Unveiling the Complexities: Can Counselling Sometimes Make You Feel Worse?

Seeking counselling is often a proactive step toward emotional healing and personal growth. However, it's not uncommon for individuals to experience temporary feelings of discomfort or unease during or after counselling sessions. Exploring the complexities of this phenomenon is crucial in understanding whether counselling can sometimes evoke negative emotions.

Navigating Emotional Turbulence:

Counselling is a deeply personal journey, and it's natural to encounter emotional turbulence when delving into challenging topics or exploring past experiences. Sometimes, discussing painful memories, confronting difficult emotions, or challenging long-held beliefs can stir up feelings of sadness, anxiety, or distress.

Initial Discomfort and Vulnerability:

At the beginning of therapy, individuals might feel uncomfortable or vulnerable discussing personal issues with a new counsellor. It's common to experience apprehension or fear of judgment, leading to initial discomfort that may contribute to feeling worse initially.

Stirring Up Buried Emotions:

Counselling sessions can unearth buried emotions or memories that individuals may have suppressed or avoided dealing with. While this can be part of the healing process, it might initially intensify emotions before they start to ease.

Process of Unpacking and Healing:

Healing often involves acknowledging and processing painful emotions or experiences. While this can initially be distressing, it's an integral part of the therapeutic journey toward resolution and emotional well-being. Unpacking emotions and gaining insights can sometimes lead to temporary discomfort before achieving emotional clarity and healing.

Therapeutic Relationship and Trust:

Building trust and a rapport with a counsellor takes time. Feelings of discomfort might arise when individuals are still in the process of establishing a trusting relationship with their counsellor. It's essential to give the therapeutic relationship time to develop for individuals to feel more comfortable and supported.

Moving Through Discomfort:

Experiencing temporary discomfort or feeling worse during counselling doesn't necessarily indicate a negative outcome. It can be a sign of progress as individuals confront and process deep-seated emotions or experiences. It's vital to communicate openly with the counsellor about these feelings to navigate through them effectively.

Conclusion:

Counselling is a dynamic process that can evoke a range of emotions. While it's possible to feel worse temporarily during therapy, it's often a natural part of the healing journey. It's essential to recognise that these feelings are often transient and can pave the way for profound growth and emotional healing in the long run. Being patient, allowing the process to unfold, and maintaining open communication with the counsellor can help individuals navigate through the discomfort and move toward greater emotional well-being.