1 |
Counseling is only for people who have serious mental and emotional
problems/ disorders /
sickness. |
Counseling is a lot more than just that! Like good physical health, good
mental health is as
important for your general well-being. |
2 |
Counseling is just ‘talking’. |
Counseling is a deep process of uncovering and reorganizing emotional
material for clarity and
problem solving. |
3 |
Anyone can be a counselor |
A counselor/Counseling Psychologist should have thorough knowledge in
human
development and
clinical, counseling psychology. In addition he/she must possess
expertise
in counseling
techniques. |
4 |
Seeking counseling is a sign of weakness. |
It is a testament of courage and a first step towards self-improvement.
|
5 |
If I go for counseling, everyone will hear about it. |
At Counseling/Psychological Services, confidentiality of the counselee
is of
utmost importance.
Exceptions are made only when there is a potentially serious risk of
harm to
the individual,
others or when required by law. |
6 |
Counselor will use my secrets against me. |
Counselors keep what is discussed in the therapy room within the therapy
room and never use it
against you. |
7 |
The counselor will tell me what my problems are and how to ‘fix’ them
|
The counselor is there for the individual to jointly explore his/her
concerns, examine options
and help the client find the answer that best works for them. |
8 |
The counselor’s job is to give me advice. |
The counselor’s job is to help you reorganize your emotional material
and
help you build skills
so that you can solve your own problems. They are not advisors rather
they
are the facilitators.
|
9 |
If I go to counseling, they’re just going to give me a pill. |
There is no fix-it-all pill in counseling. Counselors do not prescribe
medication to clients.
|
10 |
It’s weird pouring out my concerns to a stranger(Counselor) |
You’re probably right. It may feel a little strange sharing with a
person
you’ve just met. But,
just like any other new experiences, the weirdness will slowly dissipate
once you’re familiarised
with the process and are comfortable with the counselor. |
11 |
A Counselor cannot understand me unless we have similar experiences and
background. |
Counselors are trained to be respectful of individual diversities.
Regardless of your background
or unique concerns, they are there to accompany you through a difficult
time
in your life. |
12 |
Counseling doesn’t work at all. |
Counseling is often most successful when you invest time and energy to
work
with the counselor.
Through time, patience and practicing new coping skills, situations may
just
turn around! |
13 |
Counseling will become part of my academic record and hurt me in my job,
residency or graduate
school applications. |
Confidentiality is very important in this helping field. Counseling
Services
seek to provide
clients with very strict level of confidentiality. |
14 |
Counselors make you dependent on them: |
On the contrary, a good counselor helps you build skills so that you can
live your life more
independently. |