Depression Forums

Depression Related Forums => Depression Central => Topic started by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 10:57:02 PM

Title: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 10:57:02 PM
I'm knocking forty and have been assigned a CBT counsellor who is probably under 30. She's very sweet but she has some real problems with communication.
She tells me to have 'pacific goals' and said I could look into 'psychodammic therapy' (I gather from an email she sent she means psychodynamic).
In her email there are more errors than in just about any other piece of writing I have ever seen, contractions instead of possessives and vice versa, missing words and spelling mistakes.
I used to be a proofreader. _-+
I feel completely patronised by her.
I have an illness, I'm not a 5 year old. I realise I'm being a bit of a snob but I feel if she can't re read her own emails to be sure they make sense, or say simple words like specific, can I really trust her to help me?

Can I get over this or should I ask to see someone more authoritative?
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Buttercup on July 10, 2012, 11:24:47 PM
A tricky one.

Do you respect this person? If you don't then it comes down to whether this will come in the way of your recovery and if that's the case then maybe the way forward is to ask for a change.

Hope this has helped

Xxx
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 11:30:09 PM
She is very nice and understanding but then she will say things and I feel that she is too limited somehow, you know if she can't say psychodynamic can I be sure she really understands the concept.
Maybe she has some learning difficulty and that shouldn't stop anyone doing the work they love but I just don't know ... I mean can you pass psychotherapy exams without being able to deal with the words you use verbally or in writing?

Maybe it's just silly but I feel like she doesn't have the right level of skill to help me properly.
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Buttercup on July 10, 2012, 11:36:22 PM
I don't think it is silly. You're putting a huge amount of faith in this person to help you recover so naturally you want to be sure that she has the right skill sets to help.

Xxx
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 11:40:05 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: KateG on July 10, 2012, 11:46:31 PM
I don't think it's silly either, it would annoy the hell out of me and so I would be unable to place any trust in her. Can you ask for another counsellor?
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 11:50:09 PM
Thank you
I don't have anyone to talk it over with to get some perspective.

I'm at the end of the initial sessions and she's talking about what I can move onto so maybe I can choose something with a different counselor.
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: plumb on July 10, 2012, 11:54:52 PM
Sounds as if you have already decided so its time to make that call !
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 10, 2012, 11:57:21 PM
 =+-
I guess I just needed reassurance I wasn't being over sensitive.
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Zaf on July 11, 2012, 04:06:39 AM
It would annoy me immensely too, imo any type of counselling you need a rapport with the person you are interacting with so it would be best to get a different counsellor if you possibly can xx
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: mamalou on July 11, 2012, 10:08:51 AM
Agree with Zaf. I have had ( far too much !) dealing with several mental health people and as far as therapy is concerned rapport is most important. I wouldn't be able to be honest if I didn't trust my therapist. Plus I cannot stand any sort of patronising talk! 

I totally agree about getting the terminology right - that would drive me insane ( well more insane than I already am !)
Title: Re: Counsellors, how to relate to them
Post by: Laura on July 11, 2012, 11:57:36 AM
It is really distracting.
I will try to make sure I see someone else for the next section.

Thanks all