere where you go where you can talk about how you feel to someone who knows how they can help you. There are many types of counselors. They help you figure out your emotions and how to deal with them. They are licensed and trained to help people understand their feelings and assist them with changing their behavior. I have had therapy because I chose to go. I wanted to try to figure myself out for other reasons. There were things I went through as a child that I had not really dealt with and it affected me and how I felt about relationships. It does help, If you set your mind to letting it help. Keep your mind open and listen to the suggestions and don't be afraid to talk about how you Really feel inside. It does help to get your feelings out and what you say is held in confidence with your therapist. Here is a website on more about a therapist and what to expect.
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=52
Research suggests that therapy effectively decreases patients' depression and anxiety and related symptoms- such as pain, fatigue and nausea. Psychotherapy has also been found to increase survival time for heart surgery and cancer patients, and it can have a positive effect on the body's immune system. Research increasingly supports the idea that emotional and physical health are very closely linked and that therapy can improve a person's overall health status.

There is convincing evidence that most people who have at least several sessions of psychotherapy are far better off than untreated individuals with emotional difficulties. One major study showed that 50 percent of patients noticeably improved after eight sessions while 75 percent of individuals in therapy improved by the end of six months. Psychotherapy with children is similar in effectiveness to psychotherapy with adults.

Answer 6

It can help, if you have a good therapist. You will have to meet some to find one that you are comfortable with. You will talk and role play. It's what you make of it. They can't make you do anything. Only you can choose your actions. It's a shame that medicine was the first option used for your anxiety. I would have started with a therapist. It's healthier.

Answer 7

i have anxiety problems and when i was younger i spent many years going to different psychologists and such. they pretty much just sit there and ask you questions about what is going on in your life and what you like to do during your free time. they also tell you some different things that you can think about to get your mind off of some of the subjects that might cause you the most anxiety.

Answer 8

This is going to sound cliche but it's SO true. You have to be open to change. You have to be open to listening to the advice your psych gives you. And most important you MUST be truthful. Hold back nothing and be as honest as you know how to be. You're making a step in the right direction to happiness. Good luck to you and keep an open mind to make those changes.

Answer 9

You can get immuned to medications. It's not a long term solution. Counselling does help only if you let it help. Sharp counsellors can pick up if you are not being entirely honest but they wouldn't expose you. So it is really up to you if you want to get better or not. Good luck.

Answer 10

The doc will introduce them self and then ask you about your problems and your lifestyle etc and then she will discuss ways to handle things as they come up in your conversations. She may give you exercises (mental ones) to do at home to help with your anxiety.