Foundations of Mental Health Counseling - First Session

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Page 2 of 5 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling

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Interviewer: Why don’t you tell me a little about what brings you in for counseling today? Interviewee: Well, I don’t really know where to begin. Last night I kept thinking what in the world am I going to talk about, he is not going to want to hear about all of my stuff. Interviewer: You are concerned that I won’t be interested in hearing about what’s troubling you today. Interviewee: Yeah, I mean, some of it sounds a little trivial even to me. Interviewer: Well, why don’t we start by you telling me about what recently happened that caused you to call in and schedule an appointment? Interviewee: Well, I mean I really struggled because I was like, who goes to see a counselor. And then I realized, I guess the one who can’t handle things on her own, right? I mean on one hand I’m like, Iona, you got this. You didn’t let the divorce stop you, you’ve been raising your kids and making it happen, you went back to school, late, mind you, but better late than never, to set example for your children and now you are almost finished, about to graduate. You are even thinking about going to graduate school. And here you are, sitting here in a counselor’s office. Interviewer: It sounds almost hard for you to consider asking for help or needing help when you’ve managed to do all of these remarkable things on your own. Raise your kids, go back to school, survive a divorce. Interviewee: Yes, but then it sounds so hypocritical because I want to be a counselor, and of course, I want people to come see me. Interviewer: What does it mean to you to ask for help or to need help? Interviewee: I don’t know, I think it’s gutsy when people ask for what they need; when they need help and stuff. But the idea of going to a counselor for help sounds like you are in way over your head. My faith has sustained me over the years through many, many ups and downs, so coming to a counselor for help makes me second guess my faith. I don’t like that. Interviewer: Sometimes it feels like you’re not as strong in your faith as you thought you were. Interviewee: Right. Interviewer: Okay. Interviewee: I feel like the biggest hypocrite, because here I am saying that I want to be a counselor but I have a problem coming to one myself. I mean, it makes me wonder if counseling is really what I should be considering. I know there are lot of people who feel the way I feel, especially in African-American community though we’ll go to our pastor at church for help or even to our doctor before we even think about going to a counselor.

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Interviewer: Yes, I hear you, and there is research and literature that support what you’re saying. What do you attribute that to? Interviewee: Just the stigma attached to counseling. A pastor will listen to you, just like you, but for some reason it’s just more acceptable to tell someone that you went to go see the pastor than it is to say you went to see the counselor. Interviewer: And yet you’re here today and not in your pastor’s office, why is that? Interviewee: Well, I’ve met with my pastor before, he is the first person I reached out to just out of habit and he was helpful, he really was. I feel like he really listened to me and when I left I felt good, and it made me realize that I need to focus more on my prayer life and my relationship with the Lord. I believe in the power of prayer, I really do, because I know that prayer works; I know this firsthand. It’s just that I needed more -- I needed more guidance, I needed tools. I needed to be able to explore different options. And mostly, I just needed to be able be honest and real about how I was feeling. Even if my feelings were in line with how people think Christians are supposed to feel, or how they think Christians are supposed to be, it was always in the back of my mind like what is he thinking? Interviewer: So in the back of your mind you wondered if maybe you were being judged. Interviewee: Yes, and it’s crazy because I don’t think my pastor would judge me, I really don’t. But I always wondered if I told him how I really felt or told him some of the things I’ve done would he put me in the bad Christian category. Interviewer: So on one hand you believe that going to a pastor for help is typically considered more acceptable in the larger African-American community, but in your personal experience you didn’t necessarily feel that you’ve got all of your needs met when you saw the pastor. Interviewee: Right. Yes, that’s right. Interviewer: And it sounds like, and correct me if I’m wrong, that not getting everything you needed had a little to do with your thoughts and ideas about what your pastor might think of you. So in return you held back a little and allowed him to help you with what you were willing to share with him. Interviewee: Well, you put it like that. Interviewer: Look, I just want to make sure that I understand what that experience was like for you, because I do want to know how you anticipate that this experience, meeting with me, will be different. Interviewee: Well even though it’s hard for me to come here, I mean really hard, I think it would be different because you’re a professional counselor. You are trained in counseling, you are licensed, you are an expert at helping people with their problems, you’re trained to use different approaches to help people based on what they need. The focus won’t be on my spiritual development or strengthening my faith, I guess unless I want it to be, but I just feel like we will cover more ground in here because of your expertise. I also feel like, as a professional counselor you have to be objective. And while my pastor is probably objective too, I guess I just feel like I would be more likely to share things with you since I don’t have a personal relationship with you. And I won’t be wondering, well, maybe a little, but for the most part I won’t be wondering what you think of me or wondering if you are judging me. Because as a

