What to expect at councelling?

[KEAWYED]

I have been on citalopram for 6 weeks and have also been referred for councelling which starts in 2 weeks.
I have no idea what to expect.

Do I need to go with stuff written down?

Do i have to have how I feel prepared?

Will I be the one doing all the talking or will she ask me questions and slowly drag it out of me.
I really have no idea what to expect and I'm beginning to feel a bit nervous.

Thanks

It will depend on you and your counsellor together. The first meeting she will want to know things about you. She may have a questionnaire or simply ask 'what brought you here'.

Counselling is for you so if it helps to write things down go for it. If you talk better if she asks questions you can tell her. You will make a plan together, what you hope to achieve and how to go about it. It will also depend whether it is a specific form of counselling eg Cognitive Behavioural Techniques which focuses on problem solving or more traditional talk therapy where you talk about what bothers you, where it comes from, how it can be changed.

Try to go along with an open mind. You don't have to say what you don't want to/can't say.

There is a little book called 'Counselling for Toads' which i found really helpful before I started counselling. It's easy to read and helped me understand the counselling relationship.

Thank-you.

I'll look out for the book.

Didn't think I'd be the ''sort of person'' to end up with depression but in hindsight this is something I should have done along time ago.

Hi Keawyed -I am a counsellor and don't have any expectations of my clients when they come whether it be for a first session or if we have been working together for a long time as willsurvivethis points out counselling is for you so its on your terms If you feel more comfortable having stuff written down then that is fine but it certainly won't be expected that you would have something prepared-the hardest time to walk through your counsellors door will be the first time and also the counsellor will probably be a little apprehensive & nervous too (I know I always am when meeting a client for the first time).
Good luck & I hth-counselling for toads is a FAB book

Dh has struggled with clinical depression for as long as I've known him and he always said i was not the type to get depressed and i would never really understand.

That's before I got PTSD - not clinical depression but it can get pretty dark in there...

It can happen to anyone. Glad you are getting support. Talking is good.

Its all depends on councellar, I had 2 experiences. Both did nor help, I sorted myself out. Its all in your head!

Thanks. Im going to the library to hunt the book first ot look on e-bay.
I know its in my head, where else would it be???

on a plate on the table, obviously! like something we can turn away by returning it to the kitchen

good luck with it all

No you see in your head means it's not real all you have to do is pretend you're ok and it will go away