assesment session for counselling

[steve208]

Hi there...just wondering the best way to approach an assesment session for counselling.

I went last week to the doctors surgery and saw a counsellor on the NHS for an assesment and have now been put on the waiting list to be given up to 8 sessions. However I have had counselling for a few years when at university this was via the doctors, so rather strange that they dont offer long term help here at home.

Anyway the counsellor last week said she will put me on the waiting list but I may be better to get counselling free from the conections service.(as I am under 25) I went along to the local centre today and have another assesment this thursday.

I feel a bit uncomfortable going through things again and this is only going to be a 30min session, so would it be an idea to write down all the things that are making me depressed?

[Dollie]

Hello Steve - its me again - Dollie (the counsellor/psychotherapist) Firstly, within the NHS you can only have 8 sessions then you have to finish - this is the same nationwide. I know it seems difficult, and if in the past you've had longer term help then this will seem mean - but they are trained in brief-solution focused therapy which means they should be able to help you quite quickly and help you bring about change within yourself during that eight weeks. So don't despair. I understand that you will feel a bit fed up keep repeating your 'story' in yet another assessment session but most agencies have you in for an assessment session so as to ascertain the best counsellor for you and a rough idea as to how many sessions you are going to need. Once you have done that assessment, you will be assigned a regular counsellor who will stay with you for the duration. I think its an excellent idea to write down the things that are troubling you in your life - you can also list the feelings and emotions that these troubles bring about in you. Your counsellor will 'untangle' all of these in time, so don't expect them to to help you with them all straight away. All the luck in the world Steve. x

[steve208]

Hi Dollie.

Thank you very very much for your detailed and informative reply..and being so quick!

Well as I am looking for jobs at the moment I think I may be able to get an early evening appointment with the conections service which is good. I mean at the moment I have a fair amount of free time but should i get something this could change and I would feel bad either having to get off work once a week or having to cancel the counselling.

I must admit also that I feel bad now that I am probably going to get help from the conections service and in a sense didnt need to have the session with the counsellor at the doctors. Saying that though it did help to talk as last week was a really bad week.

Well i will write down all the things that i think i need to talk about/that bring on the feelings I have. though saying that there are some things that i think maybe i need to discuss but would not feel able to do straight away, I dont know about writing these down.

Thank you for your help. One more question though..! Why do you think I was able to get so much help when at uni...this was still with the NHS but I got one session every 3 - 4 weeks for around a year.

[Dollie]

Hi Steve - as a therapist I'm used to people not off-loading fully unti they've had a few sessions with me. So I think its natural that you won't want to bring it all to your counsellor in the first few sessions. Thats fine. Your counellor won't expect any more than that. It takes time for the counselling relationship to build up so it stands to reason that more will come out in time as you get to know each other. As for your final question - I don't really know. All I can think of is that your GP has an arrangement with the Uni counselling service to make referrals from the surgery. Where I work, because we have quite a few counsellors on the team, we often get referalls from GP's who want to refer their patients because the NHS waiting list is too long. Then, once they are with us, we can then offer that patient long-term counselling to suit their needs. So it could be that you were seeing a counsellor employed by the University, but the referral still came from your GP. Hope that makes sense - sorry if I've worded it badly.

[steve208]

hi dollie

no that made sense. Erm does this make a difference...she was a community psyiatric (sorry thats prob spelt wrong!) nurse. She was based at the local mental health services centre but came to visit the gp's surgery which was on campus. I did also see a university counselling service counsellor at the beginning of uni but my doctor (who i was seeing once a month to check on progress) said i was not progressing and insisted i see the CPN.

Sorry to go on!

[Dollie]

Ah yes Steve - that does make more sense. (and No - you're not going on !) A Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) works differently. They have the capacity to maintain regular sessions for a longer period of time so therefore can often offer more longer-term help than NHS counsellors. That said, they are not qualified counsellors but have skills in other mental health areas so are equally able to offer psychological help. I hope you find the right counsellor for you at Connexions - give it time. I would suggest, however, asking your GP to put you on the NHS waiting list for a counsellor and then when the 3-month wait has elapsed you can say yes or no to that, depending on how you feel you are getting on at Connexions.

[steve208]

ok thanks for that dollie.

Dam answer bank/internet....i typed a long respose and a rant about cuts in mental health services in my area. The computer thought about it then screen went to error page!!!

thanks you very much for listening and advice

[Dollie]

You're welcome - Dol x