1st Counseling Session... froze up!

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Hey everyone! So today I went to my [college] counselor to talk about Aspergers. Unfortunately, I froze up and didn't talk about most of the symptoms I have– in fact I couldn't think so badly that I literally couldn't think of symptoms to mention like my extreme social anxiety, instead only mumbling "I don't like/am kinda bad at socializing." Anyway, this happened for most of the things– I could only think fast enough to mention like 1 specific example.

In addition, though, the psychologist seemed... a bit ignorant of the DSM/Asperger's criteria[?] She read from the DSM IV for me and dismissed most of the symptoms outright (in the first session, not "lets continue for a few sessions to get to know you better than these 25 minutes), like for instance, "eye contact." Based on the fact that I held eye contact with her in those few minutes (what I forget to mention was that it was extremely awkward for me, and making eye contact was probably what made me not be able to think), she dismissed whole points on the criteria list like this!

Has anybody had horrible first experiences like this? I'm so confused. For the last two weeks I've thought solely how I thought I've had Asperger's (even if most of my traits are mild/subtle and/or hidden), and overthought and rehearsed how it might go, how to answer any type of question, etc., only to blow it and be dismissed by someone I suspect is only faintly familiar with AS.... HELP!

I just began therapy about a month ago and was kind of concerned about the same thing happening (i.e. freezing up). For me, that would not be a good thing as each session is fairly expensive (and I have to pay out-of-pocket). As such, I prepare for each session. I jot down notes during the week (things I want to discuss). And then, I organize my notes before the session and bring them with me. This way, I have topics to discuss. And something to reference (if I forgot something). I realize that this is a bit obsessive. But, that’s who and what I am.

It seems like you have two problems:

1) You have trouble speaking when you get nervous.

2) The counselor doesn't specialize in autism and might not know enough to diagnose you.

Possible solution for #1: Writing is by far my best way of communicating. I take notes to my therapy appointments so that I can remember what to talk about. Otherwise, I'll start rambling and forget. Perhaps you should bring notes to your next session about why you think that you have AS.

Possible solution for #2: See an autism specialist. If you don't trust the psychologist, you are not going to believe her diagnosis anyway. The only reason I believed my psychologist when he said that I had AS is that he has worked with other clients on the autism spectrum and he has done assessments. He is certainly qualified based on his past experience. The first time you talk to a counselor ask them what they specialize in (if anything). Ask them if they have any experience working with clients who have autism. If they say yes, ask them to elaborate. If you cannot afford to see someone else, you might just have to work with this person, presenting her with your notes.

Thanks to both of you!
and yes, 1&2, maybe. I definitely am absolutely astonishingly horrible at social interaction/communication, and being an english major, writing is my strong suit. Im going to try asking/sending more details about all my symptoms, since I left out like 3/4 of them.
I'm at college, and the counselor here is free– I'll see how it goes, maybe there is another one I can see. Otherwise Id have to be referred off-campus to a specialist and I'd have to tell my parents (planning on telling them once I know for sure/or most probably I have it, I just... don't want to tell them before i know).....
again, thanks. really bummed me out, felt super depressed after, but ill try another tactic.

When I was going through the "pre-diagnosis process", I read a lot of material (so that I could properly understand and organize my various behavioral symptoms). I would suggest reading Tony Attwood’s Book (“The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome”). The book contains a lot of valuable material. Every time he discussed anything that resonated with me, I wrote it down. It enabled me to identify a whole bunch of seemingly unrelated things that together form the set of behavioral symptoms that is called Aspergers.

Best of luck.

I know you don't want to talk with your parents yet, but depending what you want, you might be better off elsewhere.

It might give you some help deciding if you think about what's written in the Campus Counseling Service materials, how they see their mission. If they portray themselves as offering help with the transition to college and short term counseling for situational crises, and if what you want is an evaluation for autism/Aspergers, well, those don't match.

You'll get much more out of the counselor if you want something related to what he or she is told to do in that job. Even if that's making a referral to someone who can do an evaluation, which the counselor should be able to help with if necessary, with resources where you are. As well as support coping with campus life.

You aren't wrong wanting more from this counselor, just I think better to identify what they can do for you than try to make them do what they don't know how to do.

I got lucky, I get counciled by government payed psych, I used to go to one or two at a time and first couple of months didn't really say s**t, they wait till you are willing to talk, they dont like to pry unti.ll you open up, and one of them is a pro speciallist for Aspergers, I only go to her now and its good, I can talk now and figure out fixes for small problems but I still don't trust them with big s**t, and I dont think I have to, most of the stu[pid s**t that goes on in my brain are overfixations and overmeditated thoughts, they normally pass by getting mental discipline, gym helps with that, So I dont ruminate about negative things. Well now I don't see her as often as I like, but I couldn't pay for more sessions and maybe I don't really need to, Im content, the time between appointments give me time to organise and write things down I need to discuss with her so yer, it's good.

This situation is exactly why I take a list of prompts with me to such places.