CROW (Counselling Resources on the Web)
Counselling
Myths about Counselling
How difficult would it be for you to come to Student Counselling Service for help?
- I’ve got to sort my problems out myself
For some people admitting that they 'can’t do this alone' is really difficult. It may feel as if you are a 'failure' if you can’t sort it out. In reality, as social beings, we learn and develop through contact with others and it would be very surprising if anyone could get through life without needing help in some form, at some time, from others. Counselling is just another form of help.
- Counsellors or psychologists are 'strange', 'peculiar', or 'crazy' people.
Most counsellors (or psychologists) are no 'stranger', or 'more peculiar' or 'crazy' than anyone else. You probably wouldn’t be able to pick a counsellor out of a crowd or identify them as such while shopping at your local supermarket.
- Counsellors can 'read my mind.
If we could do this we would be multi-millionaires and wouldn’t have to work for a living like everyone else.
- Counsellors will do strange things with me or make me do strange things.
The counsellor is there for you. They have been trained to use methods specifically developed to help you solve your problems. They have no brief to do anything (strange or otherwise) to or for you.
- I’ll have to lie on a couch, while a white coated counsellor takes notes of what I say.
None of our counsellors have white coats or couches long enough for you to lie on comfortably.
However, we do have a small room where you can sit by yourself, if you are feeling distressed and need a quiet, safe place to sort yourself out.
- I’d have to be pretty far gone to go and see a counsellor.
It is true that some people, wait until they are pretty desperate before coming for counselling - many then wish they had come sooner and saved themselves some pain and suffering. Most people come before this, participate actively in solving their problems and leave feeling satisfied with the outcome.
- Only 'crazy' people see counsellors.
It would be very difficult for you to pick out of a crowd those who have had counselling and those who have not. Your friends and or family members may have seen a counsellor without you knowing about it.
- Other people will think I’m 'strange', 'peculiar', or 'crazy' if I go and see a counsellor.
People who would think this are probably not informed about counselling and may not have had the courage to go to counselling themselves.
We are mindful of the concerns people may have, and try to make coming to Student Counselling easier by: being slightly off the beaten track - but not so far away that it is inconvenient or obvious where you’re going; being discrete when phoning or writing to you; not greeting you out of counselling sessions unless you greet us first; also, when you enter the front door of Student Counselling you’ll notice a room full of plants with soft music in the background and a friendly receptionist who’ll put you at ease.
- We are committed to confidentiality and have strict codes of ethics which we apply in addition to the privacy act - so your deep and dark secrets will stay private.
- Please feel free just to pop by our service and see for yourself. Don’t take our word for it - come and have a look - you could collect some pamphlets or borrow a book, before you make the decision to see a counsellor.
If you would like to make an appointment with a Counsellors contact one of the following:
Palmerston North: Ring the Student Counselling Service on (06) 350-5935.
Albany: Ring the Student Health and Counselling Centre on (09) 443-9783.
Wellington: Ring the Student Health and Counselling Centre (run by the Student Services Trust) on (04) 801-2542.
