Is counselling a rip off?

Dear Iain,

I will double check with the community manager and ask someone to reply once we have the answer. 

Best Wishes,

Olivia Mod

I don't think anyone could identify your therapist from the little you've told us, so try not to worry.

I don't think the NHS really understands talking therapies, when I started counselling it was still seen as an alternative therapy, up there with crystal healing and accupuncture, I remember being asked grumpily by a doctor what good I thought talking about things would do? How times have changed, but I still don't think they understand that you don't get results like you would with a drug therapy or a broken leg, just because someones had 10 sessions dosen't make them better, often you're just getting into things then. I think they like things like CBT because it's more mechanistic and like reprogramming a computer.

money well spent if it helps and shortens the wait, and plugs a gap in the provision of services available to us

My therapy was paid for by my health insurance following diagnosis - so paid for in a way, but not directly

I'm conscious that not every one has health insurance or can afford to pay privately & I do wish it was different.  we should be able to rely of NHS - but NHS often appears to be totally amazing and totally terrible at the same time

Next month I'm starting with NHS Talking Therapies but you're right - how their service offering will suit Autistics, I will find out

I will ask the next time I see her

If I can help and my counsellor doesn't mind. I am happy to help in any way I can ️ x

You can edit your post by clicking / tapping on “More” beneath it, then Edit. You can delete one the same way, too, if no one has replied to it directly.

I feel really bad and I've over shared. I hope Kaz is ok with this ️

I would love to give out the name of my amazing counsellor. She is in Buckinghamshire. Her name is Kaz and she is awesome. I hope I'm not breaking any rules and I'm not breaking her rules  x

Does anyone know if the forum rules allow us to give the names of therapists we have had good results with?

It could be thought of as advertising I guess but how else do we get to say which therapists know their stuff when it comes to autists.

I am very recently diagnosed. I do not myself feel that counselling is a rip off. In saying that I am very lucky that I have found neurodivergent counsellor. I have gone from being scared from leaving the house to working four days. I am in no way 'fixed' ,but, I really think that with the right counsellor can make a big difference.

I can't seem to find one that can help either I have had first meetings with a few that say they specialise in late diagnosed individuals but then they don't even know basic terms like masking or skills regression

I'd recommend the book The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy by Steph Jones.

I found it really helpful. 

I think one of the problems for counsellors is to actually say what they do or specialise in, you're trained in a variety of techniques that mostly apply across the board. It's a bit like asking a GP what they specialise in, you'll get told general medicine, but its a huge subject, from writing prescription for a sore throat, to end of life care.

Indeed.  The last one at least admitted they couldn't help me and ended the contract.  Though the fault is mostly mine for not asking the right questions about autism and their understanding of it.

Yeh I get you completly. I'v browsed the BACP site before too and it can be a bit overwhelmng. Lot of the profiles do look like they're just ticking off a massive list of stuff they say they can help with and it makes you wonder if they actualy have deep knoledge in any of it or just skim the surface. ASD or aspergers stuff is realy specific and personal, and if someone dosn't actualy get it it can just feel like your paying to explain yourself over and over with no real help comin back.

Payin 50 or 60 quid a session adds up fast aswell, and when you walk away from a sesh feelin like you picked the wrong person again its not just a waste of money but energy too. Maybe theres someone out there that clicks better but its hard not to get dishearted after a couple duds.

Counsellors aren't there to tell you things, make diagnosis or offer advice, other than the 'maybe you should speek to your GP about that'. They can give information, such as, 'How to contact citizens advice'.

It is a bit confusing, so many different people offering similar services. A counsellor might of recognised ND but not have been able to do anything other than steer you towards investigating it yourself, a lot of counselling does involve helping you realise things about yourself, you're right it is more likely to stick. It's also about helping you gain some faith and trust in yourself and your own feelings. 

Counsellors will provide a safe space for you unpack issues that have been bothering you, sometimes for years, they will help you find out why you're just unhappy.

People think in terms of hierarchies of knowlege, with someone with some kind of medical degree being top of the pile, but in reality it's not like that and far more about the sort of issues you have, the type of counselling that is being practiced and how well you get on with the counsellor. There will be some who you just don't click with, it's OK, it dosen't mean that counselling won't work for you, it just means that that person isn't a good fit for you, no matter how many qualiifcations they have.

I've had a lot of counselling over the years and I've been a counsellor, I've never felt ripped off, although I've had tyes of counselling I don't get on with. Don't forget you are the client and as such you can say enough, I'd always recomend using the first vist to interview them and find out what they can offer you and how they feel they can help you, or not. Most will be happy to be asked such questions, some won't, but as long as you're fairly upfront about why you're there and make it a conversation rather than an interogation it should be ok. But do remember counsellors are human beings, who don't have a magic wand they can wave to make everything better, nor are they mind readers who are going to instantly know why you're there.

I can't say if they are a rip off. I think it they can help for most life issues for most people where they need someone to talk to. I think they can help where you know what the problem is.

I don't think it helps for more significant psychological or psychiatric issues.wa

In Jan I had access to free counselling through work, before I was diagnosed and quite confused. After one session I realised I needed a psychologist. After two sessions with the psychologist they thought I was autistic. I am not sure the counsellor would have seen that. 

I think autistic experiences are a bit different in terms of emotions, feelings, thought processes, so you would need someone familiar with this to be useful.

But with all stuff it seems to them steering you towards reaching your own conclusion, rather than them telling you. I guess it is more effective that way and more likely to stick.