Anyone here been to individual counseling? Did you find it helpful in the end?

It helped a lot. We’re happily divorced.

I sold antiques and family heirlooms to pay for counseling with my first spouse.

While the marriage ended anyway I do really think it was worth it. I have two friends whose marriages were saved through counseling.

Also- as @Zen says- we had a very very peaceful divorce and remained very good friends because the counseling allowed us to really understand one another.

So in response – yes it was worth every penny Though I wish I had not sold the anitque Italian horse sculpture

I’m in counseling now that’s Cognitive Behavioral-based. It certainly helps to give me perspective, especially since my thoughts have been especially potent in sabotaging me as an adult.

When I was in my early 20’s I came to the point that my anxiety was paralyzing. I fretted so much about every little thing that I was barely even able to put one foot in front of the other to keep moving forward. Finally I decided to seek counseling. I went to the same therapist for a couple of years (I did it at the same time I was working toward my black belt). The consequences were far and wide. My quality of life improved incredibly and I am very glad I did it.

I’ve done multiple types of therapy, and all helped in a way.
If you feel you need to talk to someone, sometimes it’s best to see a professional, because although family and friends can listen and support you, a professional can recognize if you have a serious problem, and need to be seeing a psychiatrist as well.

I’ve seen therapists sometimes once, or twice a week, or every every other week…just to talk to them. Just to go over my feelings, and learn how to cope with them better.
All my first therapist did was blame everything on my mother. She was a horrible therapist, and destructive to my overcoming depression. I then sought help and found a therapist who I saw for quite a few years, but overtime, he could no longer help me.
I eventually sought help at University of Penn, where they performed experiemental therapy on me, and I’ve been depression/anxiety free ever since. It’s pretty amazing.

I’m listening.

@casheroo – Do you mean Seligman’s outfit The Positive Psychology Center over at U Penn? I was wondering what that would be like. I read Learned Optimism and found it to be very helpful.

I found it helpful and exploratory and wished I could have carried on with it. Though I did get separation and abandonment issues when I left, lol.

I started out with marriage counseling and when that had already helped in its own way, I continued to go to the same counselor for my own individual reasons/problems. This has been beneficial to me in several ways so I can certainly attest to counseling being a positive and helpful aid in my life.

Yes, many times. I am a huge fan of therapy and would go weekly for the rest of my life if it wasn’t so expensive. It’s just important to find a therapist you’re compatible with. It is fantastic to be able to talk freely and get useful feedback and things to think about, even if you’re not having a crisis.

@Bluefreedom I Did the same. :-)

I’ve been through therapy twice, and needed it much more than that. It was tremendously helpful in difficult times of my life, and I can honestly say it saved my life, my marriage, and my worklife.
Sometimes I advise people to try therapy, and they think I am calling them weak, or crazy, but I’m not. I think most people can benefit from it, and should, if they can afford it.

@aprilsimnel No, I didn’t go to that facility…I’ve never heard of that, looks pretty cool though.

Yes it has helped me so much. Me and my husband went through some trauma (not as a couple but in our life) and started seeing a counselor after that. We go to the sessions together but we don’t talk about our relationship as that is not why we need the counseling. I can’t believe how helpful it has been. It hasn’t really changed or guided me anywhere but it does keep me on track. Mostly it has been helpful having someone validate my feelings of said trauma and really honestly care how I am doing. It is a huge relief to know I have that resource. I would recommend it. You just have to make sure you get the right counselor for you.