Depression Awareness: Counseling, Is It Worth a Try?

Hello Everyone!

Even though I've been in the process of moving and unpacking this past week I have a new post as promised. Today I have a follow up to my first Depression Awareness Post: My Story click here In this post I'm going to share my experiences with going into counseling.


Even before I was diagnosed with depression in August 2009, I actually started seeing my college counselor in September 2008. My primary reason for going to counseling was due to stress that I wasn't dealing with.


Meeting with my College Counselor for the First Time 

I had so many thoughts running through my mind while I sat in the waiting room. Is this lady going to judge me?...Can I really open up to a complete stranger?...Do I even need or want to be here?....like I said I had so many thoughts as I sat there waiting. 

Once I got into her office it was more of a meet and greet. She asked me some questions about myself based on my intake packet I filled out in the waiting room. That first session wasn't bad at all. I didn't feel judged or anything negative. So when she asked me if I wanted to come back, I said yes.


Counseling Overall

Honestly I found counseling to be helpful in maintaining balance in my life. Over time I felt I could open up and trust my counselor. I think it's so important to find a counselor you can trust because the more you trust someone, the more likely you will feel comfortable to talk about your life.

Counseling is also a great way that I found an outside opinion. Even though I can talk to people that are close to me, sometimes you need someone else's point of view. A counselor's point of view will be non biased. I loved that I could talk about anything in counseling. The  main focuses sessions included stress management and learning to cope when I struggled with depression. Every session I had didn't tackle the negative things I felt, I had plenty of sessions where I discussed all the positive things that were going on in my life. 


My counseling experience lasted for almost 2 years until I May 2010 when I graduated college. I think that counseling was very beneficial in helping me deal with life's issues and issues within my own life. I even kept in touch with my counselor a few times after I graduated (she retired the year I graduated because of health issues) She was such a kind woman that helped me deal with my stress and depression. Sadly she died in November 2012 from cancer. I like to think that I'm living my life to the fullest, and using the coping skills she helped me develop would make her proud of me. I'm not in counseling now, but I would go to another counselor in the future if I found the need too because it was very beneficial in helping me become the woman I am today.



Have you had any experiences with counseling? 

Side Note: I know that depression is a sensitive topic, so if anyone doesn't feel comfortable leaving a comment in the comment section below, feel free to send me an email
beautyandmorebypilar@gmail.com


Thanks for stopping by my blog!