[destiel]

So apparently today was National Depression Screening Day. My university had a little event going on where they were giving free depression screenings. The counselor who scored my screening said I would probably benefit from further counseling. This was not a surprise to me, seeing as I have been doing not so great the past few months. I saw a therapist once about a year ago when my parents split up, and I HATED IT. I felt like she was judging me and she put words in my mouth. I feel like if I talk to a counselor at school, I'll just lie. I'm extremely afraid of admitting my faults. Does anyone have any tips on how I can be successful in my meeting (if/when I decide to go through with it)?

good luck with it.

i think what is the most important thing to remember, is they are their to help you- so just be you. just say what you need to tell them.

[adel34]

I would go to your first meeting with the counselor and just see how you feel. Ask lots of questions and just get a sense of what it's like to be sitting across from this person and sharing your thoughts and feelings. If you feel judged or things just don't feel right, you could always ask to be assigned another counselor. The most important thing is to find someone who you connect with. Your first therapist did not sound like a good match for you at all. It might also be helpful to tell your new counselor about that experience you had, so she can know what did not work.
It takes courage to reach out for help! Also please keep posting here.

Counselors are not there to judge us, although sometimes it feels like they do but that is more to do with us and our feelings of shame etc.....
I would go once anyway and see how it works out for you. Maybe this one will help you more. Good luck (((HUGS)))

[SoupDragon]

From personal experience I have found a huge variation in the skills and approach from different therapists / counsellors. In the UK "counsellor" is not a protected title and pretty much anyone can call themselves a counsellor (there are also accredited counsellors though). So I would suggest going along and seeing how you feel, if you find the person judgemental, then try to find someone else.

Good luck - Soup

[SallyBrown]

The first time I started seeing someone for my depression was in college, too. Since then, I've seen a whole bunch of different therapists for different things, and they all have vastly different styles. Some of them fit, and some REALLY didn't. It's completely normal to have to talk to a few people before you find one with whom you're working well.

For me, when I first visited my college T, he said something that really clicked with me. One thing I had been afraid of was that he would tell me I wasn't depressed enough for therapy. His response was, "You don't need a diagnosis to do therapy; it sounds like when something difficult happens, your response feels 'off'. Anytime things are 'off' is a good time to seek therapy." It was really what I needed to hear. I didn't really know that beforehand, but it's one of those things you know when you hear it.

So I would go in armed with questions. I don't remember what I said that he responded with that, but it was something like, "So am I depressed enough for therapy?" Any fear you have that you think might get in the way of working with someone. You'll know when you hear an answer that seems helpful. It sounds like you have a tough time admitting your faults, and that's a problem that a lot of people share -- many times stemming from how being "wrong" was treated when you were a child. It's ok to say to a therapist, "I'm worried that therapy isn't right for me because I'm never going to be able to admit certain things to you." See what they say, and whether it resonates with you.

Also, practical things -- many universities have you see one counselor there who refers you outside for someone more long-term. You'll want to know whether this is the case. You may also want to ask yourself if you have a preference for a male or female therapist.

Other things:
- How do they feel about medication? I didn't want to work with someone who would push me to do it.
- What do they see as the "goal" of therapy?
- How do they describe their style, and where can you go to get more information about their particular orientation?

I hope you keep us posted about your search! Good luck