No bullshit, does therapy or counseling even help?

[Foresight]

Depends on the person. I don't have much info about you, so can't really guess.

Definitely, and it depends on the problem.

Sometimes it's important to get outside perspective. A therapy session gives you the opportunity to present thought loops you're stuck in to a new person who might provide a different perspective. I think trauma release can be useful too and exposure therapy. It could help but at the same time it might do nothing or make it worse. It's like any medical intervention with risk and a range of potential outcomes.

 

[ultraviolet]

Like everyone else in this thread said, it depends. I've been to about 6 of 7 therapists by this point. Some were absolutely horrible. One of them hit on me, another accused me of watching too much porn. But I have met a truly wonderful one who really took interest in me, and tried to help me.

The best advice I ever heard was that therapy is like dating, you have to find the right fit. But when you do, it absolutely is worth it. Good luck.

 

[Celerity]

I have found group therapy more helpful. I attended Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) and Dysfunctional Families with a licensed therapist to act as referee.

It is nice to hear from other people with similar struggles and experiences. You feel like less of a freak.

 

[Laggy]

Nope, I've never gotten anything out of it, but I hear there's some really good therapists out there. They generally don't take insurance and charge high hourly rates. So if you're rich, go for it!

 

[Vy0kxZen]

Personally it had never helped me but it has been a while and im willing to try again after hearing other people have positive experiences with different kind of therapies, if it isn't going to cost you a lot then it could be worth trying

 

[Moonomyth]

Sometimes, which is the most true and shittiest answer.

 

[chronicallybroken]

I have had short and to-the-point CBT and DBT before, but counselling is where I have actually been given the space to blurt out my trauma and the things I struggle with on a daily basis. She helps me reframe these experiences, which usually involves me stepping back and blaming myself less…
I know I'm lucky to have the counsellor I do, and this approach may not work for everybody, but I would say give it a go if you can.

 

[cantwaittoleave]

To be honest, I have been using therapy on and off for the last two years. It doesn't exactly help unless you really want it to and you're really working towards it mentally as well as going through the motions. You can't just go through the motions, because that's what I always do. And I learn, but I don't really attach to the methods or anything like that because, to be honest, whenever I'm doing it, I'm not really doing it to get better. I was always doing it to distract myself and make myself feel better temporarily until things got better with the person I was having issues with. And I've learned what to say to make my therapist happy, and he says that I am truly learning, but honestly it doesn't really feel like it. So I think it can help but you really have to want it to help. If you're just going through the motions to distract yourself like I do, and plan on probably ghosting the therapist for another couple of months when things do improve, it's not for you. That's just my personal experience.

 

[Fthis]

It didn't help me when I went in, first they put me on a 4 month wait list, then since I was still a minor at the time they had my parents in the room during the first session where my therapist asked me uncomfortable quetions, I lied on about 40% of them. Then at the next few appointments then she would ask me questions about my life and then like show me YouTube videos that weren't helpful at all or give some unhelpful advice, and she shoved my "sAfEtY pLan" in my face the whole time. Maybe as an adult with a good therapist it could be beneficial.

 

[LittleJem]

I have seen over ten therapists (some for up to two years) and I can honestly say the only one that was great was the one I just met in psych ward who is a Clinical Psychologist. She was smart, goal orientated, emotionally intelligent, insightful and encouraging. All the other ones just listened and nodded and gave some gentle words or some such.

I do love calling the Samaritans because they are real people who care, who I didn't have to pay to talk to me - and I have trust issues, so I prefer talking to real people or kind friends than a therapist generally speaking.

But as above, this clinical psychologist has made a difference for me and what she has said has stuck with me.

It does also help that right now medication is helping me. They say the ideal is to have a working medication plus therapy. I have spent over twenty years with suicidal ideation all day every day,so this is currently a miracle. TBC. I know this illness can return.

Good luck to all.
I have actually found other people with mental health issues/under section also the most helpful and kindest, as they actually understand. Some of them have been a lot more loving than my family. This was on a particualry friendly all-women ward, but my ex also met one of his best friends in psych ward. So I recommend psych ward now!
I have actually found other people with mental health issues/under section also the most helpful and kindest, as they actually understand. Some of them have been a lot more loving than my family. This was on a particualry friendly all-women ward, but my ex also met one of his best friends in psych ward. So I recommend psych ward now!

 

[Django]

I have tried cbt, act, psychotherapy, art therapy and everything else in between. I still want to die