Ideas on what to say?

kleapatra

Hi

Tomorrow I've got my first appointment with a counselling service which is likely to then lead to a course of 6 weekly appointments. The problem is the place I have to go to for the appointments is near my home, not near where I work. They could also only give me a 2pm appointment and I suspect I won't get a lot of options in the timing of the others. My work is pretty flexible and medical appointments etc are never a problem and they have no problems with me working at home which is what I plan to do tomorrow afternoon after the appointment . My issue is what do I tell my office my reasons for having an appointment in the middle of the day (and going forward) I don't wish anyone to know about the counselling and we are such a small office its not like I can just sneak off and no one would notice. Feigning medical appointments regularly might make them think I've got something drasticly wrong with me (or a complete hypochondriac!), you can't use the dentists that regularly and I had an eye test yesterday!

Any suggestions anyone?

daisiegg

If you really don't want to tell the truth (though it is nothing to be ashamed of!) can you invent something else that would require a six week course of treatment - like, say, physiotherapy for a knee problem or something? Personally though I wish more people would be open about mental health problems and then maybe we would move towards it losing its stigma. Mind you, if you are requiring quite a bit of time off work to attend appointments won't your workplace want to see evidence in the form of appointment letters or something? You might end up without a choice about letting them know.

kleapatra

Ah physio for an old ankle injury is a pretty good one thank you. And no, my work would never ask for appointment letters etc, its not that kind of place, as I said flexible. I'd make up the appointments time wise anyway.

peachyprice

I would just tell them your GP has sent you for a six week course of treatment, tell them you'll do your best to arrange appointment times outside of working hours but you may not get the choice, and leave it at that.

DomRavioli

Just tell them; counselling is for such a huge range of issues that it is nothing to be ashamed of; your employer has responsibilities to look after your wellbeing, and this could help a heck of lot (you'd be surprised how many people have been to counselling) as most are sympathetic to whatever it is which has made you seek some help.

NatMast_2

I understand your need to keep quiet about the counselling though it most certainly IS NOT something to ever be ashamed of - but different workplaces can make you feel more comfortable in admitting it than others. And to be honest, it's something private - telling one person, even if it's in confidentiality, isn't always the case.

You don't need to go too indepth - an injury, some tests, an evaluation over something or any private/personal matters that you can think of would surely help.

I'm sure you employer will understand

marisco_2

I had 7 counselling sessions a few years back. They weren't on a weekly basis though. The counsellor and I agreed that it would be better to space them out, to give time for life to move on, and to assess things accordingly. Is this approach an option for you? An appointment every few weeks or so may not raise questions. Especially so if some can be taken when you are working from home. Are your employers even aware of your movements all day when this is the case?

bagpussbear

I would be honest and say your doc has referred you for counselling appointments. When I had counselling I needed to leave half hour early every Weds and so my boss was very supportive about it.

Counselling isn't necessarily fixed to a specific number of sessions, given the nature of what it is. They recommend at least 6-10 often, but it could go on for longer depending on your progress, which is why I don't think you could keep making excuses/reasons. Mine went on for several months, I hadn't really scratched the surface in terms of help and recovery that I needed by session 6. Obviously I don't know your circumstances though.

good luck with the sessions.

kleapatra

Thanks everyone. For today I just said I had an appointment and would be working at home this afternoon, no one batted an eyelid.
I'm pretty sure it will only be a 6 week thing as the info given to me in advance states this is the maximum they can offer but I never considered that they might not be weekly which will make it much easier.
I am lucky in that I can work from home and my movements can't be tracked!
Thank you for the good luck wishes - its my first time so I'm a bit nervous :-)