sincerelysadie asked: i saw your post about going to a counselor when you want to be one in the future. i too want to be a counselor but i think i need to see one too. I'm kinda afraid that it's gonna go on some mental health record that'll deny me the possibility to become a counselor.. i'm in college right now and i think it's just a relaxed talk session or something but still.. i'm afraid to go because of the stigma you were talking about. Does going to counseling help you? It won't hurt your counseling future?
Hi sincerelysadie! I’m just like you actually, in university and hoping to be a counselor. Seeing a counselor can’t affect your future at all. For one, seeing a counselor doesn’t necessarily mean that you suffer from a mental illness- actually that’s the myth that created the terrible stigma I think many people have towards seeing a counselor. (And don’t even get me started on the stigmas around mental illnesses, which are even more dumb)
Though I’ve dealt with depression, I’m not even depressed right now- I just have things I’d like some advice on in dealing with, and just a space to talk them out…like I said in my other post, I think everyone should do it when needed!
Plus, as far as I know, there is no record kept about people’s counselor visits. I think part of the training to be a counselor includes assessing your personal competence for the job, but of course they give you techniques to separate your personal life from that of your patients. Counselors aren’t gods, they have problems too, and can suffer from depression and other conditions. And I actually remember hearing somewhere that counselors in training go to counselors during it…but don’t quote me on that, I’m going to find out the deets.
Thanks for the question!
