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[Poll]

Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy?

Yes

77% (47)

21% (13)

I'm here, but not saying

1% (1)

Total Votes : 61

(last vote on : 9/20/2010 6:10:02 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/15/2010 9:26:25 PM

CynthiaWVirginia

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quote:

ORIGINAL: hertz

I am curious. I've heard the advice 'See a Counsellor' several times in the last few weeks and I wonder if seeing a counsellor is something many of us do. I am assuming the Poll allows for anonymous answers (which is ideal), but if you'd like to add a line or two, some opinion or experience, that would be interesting.

For my own part, I started training as a Psychotherapist (Integrative model) some years ago, but quit quite quickly when I realised that actually, I am not as interested in other people as I thought I might be.

As part of my training, I took part in 2 years of non-directed group-work - an hour and a half a week with other trainees. I still rate that as one of the most interesting and frightening experiences of my life.

I also went through 3 years of personal therapy, which was an interesting and enlightening experience. I don't think it made me a better human being, but it certainly helped me come to terms with my imperfections and I think it has helped me get a better grip on where other people are coming from.

Interestingly, my spell of therapy did help me resolve a problem I was having at the time with depression, in as much as my therapist revealed that he thought I sounded a bit depressed, and that prompted me to go and see a GP and get some Prozac. Now, that was a real eye-opener...

Anyway, over to you...

Yes. It also got me used to talking freely about a lot of things, which was something of a relief because in my family we didn't talk about anything. They were "paid friends" that I could vent around, who wouldn't treat me like I brought it on myself somehow, or like...if I kept totally silent our family would be normal and everything could be forgotten.

Other than being able to talk about things, the only one who helped (and who didn't end up telling ME their life story and problems, etc.) was one who told me to look at children who had been as young as I had been...and decide for myself if one of those could in any way defend themselves. It rocked my world when I did as she said. It is amazing how much self-blame we can inflict upon ourselves...with the help of our dear family and/or extended family, doctors, police...

The ones who helped me through the absolute worst times in my life were not shrinks, but volunteers at rape crisis hotlines and at suicide prevention hotlines. This was when my flashbacks/PTSD/nightmares and panic attacks were at their worst.

Meds didn't help. Period. I tried at least half a dozen. For panic attacks, meds might take the tip off the iceberg. Usually everything made me so sleepy and tired that I could barely manage to get even dishes and laundry done and sat on the couch almost all day long, nodding off. And the weight gain...omg...was beyond belief. I have to consider my quality of life, and feeling heavily sedated all day long, month after month, was not a place I wanted to be no matter what anyone said I "should" do.

Btw, friends and acquaintences DO help. Someone from the message boards did a fine job giving me a visualization to do that eliminated evil panic attacks I had been having daily because of survivors' guilt. I had been heaving into trash cans and the toilet for over two months because of the incredible nausea that came with them. He was not a therapist, just another...human being.

Shrinks have no magic wand...we do our own healing, do all of the hard work ourselves. Years ago when I was scrubbing toilets and stuff for $3.35 per hour, my shrink was paid $180 something dollars for 40 minutes of her time. This is why most people cannot afford to go. I shudder to think how much the rate is now, some 22+ years later.

Some things can never be undone. We must find a way to live with the scars and somehow feel secure again.

I also know others who have serious imbalances within the brain that can be corrected by meds...thank God we have those or these friends would have to spend all their days in padded cells, with no hope of ever coming out into the world and enjoying freedom.

**********
edited because of typo

< Message edited by CynthiaWVirginia -- 9/15/2010 9:29:09 PM >

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/16/2010 4:42:30 AM

DesFIP

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I'm sorry the meds didn't work for you Cynthia, for me I found the exhaustion and lethargy disappeared when he finally raised the dosage. I know at 200 mgs Zoloft should have turned me into a zombie. Instead I finally felt right and had the energy back, plus it eliminated the PTSD. Driving while having flashbacks is not a good idea.

But my psychiatrist was not my therapist. The psychiatrist and the clinical psychologist were both cleared to talk to each other if they needed, I don't know if they did. However the cost of a clinical psychologiest is very high and a CSW is just not the same. So judging one person who hangs out a shingle as a therapist straight from college with someone else who has a PhD and several years training in a psychiatric hospital is like comparing apples to oranges.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/16/2010 4:49:29 AM

DesFIP

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

I'm sorry the meds didn't work for you Cynthia, for me I found the exhaustion and lethargy disappeared when he finally raised the dosage. I know at 200 mgs Zoloft should have turned me into a zombie. Instead I finally felt right and had the energy back, plus it eliminated the PTSD. Driving while having flashbacks is not a good idea.

But my psychiatrist was not my therapist. The psychiatrist and the clinical psychologist were both cleared to talk to each other if they needed, I don't know if they did. However the cost of a clinical psychologiest is very high and a CSW is just not the same. So judging one person who hangs out a shingle as a therapist straight from college with someone else who has a PhD and several years training in a psychiatric hospital is like comparing apples to oranges.

