Therapy? Is it working? How long??

Ive been in therapy since early Feb...I cant tell if its helping or not. Im starting to think thats its not making a difference. She keeps asking me what makes me feel depressed. I DONT KNOW. I simply dont know... So, perhaps its all about my chemicals. Maybe I do have a chemical imbalance and thats the reason for the way I feel, not specific. Im just not sure, cause therapy is going very strangley. Im not sure she is being 100% serious and really taking it in. Shes not encouraging me the way my school counselor did. She doesnt offer advie as to what I can do to help myself feel better. I just realized that she doesnt do that! lol Realization... hmm....

So, is it working? I wonder.... How long does it take to see a difference? Im going to assume its different for everyone...but I just wonder how long its going to take me...if/when Im going to feel some relief.

Im having more bad days now and often I think of things I shouldnt. Im just feeling really discouraged and I needed to talk about it some so here I am.... I really want to go to sleep, but I have been having problems sleeping lately. Im so exhausted but cant/dont get any sleep.. What am I supposed to do? I feel as if I have exhausted all the options, good and bad. What do I do next? Live with it, deal with it...?? What am I supposed to do....? ='[

Anyways, I just needed to talk about it, so I did. I appreciate the support. Take Care. The weekend cant come any faster...

Christi,
I think Raniah gave you some really great suggestions & I can't add anything to that.

I think a lot of people would share your experience of school counselors being very different from private counselors. I'm not sure what all the reasons for that are, but they do have different trainings & also the school counselors get feedback from teachers, parents & other students that a private counselor would not have access to.

For me personally, I have found that I do better with behavioral psychologists rather than psychoanalytical counselors/psychologists. It sounds from what you've described like you probably have a counselor who uses mostly a psychoanalytical approach with you now (& perhaps a little cognitive therapy-- maybe?). It might be worthwhile to first off ask your counselor if she can give you more advice/feedback during your sessions & if she could offer more encouragement to you. Not all counselors are comfortable doing that. Some feel they aren't properly trained & those techniques & will refuse. Others will gladly change course and start interacting with you in a different manner. Either way, I think it could benefit you to at least see if it's a possibility.

If she says she just doesn't feel qualified to do that kind of therapy, perhaps you could ask for a referral. If she can't offer one, you might try contacting your high school counselor to see if she might have some references.

I do wish you the best of luck. Some people do really just need medication, but that's pretty rare & especially since you found the experience with your high school counselor helpful I would say that is less likely to be the case with you -- probably there is some counselor out there who could be helpful. But counseling, like any relationship, does take work & lots of communication so I really want to encourage you to be open & honest with your current counselor at your next session about what you're thinking, feeling & wanting. If nothing else, it will be good practice being able to describe your needs for the next person.

best wishes,
frances