Pitiful psychologists and counselors

whero wrote:The counsellors from my highschool were fine it's when entering a psychiatrist they get to do whatever the hell they want with you and push their ideas upon you as the only option.

Totally different from my experience. My high school counselors tried to tell me that the death threats being taped to my locker were all in my head, that I was over-exaggerating, and needed to just ignore it. There were three serious attempts on my life during my last year of high school (one girl even tried to bash my head in against a wall in front of half a dozen students and three teachers) and yet the counselors did nothing but call me a hysterical liar and repeatedly threatened to have me expelled for trying to defend myself.
On the other hand, the psychiatrists I've seen (with the exception of one asshole I dumped after only two visits because he insisted that his word was law and I should get used to it) have usually been fairly understanding and usually suggest several options then ask which of them I'd prefer to try or think would work best. They've even openly admitted that, nevermind their years of study, they don't know as much about my condition as I do, seeing as how I'm the one actually experiencing it.
I think maybe you need some new shrinks. You seem to be getting all the $#%^ heads and that's just not cool.

Thewiseone wrote:Then they treat you suspiciously and arrogantly. How is that therapeutic or helpful?

It depends on why you are there, and whether or not you are forced to be there.

Thewiseone wrote:We already know how pitiful psychiatry can be.

But what about psychologists and counselors. They are "trained" to help you yet they tell you in condescending ways how "You have to do the work"...."You have to figure it out on your own" yet you don't even know what it is or what they are referring too. Everything they speak about is vague and meaningless to you and your life.

Then they treat you suspiciously and arrogantly. How is that therapeutic or helpful?

Anybody been through that...

Yes, I once went to a therapist and all she did was tell me what to do. I found this so offensive and condescending. I shopped around and eventually found somebody who was much more understanding. She actually had humility and saw me as the expert on myself. Can I just say, thewiseone, that they are not all bad - there are some really good and genuine counsellors out there.

I had a bad experience with my high school counselor and the bitch she sent me too for counseling. My counselor told me every time when I got sad or down about something to get over it and not worry about it. Several times she threatened to call my mom because she knew her home and cell number. I would be in tears begging her not to do it. It got so bad that in my 11th grade English class I was late a bunch of times and even had to go to detention because of my constant tardiness dealing with her bull crap.

I even reported unfair behavior on my art teacher's part because she kept sending me for detention for some dumbass reasons. I told her over and over and you want to know what answer I got? She told me that our personalities were vastly different and that's why she acted the way she did. She's doing the same $#%^ to my brother that she did to me. Like choosing favorites, ignoring people that need help and even not calling on them in class. When I got into a bad fight with some former friends, I went up to her several times and she told me that she talked to the girls and they said they weren't mad at me anymore which was a lie. Up until graduation, they picked on me, cussed me out, and said things about me behind my back. They literally preyed on my weakness for not confronting them like a man should. She didn't do nothing about it. She even sent me to a worthless counselor that didn't even try to address my problems but rather my uncle's problems. He's addicted to crack. Turns out she is a drug counselor. Not the counselor that I was looking for. I ended up being pulled out of it by my mother because it got so bad.

This and many more incidents like arguments and whatnot let to my bad relationship with her. All this happened 3 years ago and I still struggle with it now. I am on Zoloft and Risperdal because of it. The stress, depression, and anxiety over these events overtook me and I was forced on this medication. My doctor offered to send me to a man she knows but I am still in the process of "recovering" from these traumatic events and I can't rush back into counseling so it can happen all over again. I have postponed seeing him until my spring semester of college when I have a light schedule.

Anyone who wants to see a funny movie about an unlucky psychiatrist should watch "What about bob?" (it's with Bill Murray )

LadyMorgan wrote:

whero wrote:The counsellors from my highschool were fine it's when entering a psychiatrist they get to do whatever the hell they want with you and push their ideas upon you as the only option.

Totally different from my experience. My high school counselors tried to tell me that the death threats being taped to my locker were all in my head, that I was over-exaggerating, and needed to just ignore it. There were three serious attempts on my life during my last year of high school (one girl even tried to bash my head in against a wall in front of half a dozen students and three teachers) and yet the counselors did nothing but call me a hysterical liar and repeatedly threatened to have me expelled for trying to defend myself.
On the other hand, the psychiatrists I've seen (with the exception of one asshole I dumped after only two visits because he insisted that his word was law and I should get used to it) have usually been fairly understanding and usually suggest several options then ask which of them I'd prefer to try or think would work best. They've even openly admitted that, nevermind their years of study, they don't know as much about my condition as I do, seeing as how I'm the one actually experiencing it.
I think maybe you need some new shrinks. You seem to be getting all the $#%^ heads and that's just not cool.

Hello, I have one question. Did the psychiatrist really use words like this?

"he insisted that his word was law and I should get used to it"

That is plain awful. I mean really bad. Really horrible. I have had psychiatrists try to say similar things to that effect, and let me tell you it pisses me off. The psychiatrist is not my Father or Grandfather nor does he have the credibility of being God. Some psychiatrists amazingly think that their way is the best way and that you are not doing right if you do not listen and follow. Its amazing to me that this exists.

Talk about ego.

Another problem is that you can have more "public" services (ie those who deal with low income) become watered down in the talent they hire. One place I went to was staffed not by psychiatrist, psychologist (who had to be imported from elsewhere), or even therapists (there were a couple), but mainly by consolers. The people hired for these positions can really be anyone with a college degree.

That's true and often the lack the experience and skill they need to do the job properly.

Some of them are successful in helping, someone else.

Thewiseone wrote:We already know how pitiful psychiatry can be.

But what about psychologists and counselors. They are "trained" to help you yet they tell you in condescending ways how "You have to do the work"...."You have to figure it out on your own" yet you don't even know what it is or what they are referring too. Everything they speak about is vague and meaningless to you and your life.

Then they treat you suspiciously and arrogantly. How is that therapeutic or helpful?

Anybody been through that...

Just think about this opening post. The bit in bold is the very reason why you shouldn't waste time on silly psychologists, they're telling you to do the work yourself, which is true. So why blow your money on them?