Counselling and psychiatric

[Malus 12:9]

Some may recognise this thread, but then again I see a lotta old ones come up here (or other forums)

Do you think it helps? I have had stories of both yes and no. I think it works for some,
but not others. Yeah yeah some say "you have to want it to work.." I know, that's why I went for over 10 years.

Do you think it helps?

 

[Melody]

Perhaps my extended family members were unlucky, but I feel they were harmed more than helped. They came away from their counselling with the idea that they weren't the problem, it was the big bad world around them. Instead of correcting bad habits or learned behaviors, they now say "it's me...accept it....I can't help it." Or worse, "my parents made me like this" and they use it as an excuse not to correct their problems.

 

[scitsofreaky]

It probably depends on the problem(s), the person and the type of therapy. I know someone who went to a Jungian therapist that did dream therapy for depression. It really didn't seem to do anything at all, positive or negative. While it seemed to be able to find possible reasons for the depression (maybe), it did nothing to fix them.

 

[michel]

I have an excellent book to help with cognitive therapy, and it also contains excercises to train the reader how to 'rethink' the way he looks at life.


Having said that, It didn't do a thing for me - I think I left the psychiatrist worse off than me at the end of our weekly sessions for two years...........:biglaugh:

Seriously, it is good; it just didn't work on me because I have a problem that is totally unsolvable anyway......I'll give you the details, if you want them, malus; it is a very recent and 'approved of' way of dealing with things.

 

[Sunstone]

For all their flaws, counselling and psychiatric medicine are almost always better than trying to go it alone. It's best to keep in mind that these are relatively new fields. They are fast changing. What was conventional wisdom in them five years ago is now discredited because of advances in science and technique. So, there is a learning curve going on in these fields as they become increasingly effective in dealing with the various disorders.

 

[Malus 12:9]

While it seemed to be able to find possible reasons for the depression (maybe), it did nothing to fix them.

It doesn't. Well not always. How can it physically "fix" anything?

Ya cae to the right place for frubals man.

 

[Malus 12:9]

Can I see that book please MICH

 

[scitsofreaky]

It doesn't. Well not always. How can it physically "fix" anything?

Ya cae to the right place for frubals man.

Well, my friend's problems (no, it really isn't me, I've never seen a shrink) were not physical (ie chemical), well at least one the current drugs can fix. She tried all kinds of drugs, but they did nothing.
I thought that a psychologist (or was she a physchiatrist?) would root out the problem and try to fix it. Perhaps she did try, I don't have all the details of what happened, but either way they didn't work.
Ok, about the physical vs mental issue when it comes to psychotherapy and such, I don't think it is a "vs" issue. Like I said, there didn't seem to be a drug that could fix any physcial problem she may have had, but I don't deny that some sort of chemical was involved. But the question is what caused what. Is it some memory caused some sort of adverse chemical reaction, or was the chemical the cause? I can't really say.

 

[michel]

Can I see that book please MICH

i'll dig it up' and send you the details - must go and sacrifice myself by having a pre-dinner drink with my dear wife. Oh, how we men do suffer............

 

[Kowalski]

Some may recognise this thread, but then again I see a lotta old ones come up here (or other forums)

Do you think it helps? I have had stories of both yes and no. I think it works for some,
but not others. Yeah yeah some say "you have to want it to work.." I know, that's why I went for over 10 years.

Do you think it helps?

Counselling should be avoided, many of them aren't qualified. The main danger is they are often not impartial, but biased, and can transfer this to the consultee.

Only ever consult a registed and trained Professional psychologist, but whatever, the onus for change is on you, always.

K

 

[glasgowchick]

I think counceling helps for so long, they can listen to you, they can advice you, but depending on ones problem, it is down to us to work with the help given, in my case it took me about 7-8 years to get to grips and do something about the problems..I got tired of going over and over the same probs, every week was the same old story, I would go for a chat, then a massage, then go home and feel no better than I did before going..They would show me tecniques that I didn't try at home, they showed me relaxation tecniques that I didn't bother with at home, once I started using the help they were supplying then, and only then was I on the road to recovery..Its up to us, Im not saying its easy because it is anything but easy when the motivation just isn't there, we have two choices, spend the rest of our lives living in misery, or do we get out there and at least try and do something about the problem, we got to try and help ourselves too...

