Counselor doesn't comment on things I share with her

SarahSweden · Jan 26, 2020 at 06:29 PM

Thanks. Yes, she´s a case counselor but she also has a basic education in psychotherapy. I´ve seen her in her role as a case counselor for almost a year but she offered to see me about my issues as it didn´t work out with the psychotherapist I met with this autumn.

The case counselor told me I could write a document about what I want to talk about and so I did and I also left it to her. I´m at a dead end within psychiatry as I already tried two different therapists and when that didn´t work out due to chemistry and their therapeutic orientation I was sent back to this case counselor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

This is exactly what I think too -- this woman you have sessions with is not a licensed psychotherapist but is a case counselor from the way you describe her. So, case counselors don't offer empathetic talk-therapy. Their only job is to connect patients with counseling resources.

I think you should look for a licensed counselor who is properly trained in talk-therapy to talk to.

SarahSweden · Jan 26, 2020 at 06:50 PM

Thanks. I don´t actually have two options as I´m already referred back to this counselor as the therapy unit thought I needed to see someone who was more supportive. But they didn´t refer me to this counselor specifically but they only write what kind of care they recommend. Here we don´t have a referall system which means that you can´t get a referall to a specific therapist but to more or less "anyone" with a free time slot.

It was this current counselor who asked me if I wanted to continue with her and establish a care plan and I accepted. I wrote a suggestion for a care plan and now I kind of wait for her to address what´s in that plan and begin to help me.

To be fair, we´ve only have had one session so far (before we just talked about random things in wait for therapist I later on left) and I hope she´ll be able to discuss things with me on a more personal level.

I find it a bit strange that she turned to general reasoning during the whole hour but perhaps she was unsure how to address what I told her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins

^^^Good post, Here Today.

Sarah, the actually qualified therapists you've seen are too impersonal for you. The friendlier counselor you are currently seeing is not qualified enough for you. Your choices are limited unless you decide to go back to work and not have to rely on sick pay to live.

Given the two options, which is the better? I realize it is the lesser of two (or three) bad options. Personally, I'd take an actual therapist with some skills, even if it was a therapy modality I wasn't that convinced about, who I might not personally like that much, and work with that therapist for awhile and see if, over time, it might work out better than I initially thought it would. Seems like you have deemed them unsatisfactory fairly quickly; sometimes it takes time. I, personally, wouldn't want to work with a counselor that really isn't a therapist if my mental health issues are serious enough that they are preventing me from working, particularly if her lack of skill in actually working with someone with serious mental health issues is pretty apparent.

It seems like those are your options under your circumstances.

NP_Complete · Jan 26, 2020 at 09:17 PM

Have you considered going back to work so you'd be able to pay for a private therapist and not be subject to the whims of the state-sponsored mental health system?

SarahSweden · Jan 27, 2020 at 04:37 PM

This isn't an option for me due to my health state. I need therapy to lessen my anxiety and depression and then I plan to do more to get a job. I already take small steps but I'm not well enough to do without economic support.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NP_Complete

Have you considered going back to work so you'd be able to pay for a private therapist and not be subject to the whims of the state-sponsored mental health system?

Fuzzybear · Jan 27, 2020 at 08:56 PM

Thinking of you

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NP_Complete Grand Magnate Member Since Feb 2017 Location: the upside down Posts: 3,808 7 6,349 hugs given	Jan 26, 2020 at 09:17 PM #23 Have you considered going back to work so you'd be able to pay for a private therapist and not be subject to the whims of the state-sponsored mental health system?
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Fuzzybear Wisest Elder Ever Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Cave. Posts: 96,326 (SuperPoster!) 21 81.2k hugs given	Jan 27, 2020 at 08:56 PM #25 Thinking of you __________________
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