Anybody here had CBT or Counselling?
- Thread starter JosephG
- Start date
Snowdrop
Well-known member
Yes, I have been through counselling twice and had CBT before. I'm not sure what the difference would be between adults and teenagers as I had mine when I was still classed as a teenager so it may be different depending on what your age is.
Onto counselling, if I'm being completely honest, it didn't help me. But I do know it has helped many other people, it probably just didn't suit me or I wasn't in the right mindset at the time. It is very important to work with your counsellor each session otherwise it will feel a lot like you're wasting your time and result in you feeling even more depressed. That's how it felt like for me sometimes anyway.
You'll be in a room with just them and you, and they will probably ask you questions at first about your past, your family, friends, how you are/were at school. They will try to get you to open up but without being too imposing. In my counselling/CBT, I got given sheets with exercises and practises, like if was negative thinking I'd have to fill in a table, every time I had a negative thought at home/school etc. I'd have to fill in what it was I was thinking, what triggered it, my emotions at the time and what is a better thought to have to replace it.
Each week or whenever you go back for your next session, your counsellor will ask you what's been up in the week, how you felt about situations...but in the end, it's basically talking about what is troubling you and trying to make you question your own thoughts, identifying negative reflexive thoughts and replacing them. That was the part I found most difficult myself.
You might also do a similar timetable of how you spend your days, are you getting enough exercise, or are you just sitting at home on the computer all day long, stuff like that and trying to break into your normal routine to something healthier.
Sometimes though, it is just good to have someone there who will listen to you talk without judging you, and for people with anxiety/depression, it is so common to subconsiously delve into your own mind and not realize what is making you sad, worried or angry. A counsellor will be able to help break those thoughts and realize what is trapping you from living a normal life.
It is really nothing to worry about though; what matters most is putting your whole strength into the sessions, making the most of them and trying, yourself, to get better.
Good luck...
Onto counselling, if I'm being completely honest, it didn't help me. But I do know it has helped many other people, it probably just didn't suit me or I wasn't in the right mindset at the time. It is very important to work with your counsellor each session otherwise it will feel a lot like you're wasting your time and result in you feeling even more depressed. That's how it felt like for me sometimes anyway.
You'll be in a room with just them and you, and they will probably ask you questions at first about your past, your family, friends, how you are/were at school. They will try to get you to open up but without being too imposing. In my counselling/CBT, I got given sheets with exercises and practises, like if was negative thinking I'd have to fill in a table, every time I had a negative thought at home/school etc. I'd have to fill in what it was I was thinking, what triggered it, my emotions at the time and what is a better thought to have to replace it.
Each week or whenever you go back for your next session, your counsellor will ask you what's been up in the week, how you felt about situations...but in the end, it's basically talking about what is troubling you and trying to make you question your own thoughts, identifying negative reflexive thoughts and replacing them. That was the part I found most difficult myself.
You might also do a similar timetable of how you spend your days, are you getting enough exercise, or are you just sitting at home on the computer all day long, stuff like that and trying to break into your normal routine to something healthier.
Sometimes though, it is just good to have someone there who will listen to you talk without judging you, and for people with anxiety/depression, it is so common to subconsiously delve into your own mind and not realize what is making you sad, worried or angry. A counsellor will be able to help break those thoughts and realize what is trapping you from living a normal life.
It is really nothing to worry about though; what matters most is putting your whole strength into the sessions, making the most of them and trying, yourself, to get better.
Good luck...
JosephG
Well-known member
thanks for your responses 
Snowdrop You are building up a reputation with me for being very helpful and informative thank you
I am a very determined person (usually) and I am very determined to beat this so I think I should on paper do well with these session. I will let people know how I go with them.
Snowdrop You are building up a reputation with me for being very helpful and informative thank you I am a very determined person (usually) and I am very determined to beat this so I think I should on paper do well with these session. I will let people know how I go with them.