College Counselling Service?

LegacyUser

Hello,

I have just noticed that my college offers free councelling service to its students! I have been putting off seeing a councellor for my severe depression for years!

I am a mature student and I don't have alot of money to go to doctors/councellors etc. But apparently this service is free.

They claim all their councellors are fully qualified etc.

Does anybody have any good or bad experiences with college councellors or do you recommend I go privately elsewhere?

Thanks

LegacyUser

Hey,

I've been seeing my college councillor for about a year, and its helped me so much.

Its been an entirely positive experience. (Well, within reason...!)

I'd advise you to go see about seeing the councillor, the way I looked at it was that my depression couldn't get any worse...

Good luck.

s&mbarbie

free councelling on campus when i was in college...it helps...certainly better than letting things fester

Alter-Ego

They help. Go and see what ya make of if yourself. If anything it'll help ya get a few things of your chest.

LegacyUser

They only offer up to 6 sessions apparently! If after that you still need sessions your on your own!

I just don't think I can talk about personal stuff to a stranger! Anybody for that matter!

Victor

unreg1977 wrote:

They only offer up to 6 sessions apparently! If after that you still need sessions your on your own!

Well see what those sessions are like first. Usually, it is agreed after the first session to go to a certain number of session, often 6. Are you misreading the 6 session thing?

I just don't think I can talk about personal stuff to a stranger! Anybody for that matter!

Its often easier to tell a stranger a secret, because the stranger will find it harder to "judge" you agaisnt expected behaviors, compared to family and friends.

LegacyUser

'Oh I just discovered that they only operate during office hours! So I guess its geared towards day students only!'

Filan

Would you be free at somepoint during the day? Most simply Counsellors work 9-5 , more or less, they like their evenings off! I doubt whether it's any intentional bias against evening students. I went to a Counsellor at the University of Limerick in what seems like a past life and found her superb. Attended for 4 or 5 months and she really incresed my understanding of myself. Of course not all Counsellors are good, no morethan any other profession. But it's certainly worth a try...and could benefit you a lot. I wish you well, Alan

LegacyUser

'Well if you asked me last week I would have said yes I would be available but I had an interview today and I may be working full time from next week! If I don't get the job I will look into it!'

LegacyUser

'Go for it, I too am a mature student (28) and have recently started seeing a counselor in my college. I manage to get appointments in between lectures.

Its one of the best things I've ever done, I've been carrying around so many problems since childhood and finally talking to somebody about them is starting to help.

I too was scared to start it, very nervous on the 1st visit but give it a go. You have nothing to loose.

I've done 3 so far, have never heard of the rule where you only get 6. Seems very strange as if you need the help you need the help.'

hunnymonster

I work in one of the universities. I don't work with the college councillers directly but I do often refer people to them and I hear great things back. I would say it's certainly worth looking into as it's very unlikly to make things harder and could well ease whatever stresses are in your life.

LegacyUser

'Well I didn't hear back from that job interview so I guess I will have some spare time.

I think I just failed an exam too '

Filan

Sorry to hear that...but I remember thinking I did awful exams in the past...usually wasn't the case....isn't always easy to know what examiners want...there will be other jobs if this one fails....incidentally what are you studying?

LegacyUser

I'm studying IT.

I didn't answer enough questions to pass!