Could I become a counsellor if I am prone to depression/anxiety myself?

Question

I have suffered from anxiety and depressive episodes since I was 18, been on and off the meds, and am now back on them after a relapse at christmas. I am 22 and a graduate in Bsc Psychology and have never really known what I want to do as a career, until recently I started thinking as I am quite passionate about mental/emotional disorders as I suffer from them myself, maybe I could pursue a career in counselling and help others get back to being happy and stronger. My only real concern is whether I will be a strong enough person to cope with all the problems I will confront or if my anxiety will get the better of me and I will be dragged down too. I know I want to help others with similar problems to myself,but although this means I can feel great empathy towards others, I worry I might not be able to handle it, but then maybe if I have had proper counselling training I will?dilemna! any advice, or anyone in the same situation as me please do help! cheers : )

Answer 1

I think you should go for it, at the end of the day you will be in a better position to help others knowing exactly what it has been like for yourself. take care and good luck

Answer 2

Think about how you interact with your friends.

First, do they come to you for advice with their problems? Not just one or two close friends, but a lot of them? That's a sign within itself.

Secondly, do the problems that your friends have take a severe toll on you? Of course the major ones will, but the smaller things - do you find yourself worried about their small worries? If so, maybe being a counselor isn't for you, and here's why:

You HAVE to be able to be objective, and to not attach yourself completely to each person. A. If you are too attached, their situations will affect the happiness of your own life. B. If you are TOO attached, you will only adhere to their mindset and no longer be able to help,

There is a difference between advising and commiserating. As someone else said, the only person who can tell if you will be able to do this is you.

Technically, though, your own personal record should have no bearing on whether you would be allowed to counsel. Of course, if you have schizophrenia or are manic depressive, something that could cause you to cause someone else to go mentally astray, there will be limits placed upon you.

Keep in mind that most psychologists are required to see a psychologist themselves.

Good luck to you in whatever you choose, but don't think that because you've had issues that you cannot succeed. If you feel strongly about it, do it! Pursue psychology if it calls to you.
If you try the counselling thing and it doesn't work for you, remember that (though it may take some additional schooling), there is always psychological research, where you are doing research and whatnot and not necessarily giving people guidance.

Again, good luck!

Answer 3

Thank you for this question. I am in a similar boat right now. I do not have my degree in Psychology. I am older and was considering going back to school for this. I have been battling depression and anxiety for years. I have mine mostly under control. I really want to help others get through their problems. This is something I am very passionate about. I am glad you recognized your calling so early. I was not as fortunate. I do not like my field of work. Helping others is a noble way to spend a career.

I feel you will be more successful since you can relate and understand. Lots of therapists and counselors can only give you what they read in text books. You have real world experience. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Have you been through proper counselling your self first? Get yourself sorted and then you will be a better counsellor for it. I suggest a years voluntary work while you go through your own counselling then find a job as an assitant psych (how about the Samaritans) but do not blame others if it is not right for you on the basis that you have not had proper counselling trrining. only you can learn to switch off once a session is over.

Answer 5

You do not say whether you have had your own counselling. You have to have your own counselling with diploma and it may sort out your problems if you have it long term. Counselling courses are great fun so go for it. If you decide you don't want to be a counsellor you will still have benefited from the experience. It may help if you get another job meanwhile, and do the counselling part time.

Answer 6

I started a counselling course a few years ago. In the course description, it said that that course was not suitable for depression sufferers or those who had needed counselling in the past. Needless to say, I didn't see it through (I'd had depression myself previously). It might be a good idea if you perhaps join a yahoo group or website as a volunteer counsellor. It could give you a taste of what to expect. One website I belong to is http://nshn.co.uk and is for self-harmers. Perhaps you could join as a listener/counsellor. Whatever you decide to do - best of luck to you.

Answer 7

edited...

Yes, i agree, it is a dilema, isn't it...
i've had exactly the same problems with thinking about a career in counselling... i have always liked to think that my problems would not affect what i really want to do with my life & that i could overcome my limitations but, in reality, they do affect my life in a big way, and always have done, and i have had to learn to accept that i have certain limitations and to make the most of my life within those limits, but always pushing myself further and testing those limits...
i'm always re-evaluating my abilities.
I also think that it is important to understand and know what all of your strengths are so that you can make the most of them.

i think the answer to your question may depend on the level of your anxiety and depression & the confidence that you have in your ability to perform to the required standards after training... i think that you have to ask yourself the following questions: 'will my depression affect my ability to do my job and will it stop me giving 100% to my clients everytime, and everyday?' & 'will my anxiety mean that i will not be able to perform properly in my work and to carry out my job in a professional manner, giving a full & confident service to my clients?'...

i felt that it was no good being a councellor if i was going to underperform, appear nervous, and not be able to think clearly or to express myself clearly or to communicate effectively. I felt that i definately would be unconfident and anxious in such situations. The client would need you to appear confident & to be capable, clear headed and to be on the ball... your clients will come to see you needing a really professional service.

This will always be your decision to make, and only you know the right decision... maybe you feel that you can rise to the occasion and thrive in such a setting and such a career...
if you do then i would encourage you to go for it wholeheartedly.

And if you are still not sure, then you could always start the training for counselling, to see if it suits you, and if it doesn't, you will still have learnt from and grown from the experience.
Never forget that you are a very capable person now... you have worked hard and overcome hurdles to obtain a degree.

Maybe you could write to a councellor and ask for their opinion? or ask one that you already know?

Also, there maybe other similar jobs out there which would also use you skills and insight... such as community psychiatric health care & psychiatric nursing. You could also do some volunteering to get a feel for what you are capable of, and which areas of work you could flourish.

I wish you all the best, whatever your decision.

Answer 8

There are two ways to look at this. Firstly, you have experience and would be able to give good advice because you have suffered anxiety and depression yourself. Secondly you would need to remove yourself completely from the people you are counselling because it would not be good for you to take on their anxieties. At the end of the day it is only you and you alone that can decide whether you are a strong enough person to be able to handle any situations you find yourself in. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 9

This may be no help at all but my friend's mum is a psychotherapist. Apparently, in order to be a psychotherapist you HAVE to have psychotherapy yourself - both whilst training and practising. If you still have a counsellor, why not book a session and talk to them about it? They will not only know the best training routes for you but may be able to help you assess the strengths you can bring to the job. You seem to understand your own problem pretty well - which means you may ideally placed to help others understand theirs. And as far as I can see, empathy is an essential attribute for a counsellor. All the best with whatever you decide to do, :)

Answer 10

Yes, you have first hand experience and would probably make an excellent counselor. You mentioned that you have been on and off your medication. Since depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, medication is always required. There can be no breaks in the meds for the rest of your life. Then you won't have to deal with relapses. And sometimes after taking a medication for several years, it stops working and you have to switch or increase the dosage.

Best of luck to you in your new career.

Answer 11

After a bad bout of depression some years ago i thought about becoming a counsellor as i had great experience with mine, and I think you are in a much better place to help people as you have experienced what they are going through, BUT I decided against it, as I knew at that time i would not be able to leave work at the office, so to speak, as i was still not 100%. i have set a Target for myself, if i can go 12 month with out hitting the wall, or at least have some control over it i will apply for a course.