STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

exsupahero · Kate Spade

Therapy...

jen · Kate Spade

I've been and my advice would be to shop around for a therapist. Mine was too rainbows and butterflies for me. It did help though because up untill this year I had never told anyone about my issues and he was a ear to listen and it helped to get things off my chest. My psychiatrist is awesome though-she's the one that got me on meds although I don't take them anymore because they made me feel weird. But she was more medical of course than my therapist and I liked that. Anyhow, go to a therapist first and s/he will tell you if s/he feels you should even see a psychiatrist. If you have any questions or just want to talk, PLEASE feel free to pm me!!!!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

It is a good idea to shop around. There are so many schools of thought and models to follow as a therapist that what one therapist may think is most effective may not fit your needs or personality. And, you want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the person. So, ask around and don't be afraid to ask questions of your therapist.

-gd

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I go off and on to my therapist. I go to a licensed social worker and she is great. I think they can be very helpful if you want to talk to someone. My lady and I click really well and she has helped me with my anxiety and other feelings. I think the key is to find someone you feel comfortable with and click with. If you don't like them then it will be a waste of money. A good counselor will know how to approach sensitive topics and how far to pry without making you feel bad or guilty. So don't worry about that.

If you have questions or want more info pm me.

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

I have also been to a psychotherapist before and found him to be very helpful. The one thing I didn't really like about him is that he was very clinical in that he explained the research behind some schools of thought, like he was trying to show me how smart he was. It really was very nice to be able to talk to someone without being judged.

Even if the person you see doesn't necessarily conform to fit your personality, I still found it helpful to get things off my chest. My therapist helped me to retrain my ways of thinking so that I didn't freak out over little things.

If you need to talk PM me.

Good luck.

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

I was in an abusive relationship a long time ago.. and my mother forced me to go. It was kinda nice to vent and talk to someone OUTSIDE of the situation (not a family member or friend).. But all she told me was all the stuff I didn't want to hear at the time, so none of her advice was really taken to heart. You definately have to find the right person, that is the only way you have a chance at being helped. Also, you have to WANT help.. It seems that you do, but I didnt at the time in my life that I went. Good luck! PM is welcome!

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

I went to one when I was in college. My friend had an eating disorder and I didn't know what to do, so I went in and was very surprised. I went there to find out how to help my friend and he helped me realize that her problem was seriously effecting me in an unhealthy way. At first I was angry that he was not so gung-ho on helping my friend but in the end I was greatful because I really wasn't taking care of my own emotional status and I needed to.

I'm studying to be a marriage and family therapist and I love my work. It is definitely important to shop around and find a therapist that works for you. And it is actually unethical for a therapist to give advice--it is important to keep the client from becoming dependent on a therapist.

atlgirl · Gucci

I have been to a few during the course of my life. I agree with those who say shop around. The best experience / results I have had have been with a LCSW also. I do find it helpful to have a non-partial, listening ear to talk to sometimes. I usually find that the first session is all background, etc. and very surface-y, but by about the 3-5th sessions, some sort of enlightenment happens. Usually I kind of come face to face (with the therapists's guidance) to something I hadn't even realized or considered about the issues I'm having, which helps greatly.

Good luck - and one note - if you do this through a work FSA (Flexible Spending Account), you can get 100% reimbursed if you see a psychologist. LCSW's, unfortunately, are not reimbursable, but a psychologist is.

exsupahero · Kate Spade

Thanks for all of your replies, ladies.

I do have a question though ... I understand that they shouldn't give you advice b/c of dependency issues but do they only sit and listen to you talk? Or do they give you another way of thinking of things? I've vent enough as it is to the bf but I still don't feel satisfied, you know? I just want to be able to not get so stressed out or have anxiety problems when stuff happens (I happened to quit my job after a week b/c I felt like I was supposed to know everything and I was thinking everyone was judging me... and all I did was sell underwear!). Or feel like I should be doing stuff the "normal" way instead of how I want it to happen, like how I went about with my schooling. It's just like a fight between me and the world. I swear, I'm not this odd.

It's just kinda funny how I plan on being a psychiatrist.

At least now I know what it feels like.

I'm probably going to look for one in the next couple of months -- sometime when school starts.

Thanks again, ladies. I totally appreciate it.

jen · Kate Spade

Mine coached me to think a different way. It's easy to be consumed in depression and to let you thoughts get the best of you but he forced me to name and think about my feelings.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

exsupahero wrote:

Thanks for all of your replies, ladies. I do have a question though ... I understand that they shouldn't give you advice b/c of dependency issues but do they only sit and listen to you talk? Or do they give you another way of thinking of things? I've vent enough as it is to the bf but I still don't feel satisfied, you know? I just want to be able to not get so stressed out or have anxiety problems when stuff happens.

It's just kinda funny how I plan on being a psychiatrist. At least now I know what it feels like.

Well my social worker usually points things out from what I'm saying and helps me look at it in a different light and come to my own realizations. She does talk back and forth to me. Sometimes I am talking more and sometimes its equal. She never does all the talking because that would defeat the purpose of me being there.

I have anxiety problems too and she found different ways to help me cope when I felt an anxiety or panic attack likely to begin and it has helped. There are different coping strategies and they can tell you those.

As far as you being a psychiatrist major and being in therapy. don't worry. most of the psych doctors in my town are in therapy themselves. There is a joke about it but I don't think its appropriate to post it so I'm going to refrain.

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

they wouldn't just sit and listen to you talk, BUT it depends on the therapist's orientation or which technique they use as to how involved they get. For example, if a therapist is using cognitive behavior therapy, they teach you how to identify distorted thoughts and look at things in a different way. So it just depends on the therapist as to how directive they are with you. And just because a therapist is oriented towards a particular theory, doesn't mean that they can only use that theory in session with you. If you find that a therapist's technique isn't helpful, be honest and let them know so they can change things up.

Also, someone mentioned something about work paying for therapy. This has ups and downs--nice of course because you save money BUT when someone else is paying they have access to your records.

exsupahero wrote:

Thanks for all of your replies, ladies. I do have a question though ... I understand that they shouldn't give you advice b/c of dependency issues but do they only sit and listen to you talk? Or do they give you another way of thinking of things? I've vent enough as it is to the bf but I still don't feel satisfied, you know? I just want to be able to not get so stressed out or have anxiety problems when stuff happens (I happened to quit my job after a week b/c I felt like I was supposed to know everything and I was thinking everyone was judging me... and all I did was sell underwear!). Or feel like I should be doing stuff the "normal" way instead of how I want it to happen, like how I went about with my schooling. It's just like a fight between me and the world. I swear, I'm not this odd. It's just kinda funny how I plan on being a psychiatrist. At least now I know what it feels like. I'm probably going to look for one in the next couple of months -- sometime when school starts. Thanks again, ladies. I totally appreciate it.

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

Therapists are encouraged to get therapy to handle countertransference--in my opinion it should be required!! I go to work and come home really upset about the things that go on (I work at an eating disorder center). Unfortunately there is a bad stigma attached to having therapy. The way I see it is that no one is perfect and there is nothing wrong with it.

lsubatgirl wrote:

different coping strategies and they can tell you those. As far as you being a psychiatrist major and being in therapy. don't worry. most of the psych doctors in my town are in therapy themselves. There is a joke about it but I don't think its appropriate to post it so I'm going to refrain.