"New" counselor emotionally damaging

I saw my counsellor for the first time after we decided to start sessions about my issues. I've seen this counsellor for almost a year but then just for general "check-ups" and chats as I waited to get access to proper therapy.

When therapy didn't work I was sent back to this counsellor.

I know it's the first session but my experience from therapy and counselling are many and diverse. Not in number of therapists but in different kind of disappointments.

I had some weeks ago given her a list of the issues I want to talk about, in brief. She met that as it was everyday things that just needs some breathing exercises and some adjustments and "wise thinking". She didn't meet me on an emotional level but rambled about "everything and nothing" and wanted me to choose one issue to talk about next time.

I didn't go along with that but told her there is no specific issue that is more important than the others. Also, I can't know one week ahead what I want to bring to the room.

I was prepared for this as she isn't licensed and I see her only to be able to see a doctor at the same facility who writes the papers for my sick leave.

Next time I'll just answer shortly to what she asks and anything I'll have to explain I'll just do very briefly.

This is not so much a disappointment to me as it had been some years ago. I know I can't get any help and now I stay within health care just for practical reasons. I'll soon be kicked out I presume but that's then.

Ugh. I am sorry for all you are going through to try and get the help you need. Hopefully having someone that can at least meet you on an emotional level will be of some help even if she isn’t trained as or good at being a therapist. I hope someone is able to see that they are not able to provide the right services and don’t take away your sick leave just because their program falls short.

Thanks. I think this counselor knows she can´t help me and that she tries to compensate by talking a lot about random and more general stuff concerning mental health issues.


She told me what I had written about my issues was "comprehensive" and it was not in a positive way.


At our first meeting I felt she tried to simplify things and finding shortcuts to solutions instead of listening to me. I´m not that surprised though as she isn´t licensed and she doesn´t work as a therapist but as a case manager.


I contacted my social worker about the situation and said I want to end my contacts within outpatient psychiatric care as I won´t get the help I need anyway. So I guess it´s just to wait and see what the social worker says.

Ugh. I too am sorry about this.