Do I Need to Have a Diagnosis?

Many people fear that if they go to counseling they will be diagnosed with  a “mental disorder.”  A diagnosis is needed for insurance payment but is not  required to receive counseling. 

Some counselors prefer not to render diagnoses.  They believe that when a person is diagnosed with  a mental disorder it becomes a label that becomes part of their identity and keeps them stuck.   These counselors believe it is better to focus on symptoms, strengths, and desired behaviors than to diagnose pathology.  They also believe that often, a client’s behaviors are simply a normal reaction to the “un-normal” things that happen in their lives, rather than a “disorder.”

Other counselors use the “medical model” of  treatment where they “diagnose” then “prescribe” an appropriate treatment.  Diagnoses can provide a common language between counselors and doctors that help a client obtain medication for their symptoms.  But since human behavior is not an exact science, even experts can vary in how they render diagnoses.

Bottom line? You have options regarding the use of diagnosis.  To avoid a diagnostic label that is reported to an insurance company, many individuals will pay for services “out of pocket,” rather than obtain payment from their insurance company.  If you need to understand your problem in diagnostic terms then you can indicate this to the counselor and work collaboratively to determine a diagnosis.