3 years ago
I have spent years trying to find the right place ...
I have spent years trying to find the right place to receive counseling services to no avail. For whatever reason, with other places, things just didn't work out and often the dealings with them added more anxiety than I already have; which speaks volumes because my anxiety is already at a very high level. Thus, after going through a very discouraging and insulting brief dance with another counseling service, and moving on because I knew it wasn't going to be a fit for me; when receiving a referral to People Empowering People, I approached with major trepidation and reluctance because my previous experiences with other places had been pretty bad. However, it didn't take long whatsoever for me to see that PEP is so different and worlds better than anyone else I have ever been to for counseling services. I am someone with major trust issues and serious doubts about validity of the mental health system as a whole. However, from the absolute get go, I got the impression that everyone at PEP truly and sincerely cares about your well being and long term mental health goals. They don't attempt to force you into groups or classes, nor push medicine at you and expect everything is going to be a quick fix. The two I have dealt with, Erin with intake and first evaluation and Laura my counselor are wonderful, kind and caring people who make getting counseled something to look forward to, not dread. They both heavily emphasized that I am the one calling the shots with the counseling and they are very specific in letting me know that their main goal is baby step progress, not pushing their own agendas off on me like other counselors and businesses did. A business/counselor that operates on a kind, compassionate and caring level, one that understands mental illness is a marathon not a sprint and that not everyone with metal illness should be lumped into the same "one size fits all" box is exactly what I have needed all along. Its going to be a long road to recovery for me but I am so glad to have the right place helping me for a change. My only regret is I didn't discover them sooner.