 

[Snowbear]

For all their flaws, counselling and psychiatric medicine are almost always better than trying to go it alone.

Even if it makes the problem worse?

 

[michel]

I think counceling helps for so long, they can listen to you, they can advice you, but depending on ones problem, it is down to us to work with the help given, in my case it took me about 7-8 years to get to grips and do something about the problems..I got tired of going over and over the same probs, every week was the same old story, I would go for a chat, then a massage, then go home and feel no better than I did before going..They would show me tecniques that I didn't try at home, they showed me relaxation tecniques that I didn't bother with at home, once I started using the help they were supplying then, and only then was I on the road to recovery..Its up to us, Im not saying its easy because it is anything but easy when the motivation just isn't there, we have two choices, spend the rest of our lives living in misery, or do we get out there and at least try and do something about the problem, we got to try and help ourselves too...

You are right; one of the greatest hinderances to depression is the lack of motivation - which is , of course, what makes you not 'do' the excercises you are supposed to at home.

One of the things I have always found hard with psychotherapists or psychiatrists is that they have always made no bones about the cure "Are you prepared to change the way you think ?" I have been asked, each time..........it took me a long time to realize that one of the ways I was being asked to change my way of thinking was to let go of my religious and moral principles.

The last time I had therapy, I even accused the therapist of 'tricking' me ; all he could say, at the end of the day was," well, it was worth the try".

However much what I believe impedes my hapiness, I will never compromise what I believe in.

 

[glasgowchick]

You are right; one of the greatest hinderances to depression is the lack of motivation - which is , of course, what makes you not 'do' the excercises you are supposed to at home.

One of the things I have always found hard with psychotherapists or psychiatrists is that they have always made no bones about the cure "Are you prepared to change the way you think ?" I have been asked, each time..........it took me a long time to realize that one of the ways I was being asked to change my way of thinking was to let go of my religious and moral principles.

The last time I had therapy, I even accused the therapist of 'tricking' me ; all he could say, at the end of the day was," well, it was worth the try".

However much what I believe impedes my hapiness, I will never compromise what I believe in.

For some reason, [the lady I spoke to] we got on to talk about the bible, she said she was very spiritual but she also said at the end of the day the bible was written almost 2000 years ago..basically why was I worrying about that...You are right also about the motivation, it is definatetly needed to get going..I know that..but we got to try know matter how hard to take that first step..

 

[Unedited]

Counselling should be avoided, many of them aren't qualified. The main danger is they are often not impartial, but biased, and can transfer this to the consultee.

Only ever consult a registed and trained Professional psychologist, but whatever, the onus for change is on you, always.

K

I disagree. A 'trained professional psychologist' can be just as biased as a counsellor. It's impossible for a human being to completely escape their own bias.

 

[Malus 12:9]

Personally, I don't think if a councillor is religious that they should use bible or God talk inside the discussion, that is a mild form of proselytizing; and YES I have seen it on a few occasions.

 

[michel]

I haven't. Anyone who has councelled me has tried to get me away from Religion; it is, apparently, my Christian principles that are the biggest contributors to lack of self worth, and depression...........

 

[Malus 12:9]

One ogf them councillor dudes suggested I start attending church.....

 

[Cynic]

Counselling should be avoided, many of them aren't qualified. The main danger is they are often not impartial, but biased, and can transfer this to the consultee.

Only ever consult a registed and trained Professional psychologist, but whatever, the onus for change is on you, always.

K

Well counsellors have a BA degree, not a MA/PHD in psychology.

I'm sure that who you are seeing, is an important factor. The counsellor I saw used therapy that seemed like it was based on an older hypothetical model than on current findings. Ayways, I knew as much as he did, as far as my problems went, and I already had a mediocre understanding of the type of therapy he was using.

 

[Cynic]

One ogf them councillor dudes suggested I start attending church.....

In my opinion, certian aspects of religion can provide certain positive psychological benefits. Like for example, the way it can promote cohesion. It would be important for someone who is going through social withdrawal. Or like how prayer can give a person a sense of hope. Umm... If I were a counceller, I might recommend them going to church, that is only if they were religious and if it seemed applicable according to the situation. But I'm not a councellor (yet that is).