Hi -
Talking to adults can be intimidating, particularly when it comes to personal things like emotions and relationships. A lot of kids have a hard time talking to their parents because they’re worried about being judged, disappointing them, getting a negative response, or just not being understood. It could be that you’ve never met your counselor before so it might seem like you’re being asked to share your deepest secrets with a brand new person who you might not know or trust. It could also be that you don’t even know where to begin.
Here’s some insider info to put your mind at ease.
The first couple of meetings with your counselor are considered “getting to know you” meetings. The counselor needs to learn about you and your issue before they can help. You need to develop a trusting relationship and set some goals and expectations for your meetings together. After all, there must be something you are trying to accomplish by being there. After you have developed a good relationship with him/her, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty. The counselor might ask you about things like your background, family relationships, school stress, and social stress. It might be uncomfortable, but the more you can tell them, the better they can assess the situation and provide useful feedback. If you are concerned about your personal information being shared with your parents or friends, it’s important to know that all counselors have a strict confidentiality policy and the only information that must be shared with others are safety concerns in which there is a serious concern for harm to your yourself and others. Apart from that, no one else will know what you share unless you ask the counselor to share information to help you communicate with your teachers, parents, or friends.
Realizing you need help and seeking the help you need is tough, but it’s your counselor’s job to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible and help in any way they can. They are trained professionals who have years of experience helping kids just like you find solutions for problems just like yours.
I promise, the hardest part is getting through the door.
Sincerely,
Dear Letterbox
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