I hadn’t felt like myself in a long time. I didn’t enjoy the things I
used to. I just didn’t know what the problem was.
A few of my friends had suggested I see a counselor, but I shook it off, hoping
things would get better on their own.
While I knew they were probably right, it was hard to imagine myself in counseling because
I didn’t know what to expect.
I didn’t want to lie on anybody’s big couch. And isn’t counseling just for crazy
people? Am I CRAZY? I’m not crazy!
I wondered if the counselor would judge me or if my friends and family would
find out.
I tried talking to friends and family about it, I tried to make more time
for things I enjoyed…but I knew something was off and I really had no idea what it was
or how to fix it. I even tried Googling some of my symptoms to see if I could figure it
out but as time passed, I was feeling worse all the time. It even began to affect others
areas of my life. My grades even started to suffer. I finally accepted that I everything
I was trying wouldn’t work; I needed something more.
So, I made the call. The receptionist was friendly and helped find a time that worked
with my class schedule.
I thought I would be seeing someone right away, so I was surprised when she said there
was a waitlist! At first I thought that the wait was excessive but after doing some searching
online, I found out that it was standard procedure for most health care services offered at a
university.
It also made me think, “hey, if there’s a wait list, there must be a lot
of people going to counseling too.” I guess more people go than I thought.
The receptionist said if it was urgent, I could come in right away for a same-day appointment.
I considered my options and decided that I could wait.
As the date of my appointment grew nearer, that’s when my nerves really started
to get the best of me. I started wondering what’s gonna happen in the appointment?
What will they ask me?
Will they give me advice or blame me for causing my problems? I wonder if other
people ever have similar issues or is it just me?
I didn’t want to be judged by the therapist. What if they don’t like me?
What if I don’t like them? Will they give me medication? Do I even want medication?
I had no idea what to expect from counseling, so it made the wait a bit difficult.
If you’re considering counseling and not sure what to expect, take it from me: It’s
normal to be anxious.
The day of my appointment had arrived. When I first walked in I was asked to fill
out some paperwork before meeting with my counselor. It had questions about my symptoms,
and my mental health and medical history. Then, a few minutes later, I finally met with
Dr. S. Turns out; she was really chill for a doctor.
After she introduced herself, she informed me that everything we were going
to talk about would be completely confidential with a few exceptions, which we discussed
until I felt comfortable. She also said that if we see each other on campus, she wouldn’t
say hello if I didn’t want her to unless I initiated the communication.
We talked about why I came in. I told her that I hadn’t been feeling like myself
lately and I didn’t know why. I talked about how I couldn’t focus in school, how I was
feeling sad and angry at times for no reason, and that I was exhausted.
She asked me questions about my family, my friends, any clubs or organizations I was
a part of. She asked me about my childhood, any medications I had ever taken. She also
asked if I had ever had thoughts about self injury or suicide. That surprised me a little
bit but she said that asking was a common part of an assessment for everyone.
My initial fears completely disappeared in the first few minutes; I felt so relieved.
It was really comfortable to talk to her. I don’t know why I was so worried.
In the end, we discussed a lot of different options for what to do next.
She helped me make a customized plan. For me, my plan included individual therapy with
a counselor on campus. However, there are so many options.
She let me know that if I didn’t feel comfortable working with her, that I
also had the option to work with another counselor. Dr. S and I are a good fit though, so we decided
to stick together. My next scheduled appointment is a week from today.
After I left, I thought about all of the advantages of going to counseling on
campus- I mean, they’re experts. Basically everyone there has years of experience and
training
I also thought about how all of my concerns were sort of off base. I didn’t
have to lie on a couch. Turns out, I’m not alone and it has given me a ton of hope!
Sometimes it can be challenging but I know it’s a process and I should try
to keep it going. I’ve now gone to 3 sessions. I’ve learned a lot about myself and how
to better regulate my emotions. Dr. S provided things for me to work on in between sessions
and I am getting stronger every day.
I’m looking forward to seeing what comes out of this. We have about 3 more
sessions before we reevaluate my progress.
So, that’s how it works. Counseling works for a lot of students. Find out if it’s
right for you!
This is a typical story, most students attend 4-7 sessions. Services may
vary but all campuses offer crisis/urgent care, individual and group therapy. Check
with your campus for additional services offered. Most services are free for registered students.”