I do not think that a counselor (social worker type) requires a degree and licensing. A licensed psychologist is the safest bet.

I hope you have good luck.

Be ready to talk about your issues!

Starting therapy is a bit like dating without the romance! You work to understand each other enough to move forward. We the patients need to understand our therapist enough to know if we are willing to trust them with our most embarrassingly honest thoughts, memories and actions. They the therapists need to learn enough about us to know how to move forward with us.

Once you have found a therapist who meets your needs, then it is time to start opening up. They have "heard it all" so there is no need to worry about what they think.

Some people write down their thoughts and then let the therapist read them. This is good if you are nervous and are afraid you will forget to say important things.


Getting therapy is a very good step! Do let us know how it works!!!

Gentle hugs

I think therapy is a good choice, they are highly trained in mental health issues and can give you ideas and tools to help you work through your depression and anxiety and give you someone to talk to and vent your problems on. Talk therapy can be very helpful. Just keep in mind that not all therapists are one size fits all. I did have a bad experience with one therapist I went to and left but I didn't give up I found another one that I truly grew to admire. Her experience and insight was outstanding and she helped me a lot to work through various issues I was having at the time. I believe you are on the right track keep moving forward with this. Best of luck, johnnyboy

a counsellor gets a degree in counselling in New Zealand, and is 100% better idea than going to a psychologist.

psychologits like naming things and telling you what's wrong with you.

Counsellors listen to you and offer helpful ideas on how to resolve your problems.

counsellors are 100% better answer when you need help with your own life, and don't just want to be squashed into a box and the key thrown away.

JMHO obviously. :)

I think whether it's a counselor a therapist it doesn't matter really, either way it will definitely help. While I have had some bad therapists I had to fire I currently have an excellent therapist and she helps me srsly so much.

A psychiatrist or psychologist is mostly concerned with prescribing meds, but a therapist, counselor or social worker will actually listen to your problems. A social worker will probably be more concerned with connecting you to resources or social programs that can help you and can help with that kind of paperwork.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your upcoming counseling.

Thanks for the responses. I will be sure to come back and share if I think it's going to be any help to me at all.

I have a psychiatrist. She prescribes my meds. I honestly find her a waste of my time. She asks me how I am doing and I tell her. No going deeper, no advice. I also have a licensed professional counselor who I will really miss when/if I do not need her anymore. I have talked to so many people with so many degrees, some helped, some did not. I personally do not put too much weight on degrees though, I just look for someone who will listen without judgement, someone who asks questions and makes suggestions, and someone who tells it like it is. Seriously, my LPC has told me many times that I am stubborn. LOL! I am! And she did not sugar coat it. I love her for that!! The important thing to remember though, whoever you talk to, is that YOU have to be honest too.

A well-meaning counselor (no background in major depressive disorder and SAD) did not know how to treat a clinical depression that I suffered. She wanted to help, but just did not have what I personally needed at the time. She started making my depression worse and worse until I ended up in the hospital. She later apologized to me and admitted she was in over her head. (She was a child abuse counselor).

My doctor wanted me to see a depression therapist It was all my insurance would even pay part of the bill.

I have been helped by counselors, don't get me wrong. But, I need a therapist who knows depression especially after when I fell apart years back.

Again, I hope you find what you need in a counselor or psychologist. I am having a very difficult time these days and need group support.

heatherhurts

I had my first appointment earlier, I had to sign patient confidentiality agreement forms and all that and we talked for close to an hour or so. I explained my scoliosis, PKD, depression, and loneliness. I was a bit anxious to be talking to a stranger again about my issues, and apparently what I was telling her confused her a little bit, which makes sense because I'm quite confused about myself at times. By the end of the appointment though she said she was understanding a little bit more so I suppose that is good.

She said that if I had a job and wasn't home all day I wouldn't be so depressed and feeling this way, which I've known for quite some time but that doesn't really help my situation as I'm still unable to work. It really shouldn't be this hard to find a place of employment that can accommodate my situation, but it's proved to be harder than I thought. Anyways before I digress further, the talk was not too bad for a first time, and I'm scheduled to go once a week so I'm anxious to see how the next time goes.