Bad exp. w/ college psych services, should i go back?

Question

as the title says, i had a bad exp. w/ an intern there who didn't know how to help me and wasn't very experience. i wasted a lot of energy, it was still extremely emotionally draining and now im afraid to go back to another person in case its just a repeat of last time. the next person they give me will be another intern... i still need help, but real help. should i go back and "risk it" or wait 6 years till i can get professional help and not be let down.- though thats not a guarantee either. meanwhile though id live to all these issues i have...

should i go back or wait?

Answer 1

I don't think you should go back, and I don't think you should wait, either.   Your trust in that particular counseling center and the group of counselors there has been shaken. The single most critical part of getting mental health help that works is the quality of the relationship, including trust and your belief you will be helped. If you do not 'click' with a therapist, your experience will be altered no matter how much effort you put into it. It sounds like you need somebody other than an intern. Your community has mental health centers that usually have a sliding fee scale, so you may end up paying as little as 10.00 for a session. Please try calling an agency in your area, or go the Mental Health America Website for referral to a community mental health center. Try to talk with a LICENSED therapist--social worker, psychologist or counselor, but make sure they are licensed to practice therapy. An intern may not have what it takes to really help you.  

Answer 2

You should go back. Hopefully you will get better help. Different people have different approaches regarding how to help you to solve your problems. May be this time you will meet one who takes his/her time to get to know you, who is more experienced or more in tune with you. Don't give up. You deserve help. If you feel they ignore you, or you feel you are not in good hands you or your parents should definitely complain about the inadequate help from your college psych services.

Be strong!

Answer 3

I'd go back, with the idea that you only get out of a counselling session what YOU put into it.  A counsellor doesn't have answers, all they are there to do is facilitate you finding your own answers.  So do go back, but with a plan in mind of what YOU want to accomplish, not expecting THEM to fix things...that is not what counsellors do, but asking them to help you learn skills to find your own answers.  That is what they are trained to do.

Answer 4

I would go back....sometimes you just have to keep trying until you find someone who understands or can help you.

Better to try, then wait....maybe this intern will be able to help you more effectively.  

Answer 5

If you know what to look for than just one visit will tell you to continue or find another one. See site below about depression and other mental problems and it will help you to know what to look for. So I say just go back and try it once. Then decide to continue or try another one. Also see the movie, Mumford.