The Real Horror Stories Aren’t in Haunted Houses
Halloween is all about ghosts, goblins, and haunted houses. But for counselors and psychologists, the real spooky stories don’t come from the supernatural — they come from the everyday realities of our work.
Forget cobwebs and creaky staircases. The things that give mental health professionals chills are way more ordinary… and way more relatable.
If you’re a therapist, school counselor, or psychologist, you’ll probably laugh (and maybe cringe) at this list of the scariest things in our world. If you’re not, consider this your peek behind the curtain at the “haunted house” of counseling.
1. The Unfinished Pile of Clinical Notes
You thought you were caught up. You swore last Friday you’d never let documentation pile up again. Yet here it is — a growing stack of unfinished notes glaring at you from your desk.
Nothing says boo like a documentation backlog. The true ghost haunting every therapist’s office.
2. The Parent Who Says: “Can I Just Ask One Quick Question?”
It’s always after you’ve wrapped up, have another client waiting, or are halfway out the door.
One quick question never takes one minute. It’s the jump scare of counseling life.
3. When a Client Says: “You Remind Me of My Mom (or Dad)”
Cue the internal scream.
Transference is real, and while it’s clinically important, it can also be hilariously spooky when said out loud. Bonus points if it happens on your very first session with someone.
4. Insurance Denials (The Real Horror Story)
Who needs horror movies when you’ve got insurance paperwork?
Few things are scarier than fighting with an insurance company after hours of calls and re-submissions, only to get another “denied” letter. Zombies have nothing on bureaucracy.
5. Back-to-Back Sessions with No Breaks
Session. Session. Session. Repeat.
No time for water, no time for lunch, no time to breathe. The counselor’s version of a haunted maze — you keep walking forward but there’s no end in sight.
6. When the Fire Alarm Goes Off Mid-Session
You’re knee-deep in a breakthrough conversation… and suddenly the alarm shrieks.
Nothing like guiding a group of anxious kids (or adults) out of the building mid-session. The real jump scare of school and community counseling.
7. Hearing: “I Saw This Thing on TikTok…”
You know what’s coming.
The latest trending “diagnosis,” the viral mental health hack, or “my favorite influencer says…” And you sit there with the most professional poker face you can muster.
Spooky because you already know you’ll be spending half the session myth-busting.
8. The Endless Email Notifications
Ding. Ding. Ding.
The inbox is the ghost that never rests. You swear you just cleared it — but somehow it multiplies like a poltergeist when you turn your back.
9. When a Client Asks: “Can I Have Your Personal Number?”
Every counselor’s heart skips a beat.
Boundary testing is part of the job, but this one is always a little chilling. Cue the horror movie soundtrack.
10. Trying to End Session on Time
You gently say: “We have five minutes left.”
Twenty minutes later, you’re still listening. The door creaks as your next client arrives early. Truly the most terrifying time-warp in therapy.
11. When the Printer Breaks Before a Group Activity
You prepped the worksheets, set aside the markers, and had everything planned perfectly.
But the printer? Haunted. Always haunted. And it only chooses to break right before group starts.
12. Professional Development Webinars That Don’t End
The lights are dim, your notes are half-finished, and the presenter says, “just one more slide.”
But it’s never just one more slide. A slow-burn horror story with no escape.
13. That One Couch Pillow That Never Stays in Place
Every office has one. The haunted pillow.
No matter how many times you fix it, it always falls, twists, or slides off the couch in the middle of a session.
14. When You Forget Your Own Self-Care Homework
We teach coping skills every day. But sometimes we forget to drink water, eat lunch, or actually sleep.
It’s the spooky irony of our profession — helping others while being haunted by our own undone self-care.
15. The Waitlist That Never Ends
The eternal line of names waiting for help.
It’s heartbreaking and overwhelming — the scariest sight of all, because it’s real. The endless waitlist haunts so many of us in the field.
Wrapping It Up
Haunted houses and ghost stories might make people jump. But counselors and psychologists know the real spooky stuff lives in our daily work: piles of notes, insurance denials, TikTok myths, and printers that refuse to cooperate.
The good news? We’re in this together. And sometimes, laughter is the best coping skill.
So this Halloween, raise your pumpkin spice latte to the real “haunted house” of counseling life — and remember, at least we can laugh through the scares.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Eve, a former school counselor with a master’s degree in School Psychology and a passionate advocate for children and families navigating sensory challenges. As a mom of children with sensory sensitivities, I deeply understand the journey special-needs parents face, and I dedicate myself to researching and sharing practical solutions to help children thrive and feel comfortable in their bodies. My goal is also to empower counselors, therapists, and psychologists with creative strategies and supportive resources to enrich their everyday practice. When I’m not writing or exploring new therapeutic approaches, you’ll find me spending quality time with my family and continually seeking inspiration from everyday moments.
