Feeling a bit intimidated by my counselor but whatever he did seems to help! (therapy, anxious)
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I met with someone last week for the first time to address my issue for anxiety.. he sharply said "well so what? and? so what?" to my fears--I get what he was doing, making me realize that my fears are irrational, but it made me a bit uncomfortable. I didn't feel as if I could "open up" to him. He came to the conclusion that my sole fear is going to work thinking I'm going to get fired. Thats not really my fear, yes I suppose its a thought I have, but its just anxiety and work in general. At one then corrected my grammar, replacing a word I used "family" with one that he felt was better "you mean relatives".
But with all that, I feel better. In a few hours I will be going to work, normally I would be extremely anxious about it-- my heart would be racing, heavy breathing...but I feel FINE. Obviously, this counseling is working. Should I suck it up and continue to go or find someone I feel more comfortable talking with?
I'd stick with it as long as you feel it's working. My general rule of thumb is to give someone six sessions and then decide. Of course it would be normal to feel uncomfortable the first time with any therapist. Also, if he or she is the opposite gender that may or may not become an issue too.
That could be the reason too. I (male) met with a female about a year ago, gave her 6 months (session per week) and didn't see any improvement. I think I just need to adjust to his style.
There is a name for that type of therapy, I think it's called Rational Emotive Therapy but my memory isn't what it was. It is quite confrontational. There are other schools of therapy. You may be more comfortable with a cognitive-behavioral therapist and you can ask if you decide to switch. Any therapist will tell you what their "brand" of therapy is.
Your therapist may be making you uncomfortable on purpose to knock you out of your own head a little, know what I mean? Our thoughts tend to follow the same habitual paths round and round, becoming a little more ingrained and ritualized each time. To change your thought patterns is difficult because of this tendency - it really takes work. It sounds to me like he was challenging you to really examine your fears so that you can acknowledge and dismiss them and not be controlled by them, by giving you encouragement to continue but not coddling you.
It seems to have helped you, so why not stick with it for awhile? I would definitely talk to the therapist at the beginning of the next session and communicate your discomfort, see what he has to say. It isn't easy to examine what drives us and to use that awareness to make positive changes in our lives, or no one would need a therapist; and it follows that what the therapist says or makes you think about will take you out of your comfort zone. That's a good thing.
Glad to hear you are feeling better leadingedge04. Stay with it and give it a little time.
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