Posted by lola_2 on February 8, 2011, at 20:29:19
In reply to Re: managing life while in therapy » lola_2, posted by Annabelle Smith on February 6, 2011, at 20:35:07
> Oh, I see. I think I totally hear what you are saying. I think about that a lot myself. You know, it seems to me that in a lot of the case studies I have read about therapy, as well as just observing what people say online and on boards such as this, I was under the impression that it is very common to meet more than once per week.
>It might be. I think it depends on what is needed at the time?? I had a really rough session and we booked a 2nd one becuase I was in pretty rough shape.
> I would have trouble paying for more than one session a week
Its killer, but Ive decided for now its needed. but more than once isn't really an option for me either. Im happy with once a week, I want to do every other but right now its too soon.
> But then the second question is: even if it is possible, is it more efficient? I don't know. It probably depends on each individual case. I could see myself just going deeper and deeper in the addictive cycle in which I am already plunged. It may be that the more sessions I have, the more I am obsessed and drug deeper in. I think there may be something to say about having to leave each session and doing the "work" of dealing with life apart from therapy outside of session each week.
>I think once a week is totally sufficient unless you are working on some intense things that are too hard to handle. I see more as a temporary thing.
> I don't know what kind of therapy you are in, but what I do know about DBT (which is more or less what I am in minus the weekly group skills session) is that it meets once per week for individual sessions. No more. And this is primarily for Borderline Personality Disorder (and increasingly other things too) which used to treat these same patients with 3 times/week individual therapy sessions. I think there has been a shift in theory and method around the number of therapy sessions offered per week, even with people in extreme distress and suffering.
>Im not sure, I am not sure of my therapy either lol I would guess an eclectic mix...
> You mention that you are having very mixed feelings about therapy right now. I think I hear you. I often feel the same way. It has been a year now since I started therapy (this includes the 6 months I was away during the summer...which still involved this unresolved longing) and I feel like I have largely wasted this year by being obsessed with my therapist and my sessions. I feel angry and extremely sad sometimes that I feel like I have lost this year of my life.
Id speak to your therapist about that. Im trying to find a balance between going back into my past (ick!) and still managing, it has to doable or I believe the therapy is too intense and should be slowed. Does that make sense? So for me I felt like maybe I went too fast, and maybe I overwhelmed myself which is why Im bombarded with emotions and memories I dont want around. Thats what is weighing on me. but I go to therapy and unload them- if it doesn't start getting easier than I might back down a bit. You should mention this to your therapist, he may offer some helpful insight.
>You mentioned withdrawing-- yes, that happened to me too for the first 3 months and is still happening now. I feel in such inner turmoil and chaos that I don't want to be around others because I just feel more and more fake and awful. So I withdraw. And feel more awful.
Yes, I totally get that. Its hard. Thats what Im trying to figure out now. There has to be some way to manage it. Because I do not believe the withdrawing is healthy. Id talk to him. Im going to speak to my therapist about it as well.
>
> But, I think that maybe things have to get worse before they get better.Im hanging on to that!! I sure hope thats what's going on!
>At least I am telling myself this. I think that for both of us, as much as it hurts, we are ultimately on a path to new healing. I hope so. I think it just takes time. It actually may very well be a sign of the effectiveness of therapy if it initially produces such intense pain and feelings-- it is bringing up some really important stuff to deal with that would otherwise just lay hidden yet still there and causing pain.
>
> Sorry I wrote a lot-- I have been thinking about this too, and it all just came out.I hope it starts getting easier for you. Are you seeing him soon?
poster:lola_2
thread:978715
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20110206/msgs/978952.html