The first time that I went to a
counselor, I literally didn’t talk! I was a teenager and my parents took me. I told them that I
would not talk and I did NOT talk. I just sat there for the entire session.... AND I was a sweet and respectful child!
Have you ever wondered about
trying counseling? If you have been to a counselor then you know what to
expect. If not, let me help explain it a little.
At first, there are in-take
papers that you would need to fill out and sign. This is to give the counselor
your consent for counseling. Other papers needed might be personal information
about yourself, how you plan to pay, and the reason(s) that had brought you to
counseling.
For me, after the ‘business’
part of the intake, I would begin a counseling session with trying right away
to build a positive rapport with my client.
I would do this by making some
kind of small talk with my client. I would then try and make my client
feel safe with me by the way that I approached them and with being warm and
genuine when I spoke to them.
I explain to my clients that
what they discuss with me is confidential except for a few exceptions. They are: if they were a minor, if they said that they wanted to harm themselves
or someone else, any abuse or neglect of a minor, person with a disability or an elderly person is suspected, or if information was ordered by a judge.
If I didn’t already know, I
would ask a new client what brought them in. Then I would ask some in-take questions to help me to be able to help them better.
Remember that talking to others
when you are hurting can be very helpful!
If there is something that you do not understand at your first counseling session, ask your counselor questions about what is not clear to you.
If there is something that you do not understand at your first counseling session, ask your counselor questions about what is not clear to you.
A counselor can help you and
provide you with coping skills so that you can help yourself better through difficult
times.
Seeking mental health help is honorable and admirable.
Great article Diane! I know that for some there may be a certain type of stigma attached to going to a counselor. I started having some panic attacks almost 30 years ago after I started my practice. It was such a blessing and I learned so much about myself and how to effectively cope with all things in life without a lot of drug therapy.
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