Social Worker Vs Counsellor.....

[Lily Dust]

LionsandBears- Thank you so much for the detailed description!!! Greatly appreciated that you took so much time to explain to me Defintely not interested in a career, saw a social worker yesterday and kinda went wtf?!?!

Suprised- yep, thats exactly the type of phycologist I was thinking of. Gee, its a lot more complicated that I thought!

kitfaerie- thank you for the techniques....

So Im pretty right then in assuming that when I made mention of some if the issues with the social worker and she replied with:
'Welcome to parenthood, people are always going to critisise you and be competitive, get used to it'
'You are doing things right, I guess but plenty of people do things right and their kids are more chanllenging then your DD. You just got lucky'
'I wont comment on vaccination, but I can tell you I wouldnt be risking my child like that'
Bringing my mother up and chatting about her job and continually trying to push me to fit into her PND catergory when I tried to explain this was all PRE baby/ IVF/ Antenatal
that these are not 'techniques' that she has been taught?!!?
Needless to say, wish I hadnt made the stupid appointment

[Bloom]

Ah Lily. Sorry you had such a rough trot with the social worker, especially as it had been so hard for you to make the appointment! Her comments are down right unprofessional, insensitive and not at all helpful!

I am completely biased (as I am a psychologist by profession) but I think that if you are interested in making real change and progress through your issues then you would be better off seeing a psychologist. A social worker could be a great listening ear and apply basic counselling skills and refer you on to other sources of help or information. But a psychologist will work with you to directly address the thoughts/behaviours that are upsetting you.

There are going to be dodgy people in every profession. Also there may well be people who you just don't gel with. And sometimes, you can not like a particular person if they aren't telling you what they want to hear (Side note: I have had a few clients complain when I wasn't willing to say "yes you did the right thing in stealing from your boss and it is unreasonable for the organisation to be pursuing disciplinary action" - they'd come to see me to be justified and that isn't my role).

[Heaven]

Whoa Lily, that's pretty terrible! Can't believe that!

I agree, see a psychologist definitely.

Bloom- I didn't know you were a psychologist, me too! Well, pre-kids, lol.

[Lily Dust]

And sometimes, you can not like a particular person if they aren't telling you what they want to hear (Side note: I have had a few clients complain when I wasn't willing to say "yes you did the right thing in stealing from your boss and it is unreasonable for the organisation to be pursuing disciplinary action" - they'd come to see me to be justified and that isn't my role).

Do you think maybe I am trying to get her to tell me what I wanted to hear?

I mean I did say a few things with the intention of giving her an example but i felt she either just shot me down or tried to steer me back to my issues being related to my DD. Gah, Im so confused!!!

Bloom & Heaven, thank you both for your replies. I do think that is where I need to head, I did get the feeling (maybe Im way off) that perhaps my issues where a bit out of this particular persons league iykwim.

[surprised]

Hugs hun. It sucks when you gather the courage to reach out for help and then the person is unhelpful. And as for not commenting on vaccination... well she subsequently did anyway!!

Don't forget you may qualify for a Health Care Plan from your GP that will give you some psych sessions with a medicare rebate. You will prob still end up out of pocket, but every little bit helps!

It sounds like she wasn't a great listener.

[Bloom]

Lily Dust - I don't know your issues and all of what happened in the counselling session but I don't think that the counsellor what just "telling the hard truths" or not saying what you wanted to hear, given the quotes that you've given from the session. But only you can evaluate if you are being defensive or reactive and then blaming the counsellor. Personally I don't think that is the case here, but I've certainly seen it happen.

Maybe you are right that your issues are out of the social workers' field of experience. I have had people come to me with serious, complex and specific issues and I've referred them on to someone else more suited to treat them. It sounds to me that she'd already made up her mind that it is all about your DD, rather than listening first.

Hopefully you can find a psychologist who can be a little less judgmental and more helpful. As suprised said, you can see your GP to get a health care plan set up and then get rebated sessions.

Heaven - I didn't know you were a psych! I love it - I worked for an internal employee assistance program doing counselling, coaching and training. Great job and I love the profession (having spent 6 years at uni to qualifiy). Not sure if I will go back when DS2 is about 18 months -2 years. I went back between the boys, but only for 1 day a week for 5 months. Barely worth the registration fees.