When I recently did a post all about my anxiety, a few people asked if I would go into further detail about my experience with private therapy. So here’s that post!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I really count counselling as a major part of making me feel better. I did go to the free service that is on the NHS, but I was only offered a quick 6 week course, and although it kind of touched the basics and gave me certain exercises to do, I didn’t get that personal one-to-one feeling and support that I truly needed. I kind of felt that I was just a number.
We, (me and my mum) decided to look for a private counsellor near us and we found one, thanks to Google. We of course throughly checked this person out and made sure she had the correct qualifications etc. Let me just state: They are not cheap. It was from memory just over £50 an hour. Which I know is so expensive, but if it works for your recovery, is there any better thing to invest in than your mind? I don’t think so.
The first session I was literally a bag of nerves. Opening up your innermost feelings to a complete (albeit qualified) stranger is terrifying. It’s very ironic getting anxious to see somebody who is helping you with your anxiety! After the first session I warmed up very easily, and we began working through what led to my anxiety, thought patterns behind this, what was realistic or what my mind had exaggerated etc.
This was also what sparked my love for self-care books as her room was full of them! She let me borrow some too to read in my own time which was lovely. I learnt so much about myself in these sessions that I’m not sure I would of discovered at this stage in my life, if I hadn’t of had them.
There are so so many different techniques that I learned from my time with her, that I couldn’t possibly recite every single one here, nor do them justice. We worked together for about 3 months every week or so, until we both felt that I could manage my anxiety by myself with the tips and knowledge I had learned.
But if you read this wondering if it was worth all the time and money? ABSOLUTELY. Would I go back in the future if needs be? DEFINITELY.
I truly believe just as there are doctors out there to help our bodies, there is also people out there which can help our minds.
If you are suffering with anxiety or any other mental health issues, please speak to a professional or someone close to you. They really do help!