| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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. |