Hello,

I was just wondering if you guys could give me your opinions on a question that I've had for a little while. Is it possible that counseling is not for everyone? Or that after a set amount of time that counseling is either very limited in its helpfulness or does not help at all?

The reason that I ask this is because for the last three years (give or take) I have been in counseling, mostly for my depression but for some other issues as well that just surfaced over time. When I was in high school, counseling was a very helpful tool for me as I learned all sorts of things from it and just about how to share my feelings in the first place. In high school there were people (adults and good friends) I could talk to outside of my counselor, but I just felt a little awkward sometimes talking to them since they were usually (if not always) involved in the situation and at the time I wasnt as open about my thoughts.

Anyways, this year was my first year in university and at the school I go to counseling is free so I signed up. When I stopped counseling (in the summer before the fall of 1st year university) I thought I could handle on my own and I felt ok with breaking off the relationship. I didnt feel that there was much more that needed to be said or discussed because I felt that in two years I had learned most of what I needed to learn. Yet because it was free at school I figured I would do it just as a preventative measure (not because I was having any serious problems).

I was really discouraged though because I felt that counseling was absolutely not helpful to me. All of my friends also did counseling and they all had great things to say. They found their counselors helpful and said they provided good insights. I switched my counselor partway through because we just didnt click (she treated me too much like a child), but then even my second counselor didnt really click with me. I had a hard time listening to her even though I tried really hard to, and I felt like she wasnt saying a whole lot that was pertinent to my situations. I also felt that she was just giving me all these books to read and I didnt have time since in university its hard enough to read the books that ARE assigned to you by profs. I met with the supervisor, but I didnt really want to break off the relationship since there was only like a month left of school anyways.

But then again I was wondering if my setting might have had something to do with it. See, I live in residence and I have some pretty awesome friends there and we discuss everything with each other and give each other really good advice. We tell each other if the problem is too big to tackle and they should see a doctor or counselor, but were always there for each other when we can be. I feel like because my support system at school is so awesome that by the time I get in to see my counselor all of the advice she could have given me I have already heard from my friends and by the time I meet with her I have already told my friends that same story a million times. This summer Im seeing my doctor occasionally (mostly just for check-ups to get my meds refilled even though I have a good relationship with her), but other than that since Ive now gotten really good at sharing my thoughts I think Ill stick to talking to the supports I have here and to adult friends rather than to actual counselors.

Sorry for the rambling. Question is: Is it possible that for me counseling has just run its course? Is there a point when counseling seems to lose its effect and its just time to move on with your own life even if you have been diagnosed with a mental illness? Or as one of my professors once said Friendship is for life, counseling isnt. Is this idea valid? Thanks for your feedback!