Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Phil1907 on 24/03/2009 22:36:55

Title: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Phil1907 on 24/03/2009 22:36:55

From the British Medical Journal
Is the usual decision to wheel out counsellors shortly after a traumatic event upheld by the scientific literature? A systematic review identified 25 suitable studies. The researchers found no difference between any intervention and usual care for individuals exposed to trauma, irrespective of their symptoms. For people with symptoms of post-traumatic stress, trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy was more effective than a waiting list or supportive counselling (American Journal of Psychiatry 2009;166:293-301, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08040590).

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 25/03/2009 04:12:37

Dang it! All those sessions wasted!

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Karen W. on 25/03/2009 06:45:32

 Ah.. I think they do help from experience!

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Variola on 25/03/2009 11:19:29

Measuring the immeasurable again, thats the joy of psychology.

I wonder what they class as 'usual care'.... presumably medical care/services and support of relatives.

You get good and bad counselors in the same way you get good and bad Doctors, policemen, scientists etc.
Some people will find a good counsellor and have a positive helpful experience, others will have the opposite. It's rather stating the obvious i know, but its not feasible to class counsellors as a profession as useless.

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: dlorde on 25/03/2009 22:11:33

What you need is a counsellor who can give trauma-focused CBT...

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Karen W. on 26/03/2009 02:23:33

CBT???

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Karen W. on 26/03/2009 02:24:15

I have a great Therapist right now.. she is wonderful!

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 26/03/2009 05:17:51

I guess she means Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Karen W. on 26/03/2009 05:58:03

I should have known that but me brain was totally stumped.. I definitely need some cognitive therapy eh? LOL

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 26/03/2009 06:03:04

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Fsmiley-confused013.gif&hash=396386a856152a890252526964cc44dd) (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Karen W. on 26/03/2009 06:05:26

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 26/03/2009 06:03:04

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Fsmiley-confused013.gif&hash=396386a856152a890252526964cc44dd) (http://www.freesmileys.org)

You don't know... for shame! LOL..

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Phil1907 on 26/03/2009 09:04:38

Some good - some bad?   Probably but from this report you'd have to conclude that most are pretty useless.

Title: Re: Is counselling beneficial?
Post by: Variola on 26/03/2009 09:08:34

Quote from: Phil1907 on 26/03/2009 09:04:38

Some good - some bad?   Probably but from this report you'd have to conclude that most are pretty useless.

Not really. How can your measure how someone feels against how someone else feels??