what should i expect from treatment?

hi, I am new to this site. what should i expect from counselling? I have only started and i am fearful that i may go crazy.

counseling on this site or in real life? This site does not do counseling. No therapists practicing here.

In real life a person goes to counseling because they have a problem. During counseling you will have an intake appointment for filling out paperwork - why you are there and what you want to accomplish, name address and so on. The next few sessions will be working up a goal sheet - basically getting more information about what the problem is and setting goals to solve that problem. Future sessions will be working on those goals.

A Counseling professional cannot solve your problems for you. They can supply a room for you to go in every week, a neutral person (that therapy profession) that can listen to the problems and point out areas that you can't or wont look at in the problem. basically making sure you see the whole problem so that once the emotions of the problem settle down YOU will see the solutions and YOU will have to actively work those solutions into your life if you want a better life.

Hi, hidingaway...welcome! It's great to meet you!

If you're not crazy now, then dealing with the mental health system in this country will certainly make you that way! (Just kidding).

What you get out of therapy depends entirely on what you put into it. Classical talking therapy leads you to talk about the issues that are bothering you. It usually takes awhile for you to get to them, you may have been shoving them aside for so long you've managed to convince yourself they are not a big deal.

What you get out of it also depends on what you are trying to accomplish, or what issues you have to deal with. I can tell you this, the very best therapists I had, I felt really bad when I was done, because I had dragged out MAJOR STUFF during the session, and I felt whipped.

If you're expecting to find some major answer or come to some sort of epiphany about youre place in the cosmos, forget it...if you're wanting to learn what makes you tick, and why, then you have a shot!

All in all, I think it's a good thing, if only you have someone to tell stuff who cannot tell anyone else. Let it out!

first and foremost I'd say it's an opportunity to have someone listen to you, be non-judgemental and bounce ideas off of... kind of like an objective ear. but a good point that has been made is that one, you have to do the work- they won't just "fix" the problem/s for you and two, you get out what you put in. if you feel like you're not clicking w/ the person and aren't opening up after a few times, maybe try searching for a new person... it's very important to try and find someone who is right for your needs and who you feel comfortable with. also, it's not a quick fix overnight... I'm sure you know this but again, there will be ups and downs but if you stick w/ it hopefully it will be worth it for you...

thanks for your replies. I do mean professional counselling and I am aware that it is me that has to put the work in. my biggest fear is going crazy - and I don't want to do that.
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You're not going to go crazy BECAUSE you went for professional counselling. If anything, it could PREVENT you from going crazy.

I am a firm believer that every adult should attend counselling for at least a year of their lives. I get so much out of it.

I highly doubt you would go crazy from attending therapy. It has helped me a great deal. I agree with what has already been said about counseling.

Theres a saying in the therapy world and that is - things get worse before they get better.

Techniqcally you will not be getting worse, or go crazy. Therapy is supposed to help not drive a person more nuts. But Im not going to lie and say its going to be all perfect and sweet and so on. there may come a point where things are just bouncing all over the place and you feel like you are going crazy, want to quit and so on.and many times like this and When that time comes it doesn't mean you have gone more crazy. it means that instead of stuffing things and letting it build up to explosion level, you are allowing yourself to feel and take care of things. This bounce around crazy feeling can also come if something you have burried for a long time is finally coming up to where you can take care of it. Riding out the storm and seeing the therapist more at those times instead of shutting off from him/her is what helps because the therapist can help you see where you need to focus your work next and soon its smooth sailing again. Ive had to ride out many storms in my 20 plus years of therapy and Im still here and very much more stable then I used to be.

You'll certainly go through some hard times with therapy, but that's what it is, and that's how you get over it. We have faith that it will make you better, not make you "go crazy." Good luck!

Therapy is weird because it can be fun at times. You can share things with him/her that you can't discuss with any one else. But, at other times, they get you to talk about the last thing that you would chose to talk about. Then, you feel strangely emotionally drained. I am a cry baby in therapy.
It will of course depend on your goals for therapy, Dx, other issues and you as a person too. So, the risks of therapy are the self-awareness that comes from it. You will probably find yourself dwelling on the sessions sometimes and discovering some good things about yourself and bad things. Since I have a tendency for sadness, I don't remember learning negative things about myself except for the surprising level of influence that my childhood has on my thinking. Arrrg. I tend to focus on the negative and so I usually know all the negative things about myself.
Of course, I am new myself because I did therapy about 10 years ago. Then, the T terminated the sessions (free sessions from my university's counseling center) and I have recently started again through my insurance. Since the Dx is different, I suspect the therapy will be somewhat different. I have only had two sessions so far. The assessment/Dx session and planning session. I haven't a clue what is next except that I can tell that childhood will probably come up again. A lot of my problems date back that far.
Therapists are cool because they don't tell you that you shouldn't think that way. I get that some when I try to share my odd negative thinking with non-counselors.

Yes, what you say is true, it tend to feel worse before you feel better.... but having someone guide you through, and at times hold your hand.. makes it different. I think to remember that your T is your team member that you have hired to assist you with difficult decisions and things to undrestand. Hopefully, your T will be secure enough to allow you to be you, and also strong enough to nudge you along when you need it

Hi guys,
thank you so much for the feedback. I has confirmed what I was hoping!
Cheers and happy new year

Glad to hear that.