If not for the counseling i got after my husband died, I wouldn't be here today. And I have finally found a counselor now that is able to see through and really get at the heart of everything. I think you have to find one that you really click with.

I've known many counselors in my line of work (and, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm about 12 credit hours away from being one myself). Counselors have a vested interest in making sure you DON'T solve your problems. If you solve your problems, why on earth would you need to keep seeing a counselor?

So long as you remain sick, your counselor can keep billing your sessions as hours, get a paycheck from your insurance, and ensure future business. The whole therapist industry is an ingenious racket. Question: What's the difference between a used car salesman and a therapist? Answer: A used car.

i'm in therapy now for self injury issues, and it's helped understand the root of why i do what i do & my triggers, and also it's helped me find new alternatives.

Counseling only helps those who really need insight or so it seems. Me I have a pretty good insight into what is going on in my life. So basic counseling doesn't help me, but wouldn't ya know the shrink thinks I should go back to sitting in a chair having someone ask me "how do you feel about that...how does that make you feel?"

Me I just need my meds and I am fine

Hi Gzus.....I'm a trained counsellor, studied for 5 long long years. I guess the secret to counselling is finding a good counsellor who can have a real and open relationship with you.

In my point of view, some people who use the term " I am a counsellor", are stuck up their own fucking arses so far they can't be pulled out.

I choose not to pursue this line of work because of all the fuckin ass wholes who practice it.

So my advice is keep trying until you find someone who is genuine and I can say that then you may be able to heal whatever you need to.

It has worked for me.You have to have a good counselor who knows what they are going though.

I have known the kind of private counsellor that Voultayre describes. Very depressing, and they just reinforce the stereotype.
People aren't completely stupid though, I'd have thought a lot of counsellors would care more about having a good reputation. (Or am I just being too charitable again? lol)

Hell yeah, it works. With the right person. I had to go to many before I found someone that was right for me. But it saved my life, I'll tell you that much!

IN order for therapy or counseling to work, you have to WANT it to work. It's not magic, it's takes a lot of effort. The psychologist can't do any of it for you, and if you think they're just going to fix you, you're sadly mistaken.

I've been through loads of thereapy over the last 6+ years, including a year and a half of intensive in patient treatment/rehab in Utah. I've had horrible people, good people, and an amazing person. It has to be a good fit for sure.

C'mere and i'll give ya some free sex therapy...lol..

My only problem with my PTSD counseling was that when i went for my first session at the VA and the guy turned out to be a fucking haji! (military slang for middle eastern) I said "Hell no, this ain't gonna work!" and told him so. Thankkfully he understood and i was reassigned. I emailed the head shring at the VA and asked why in Gods name would he have a middle eastern doctor counseling middle eastern war combat veterans??!! He just told me that i wasn't the first to complain.

Told him "Shit, my dad was in Force Recon in Nam', should i tell him to sit and have a beer with the fucking Viet Cong ?!"

I believe there are three things we must always remember.

1) All counselors are not created equal.
2) A number of studies have shown that no matter how qualified a counselor looks on paper, for most of us talking things over with a really good friend is just as good or better.
and 3) I was told by a highly successful counselor that one of the 'secrets' that all professionals have noticed is that people who are paying for the sessions out of their own pockets get well much more quickly than those who have insurance plans which allow unlimited visits.

Most counselling doesn't do anything. Now DBT helped to change some of my self injury issues

I had counseling after I graduated high school and fell off the deep end with depression...

The therapist was very kind and caring...listened very well and made useful suggestions, but, ultimately, I healed myself, because I decided that I simply didn't want to feel like crap anymore, and thus occupied my time with watching SNL and sitcoms...laughter, as well as a desire to exercise and a desire to create and build something, pulled me out of the depths of the abyss (and continues to do so).