by Bonnie Sayers
Member since:
August 6, 2006

Counseling Helps is a new group on Gather

October 29, 2006 03:33 PM EST
views: 77 | rating: 9.6/10 (5 votes) | comments: 16

The media portrays anyone who sees a therapist as strange. Daytime shows and nighttime sitcoms and dramas make it seem like the person has the plague because they are receiving counseling.

Have you noticed the looks people make when a character mentions their therapist or state they have to go for their counseling session?

Counseling helps - http://counselinghelps.gather.com

This is a positive step someone is making and it should not be portrayed so negatively in the media. There are many types of counseling - from pre-marital to couples, families, individuals and even children have therapists.

Feel free to share your experiences and how the therapy or counseling changed you, helped your situation or gave you a new outlook on life.

You can discuss where the therapy takes or did take place, in the home, at an office or another venue? Was this covered by insurance, or with a non profit group or private pay?

How long did your sessions last - 30 minutes, an hour or another time frame? Did your counseling continue for a set period of time, like three or six months? Was the counseling part of a legal incident? Is therapy part of the divorce agreement?

Join the group and relate your pros and cons to this experience and help stop the negative media image of seeking help to get over a problem, deal with an illness, abuse, relationship, etc.

Counseling Helps - http://counselinghelps.gather.com

 

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Comments: 16

Janet H. Oct 29, 2006, 3:40pm EST
For awhile, counseling used to be considered "fashionable" and most celebrities went on TV and talked about what their therapist said or what he/she did for them.
Most people in middle class America had therapists almost as a status symbol.
Julie L. Oct 29, 2006, 3:41pm EST
Thereapy has come along way. It is still mocked by some but not as much as it was 20 years ago. People seem more apt to consider that as an option now.
Cassandra M. Oct 29, 2006, 3:49pm EST
:) awesome group!
Leigh V. Oct 29, 2006, 5:05pm EST
I went to counseling and if you get a bad counselor it sucks, if you get a good one it's very helpful. I had a very dysfunctional childhood, especially after age 10 and many issues to deal with. I went to one on one and then on to group counseling which was very helpful. I recommend for anyone who has abuse issues. Good idea for a group.
Dee W. Oct 29, 2006, 5:12pm EST
I think a good therapist is one who can help you distance yourself far enough from the problem to be able to work through a solution for yourself. Truthfully, the only way you are going to solve a problem that rates therapy IS to be able to solve it yourself and that's impossible to do when you're too involved in it to be objective.
Stacey *Mamasaid* D. Oct 29, 2006, 6:39pm EST
Great idea! Counseling saves the quality of lives.
Rich Sadowsky Oct 29, 2006, 6:43pm EST
how timely! I am beginning to look for a counselor. I have issues relating to the death of my wife and being a single parent. I am not doing parenting as well without my wife's help. She was the better parent. I am happy in many aspects of my life but I am not dealing with stress and parenting well.
Clare Stella Oct 29, 2006, 7:08pm EST
I think everybody should go to counseling. I have a wonderful therapist whom I consider my "paid friend." She helps me to see things that I can't see clearly. I don't have to see her every week but when things get tough, the tough go to counseling.
Ronnie M. Oct 29, 2006, 7:16pm EST
I can assure you that had it not been for a couple of VA counselors I would not be alive today. Or I would not have cared to be alive today.
Linda Douglas Oct 29, 2006, 7:23pm EST
I went into the counseling field after having a couple of great counselors in my life. I wouldn't be who I am today without all those wonderful folks. Here is to Phil, Dr. Liebowitz, Susan and now Sharon!! I strongly believe that I have to be open to therapy myself in order to be a good therapist. The universe gave me exactly what I needed with this last one. I went in because I wanted help with my weight loss but found out after my mother became ill that this counselor also has training and experience in death and dying. It was no accident I ended up with her.
Bonnie Sayers Oct 29, 2006, 9:27pm EST
Well it sure seems like many people here have had some good therapy experience. I forgot that I also went to a non profit organization when my kids were really young before they got diagnosed with autism. I did not really like a few of their therapists, but one was great and than I just talked to him on Saturday mornings for a few months. The building they were housed was being torn down to make room for the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held at Hollywood and Highland.
Dawn M Oct 29, 2006, 11:54pm EST
I've tried the group therapy, and seen a few different therapists after issues of abuse. I didn't do well in the group therapy as I couldn't deal with sharing my story with so many others around. I also didn't find I got very much from the therapist I saw at the time. When I did finally find a good therapist, (and went for quite some time) who was actually helping me, she developed cancer and died shortly afterwards, leaving me without anyone to see. By that point I just couldn't deal with starting over again and trying to find someone else that I could talk to, so I never went back.
Amber F. Oct 30, 2006, 12:18pm EST
I have seen counselors since I was 14.I am 30 now and I was seeing a counselor because I was very depressed and tried many different comboniations of meds but nothing was helping.I liked my counselor she was really nice and I liked talking to her but she eventually left to work somewhere else.I'm not seeing a counselor now but I am on a much better combination of meds that is helping me.
Cortney R. Oct 30, 2006, 1:00pm EST
Yes, and I think that it is really wrong. Especially for people with mental illness. Because mental illness is a disease, just like a physical illness.
Barbara F. Nov 1, 2006, 6:22pm EST
years ago, about 20 I would guess, my husband and I went for couple therapy to deal with some issues...it was a couple who were married to each other...I went to the women and hubby saw the male..this was twice a week for an hour...Then the 4 of us would get together to discuss whatever needed to be discussed...after about 4 months things to be about the same but we were talking more with time everything really worked out well, we are going to celebrate our 43 anniversary in February..yes, I was married still in my infamcy..LOL

The therapists got divorced..;)

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