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I've created this page specifically for young people who
are in counseling or who may begin counseling soon. For
information on Specialized
Teen Counseling please click here.
Why Would You Want To Be In
Counseling?
Depending on who you are, there's a reasonable chance you
don't want counseling. That makes sense. Who wants to meet a
stranger and tell them your personal thoughts and feelings?
And, maybe you're not sure what you're thinking and feeling.
You don't want to look dumb or be told there's something
wrong with you. Furthermore, why would you want to be in
counseling if you don't feel respected for who you are as an
individual? Exactly!
Sometimes adults are intimidated by the honesty of teens.
Sometimes intimidated counselors say things to try to
control teenagers. How do I know this? Because I hear
stories from teen clients (and sometimes their parents)
about counselors who get uptight. I've even had young people
tell me about counselors who have yelled at them. That's not
counseling. Yelling or trying to control anyone is usually a
sign of fear. Counselors who get aggressive feel frightened
of something.
So, why would you want to be in counseling? If a
counselor is respectful of you and really wants to know who
you are, you might want counseling. If a counselor believes,
as I do, that everyone wants to get along with people (not
give up your individuality, just get along), you might want
counseling. And, if a counselor demonstrates that you are
not "the problem" to be fixed or cured, you might want
counseling. Many times parents must be shown how their
behaviors make life difficult for their kids, not because
they are bad parents, because they have learned to act in
unhelpful ways often out of love for their kids.
Some advice: Ask your counselor or therapist about who
s/he is. Does s/he like meeting with young people and why?
Interview her or him to satisfy your own curiosity about
whether s/he is a good person for you to meet with.
Counselors and therapists are just like regular people;
they're all different. You have a right to see someone you
like, otherwise, why would you want to be in counseling?
Feel free to call me with any questions at 503-252-3739.
--Doug Johns
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