Bell Let’s Talk Day Ask a Therapist Questions

During the Bell Let’s Talk Day Event held by the Wellness Education Peers at Brescia, Michelle Lau, the BUCSC’s Wellness Commissioner, collected anonymous questions from students- questions which they have always wanted to ask a psychotherapist. The purpose of this event was to break down some barriers or concerns students may have about seeking therapy as well as to get a better understanding of resources that are available to them. The questions were answered by Sheldon Hill, a psychotherapist at Brescia. Here are just a few of the questions and answers- all the questions asked at the event were answered by Sheldon, and they can be found here!

Who is the psychologist at Brescia that I can go talk to?

Dr. Gilby is a private practitioner and psychologist who comes to Brescia to meet with students. She can provide short or long term therapy and she is based out of Ursuline Hall. Her rate is $100 per session, which can be reimbursed through the student health plan (up to $750.00). You can book an appointment with her by emailing rgilby@uwo.ca .

How do you know if you’re mentally ill?

If you’re seeking a diagnosis, I’d encourage you to attend a family doctor at Student Health Services and explain your experience. It is difficult to consider if our experience falls into mental illness because we are unable to contrast our experience to that of others. Sure, you can talk to friends about their experience and yours may sound more severe, but when it comes to experiencing emotion dysregulation or unhelpful thinking patterns, it’s difficult to compare those to others. A doctor would be the best place to start if you believe you have a mental illness.

Does it get easier or do we get better at managing?

This is a much more opinion-based, anecdotal answer as this question seems a little philosophical. Does life get easier? Not really – life tends to come in waves with times of ease and challenge coming and going. Life is complex and life as a student can be chaotic.
Can we get better at managing? Absolutely. One hundred percent. As we continue to learn about ourselves and expectations from others, we develop new skills and acquire new knowledge. If we remain engaged and open-minded, we are able to become better at managing challenges. Sometimes this means managing on our own, but it also means leaning on our social supports – friends, family – when we need to. And with time, those supports become stronger, more solidified and reliable.

These are only a few of the many questions students had. Sheldon was kind enough to answer each one, and all questions and answers can be found in this Google doc. Whether you are looking for your question, or you just want to know a little more about mental health services at Brescia and Western, Sheldon’s answers are a worthwhile read. Please take a look!