This is possibly going to be the shortest of my posts this week, but its something I feel is important and needs to be spoken about during Mental Health Awareness Week.
There are many different forms of therapy for different types of mental illness, but the most common (after medication) is counselling.
Counselling played a big part in my early mental health days and more recently in my recovery. As mentioned in previous posts, I saw a range of different professionals via the NHS, private and charity sectors; all of which I had a completely unique experience.
The truth about counselling is that it can take such a long time to find somebody you connect with.
I can't even remember half of the counsellors I saw for just one session because there were so many I just couldn't engage with.
I can't even remember half of the counsellors I saw for just one session because there were so many I just couldn't engage with.
I tried multiple counsellors from NHS counsellors to CAMHS referral counsellors to free counselling services offered by charities and expensive private counselling.
There are a tonne of different options when it comes to counselling and it can feel like a needle in a haystack trying to find one suited to your needs. I would highly advise speaking to your GP about which options are best for you. It also helps to have a look online especially if you have a diagnosis or need specific theapy for certain events (grief, terminal illness, abuse etc.) to find a service with a focus.
Never be afraid to voice how you feel about a professional or the sessions you experience. They understand. You can go through hours and hours (and possibly a lot of money) with certain people or certain methods of therapy and get nowhere because you aren't a good match.
There are a tonne of different options when it comes to counselling and it can feel like a needle in a haystack trying to find one suited to your needs. I would highly advise speaking to your GP about which options are best for you. It also helps to have a look online especially if you have a diagnosis or need specific theapy for certain events (grief, terminal illness, abuse etc.) to find a service with a focus.
Never be afraid to voice how you feel about a professional or the sessions you experience. They understand. You can go through hours and hours (and possibly a lot of money) with certain people or certain methods of therapy and get nowhere because you aren't a good match.
You will know if counselling is the right choice for you at the time.
If you are in a place where going backwards before you can come forwards isn't safe, then you are well within your rights to decline counselling.
If you feel that you can't go over experience of trauma by verbalising it just yet, don't. There's no pressure for you to do anything you don't feel comfortable doing.
Don't accept that people may accuse you of "not helping yourself" by turning down treatment of any sort.
Whatever your choice, nobody can make it for you. No matter what decision you make in life, some people are going to disagree with it. You have to put in as much as you can to get something back when it comes to any sort of therapy. If now isn't the right time, that's okay. If you try one session and decide its not for you, thats okay too. If you decide therapy/counselling isnt something you want to exlore, thats also okay.
Visit the links below for more information on free councelling:
Whatever your choice, nobody can make it for you. No matter what decision you make in life, some people are going to disagree with it. You have to put in as much as you can to get something back when it comes to any sort of therapy. If now isn't the right time, that's okay. If you try one session and decide its not for you, thats okay too. If you decide therapy/counselling isnt something you want to exlore, thats also okay.
Visit the links below for more information on free councelling:
- Visit Mind to find free therapists in your area.
Links and Useful Phone Numbers:
- If you're interested in finding out more about mental health and the different types, symptoms and advice, visit www.mind.org.uk
- For advice and helplines dedicated to your area visit Rethink Mental Illness here.
- The Samaritans have a 24/7 365 days of the year free telephone service for anybody who needs to talk about mental health: 116 123.
- You can find other methods of contacting a service for advice or support here.
- For mental health training and first aid visit MHFA here.
- You can speak to your GP about mental health within working hours. Outside of these hours you can ring 111.
- If your life or lives of others are at immediate risk, please call 999.
Comments
Post a Comment