However I'm fourth generation mood disorder, unipolar depression, generalized anxiety disorder. Either I went for medical help, to a psychiatrist specializing in genetic disorders, or I would have suicided. Not survivor issues, and I applaud your courage for discussing yours. Just an imbalance in my brain that has caused at least one suicide in each of the preceding three generations. I will say that I get the right attention and the right focus when I show up at a doctor with a family tree of mental health issues. They don't waste time on asking about my childhood even after I've explained that isn't the problem when I do this. It also stopped child psychiatrists assuming I'm a terrible parent when my daughter needed to get help, she's fifth generation mood disorder. She's has people assume she's been abused until she would summon me in from the waiting room and I would list the generational mood disorders faster than they could write it down.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/16/2010 9:16:24 AM

takemeforyourown

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I heart my antidepressants, and I'm not afraid to say it.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/16/2010 9:44:25 AM

angelikaJ

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I have replied to other posts but have not answered the question.

Yes, I had counselling; have seen a therapist.

The last person who did therapy with me (as it is collaborative) was my psychiatrist. Many don't do that anymore and many psychiatrists just don't spend much time with their patients. That is a big complaint of mine.

It is hard work, but it can be rewarding IF you find the right person and are willing to put heart and soul into the process.
For me, it was an important investment, and I am not talking financial.

All of the people I saw were willing to work with me via sliding scale when I was without insurance.

My psychiatrist had open communication with both my therapist (when I saw one who was independent from her) and my primary care physician.

For me, that seems to be the way it should be.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sexyred1

I personally, have only found therapy helpful when I was going for marriage counseling, but other than that, I have never found a therapist to be particularly useful since I know what my issues are and most therapists are unhappy when you are very self aware and not clueless.

I have not had that experience.
The people who have worked with me, have appreciated both my self awareness and my intelligence.

This is why it is very important as stated above that you need to work with the right person for you.
Therapy is not one size fits all; not every method is appropriate for every circumstance/person and finding the right therapist who is the right fit can be time consuming.

As with any health care professional, they are working for you.
An initial appointment can be like a job interview.
You are essentially hiring them.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/17/2010 10:55:57 AM

domiguy

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I am comfortable with the idea that crazy people will hopefully be spending a great deal of their time locked in a padded cell.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/17/2010 11:13:45 AM

sirsholly

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quote:

ORIGINAL: domiguy

I am comfortable with the idea that crazy people will hopefully be spending a great deal of their time locked in a padded cell.

out on a day-pass, are ya?

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/17/2010 11:22:46 AM

sirsholly

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sexyred1

I know what my issues are and most therapists are unhappy when you are very self aware and not clueless.

of course you can cite a source for this gem of a statement.....???

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/17/2010 2:09:24 PM

SL4V3M4YB3

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FR

If you find discover the knack of talking to yourself then you can dispense with the highly paid individual sitting opposite.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/18/2010 7:14:36 AM

DesFIP

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Once you're answering yourself, you're probably more in need of medication than therapy.
Plus if you're a horse's ass, you won't get any help from talking to yourself.

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/18/2010 7:29:38 AM

PeanutTigerinBox

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

ORIGINAL: sexyred1

I know what my issues are and most therapists are unhappy when you are very self aware and not clueless.

of course you can cite a source for this gem of a statement.....???

Whilst I can't exactly rely to the statement made by sexyred1 it reminds me a bit on it when I met once a so called psychologist who considered me to be a spoilt brat (I was in hospital after a breakdown in teenage years)...which did show to me straight away that he hadn't got a clue about his work as nobody who really knows me would consider me to be that

I was glad to never have to see that face again as he was nowhere comfortable to talk to (from his attitude as well as from his looks) and what helped me much more in that time was that the head of my ward offered me that if I ever need someone to talk to I would always be welcome to visit him on his final talk to me when I was discharged (to try to do at least what he was able to do in the situation I was in, to try to prevent a second breakdown).

I never took up his offer but as far as I am aware of it carried me through the following months whilst I got stronger again and I still appreciate his words. He was awesome and I think if he and his psychostaff would have had the opposit roles it would have made a huge difference.

However, as mentioned before I overcame all myself and learned during that time as well as in recent years that I prefer to rely on myself than on others. There is only one person in life whom I trust as much as myself and thats my ex, though there are a few more who are on a pretty close level to him.

< Message edited by PeanutTigerinBox -- 9/18/2010 7:30:48 AM >

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RE: Have you ever had Counselling or Therapy? - 9/19/2010 3:40:49 PM

sophia37

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I think anyone, if he or she thought they needed to talk with a therapist, should be allowed to see a therapist. I find it alarming that that UK would deny a person the right to talk to someone about a perceived problem. I find that hard to believe in fact. Who's to deem whats worthy of being heard????

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