Does counselling work?

[Beautifulweeds]

Hi and thank you for reading!

Have put off my own MH for too long, I need to make the effort NOW!

I've had a couple of counselling treatments a ling time ago. They were good but mostly just the fact I could offload. There didn't seem to be a cure, just a symapathic ear and some advice, which I tried but so hard to continue when it stops.

I've been on paroxetine for over a decade, it keeps the edge off, but that edge is dangerously close now.

I did see a doctor last year and she said I could try other meds but would have to come off mine and I'm not in the right place to do this, still not.

Can anyone advise please? I have lifelong OCD, misophonia, anxiety, I overthink, over sensitive, worry about everything plus more. I work, function as I have to, but underneath I'm a mess! Xx

If you work at it sure. But it's not a passive thing, it doesn't just miraculously cure you. You have to work on yourself.

Yes but it takes time. Don't look at it as 'I've had 5 sessions and I don't feel better'. It's a long term learning and mindset changing exercise. You need to have good rapport with the counsellor and not feel judged, rushed or threatened. It is a process not a quick fix. Think of it as a treat to yourself, to give yourself space to understand yourself better. Not as time during which the therapist does something to you to make you better. It is a two way process.

Not all that well in my experience. I’ve had some which has been transformative (mostly CBT based and trauma focussed) but the traditional sit in a room for months on end or longer with a sympathetic person talking about your problems, never did much. In fact twice I’m quite sure that long term counselling pushed me into episodes of depression because it encouraged me to ruminate on my problems. There is evidence to show this can happen and little evidence that such forms of counselling/psychotherapy (as opposed to more evidence-based forms which set goals and timescales) actually “work” to do much at all, if by “work” you mean reduction in mental health symptoms and increase in functioning.

Thank you for your responses. I'm going to give my best shot and have an open mind. My DH says I need to push myself, I do every day just keeping on top of everything but I struggle. Xx

I think it depends on the cause of one s depression and the counsellor s skill and approach. I had a couple of counselling experiences before. The first one worked very well for my childhood trauma. Second time was problems with my marriage but the counsellor actually made me feel a lot worse. Some depressions may need both med and therapies. Best of luck