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professional counselor I know you’ve heard it all and you’ve seen it all, and you are trained to do this. Interviewer: Well, I appreciate the high regard that you have for professional counselors, and as I listened to what you shared with me I see the irony and your ambivalence about whether or not to pursue a degree in clinical mental health counseling. It sounds like you believe that there is value in counseling but you also recognize that you internalize the stigma that is often attached to counseling. Interviewee: Yes, and I mean, that sounds so bad because I didn’t tell anyone I was coming here and I doubt that I will. So, what kind of counselor can I be if I’m not willing to even tell people that I go to counseling? I mean, I’ve been around people before, black and white, who -- who talk about seeing a therapist and I’ve seen how other people look at them. Even in my own family I can only imagine what they would say if they knew I was here. Interviewer: What do you think they would say, and what would those words mean to you? Interviewee: They’d be wondering what’s wrong with me and they would assume that it’s something major, like I’m suicidal or something or I am crazy. They’ll probably tell me that I don’t need to see a counselor and I’m sure they would discourage me from coming to see you. I can hear my aunt now, telling me to call and make an appointment to see Pastor Washington if it’s that serious. Interviewer: And what do those words mean to you? You’re crazy. Interviewee: That I’m weak; that something is wrong with me because I can’t solve my own problems. Interviewer: So those words are hurtful to you and to avoid hearing hurtful words like that you would rather not tell anyone. Interviewee: Right. Interviewer: So tell me about your desire to be a counselor, where does that come from? Interviewee: Ever since I was young I have been a good listener, and people have always come to me for advice and for my opinion on different things. I think it’s because I’m genuinely interested in what people have to say and what they are willing to share with me, so I really pay attention to what people tell me. My friends and my family have always told me that I was a good listener. My friends tell me that I always make them feel special because I remember stuff they told me 10 years ago and they can’t believe I remember it. Interviewer: Those are great qualities for a counselor to have. Interviewee: And I like to help people make decisions and to help them explore all of their options. I am pretty good at getting people to think outside of the box too. Interviewer: And, again, those are the qualities that clients appreciate in good counselor, but you’re not sure if you should pursue a degree in counseling. Talk to me more about some of your reservations. Interviewee: I’m just not sure if counseling is what I’m supposed to do or if there is something else I should be doing. I want to help more people in my community deal with their mental, physical, social and

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spiritual development, and I know you’re saying that’s what counselors do. But I really want people to be okay accepting my help, and by that I mean I don’t want people to be like me where they’re afraid or reluctant to reach out for my help. And I don’t want them to be afraid to let me come to them to offer them help. Interviewer: Your desire to help others is obvious, and it sounds like you have natural gifts and talents that would work well in your favor. I know how frustrating it can be when you’re not sure where you are supposed to be, or what you’re supposed to be doing, and I would love to help you explore this more, Iona.

Question What is the client’s presenting issue that brought her into counseling? Answer The client appears to be struggling with whether or not to pursue a degree in counseling because of the stigma that is often attached to counseling. She admits to internalizing the stigma herself. The client believes in counseling but will not tell anyone that she is in counseling. The client feels like she is a hypocrite for her behavior and questions how helpful she will be to clients if she cannot openly promote counseling for herself.