How To Find A Trauma T?

[Symphony]

I've exhausted my list of insurance referrals and now I may have to turn to out of network providers.

I don't trust the "Psychology Today" search engine because it says that my (current) therapist is a trauma therapist when they are not.

How do I find a trauma therapist nearby that isn't into outdated practices (that could possibly induce false memories or exacerbate dissociation)? I'm against hypnotherapy and EMDR for my particular trauma issues.

What red flags should I keep an eye out for when looking for a provider? (I already know several red flags but still want your input)

Is it reasonable to consider continuing "regular" therapy and just never work on trauma? Because I'm tired of searching. It's been an uphill battle. I'd rather pretend nothing ever happened.

 

[hodge]

How about searching your state's association of therapists? I can't remember what it's called here, but it's probably called something different in other states. In any case, I think a lot of them belong to some professional association which would be searchable.

I'll ask my T next Monday about this. She is a trauma specialist.

 

[Muted]

A red flag- a therapist trying to play games with you.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

Try you local rape/abuse hotline, often the hotlines are run by an organization that does therapy too. If not they should know who is qualified in your area.

 

[Symphony]

A red flag- a therapist trying to play games with you.

Can you elaborate more? How would one know?

 

[Symphony]

Try you local rape/abuse hotline, often the hotlines are run by an organization that does th...

I will however I suspect they'll refer me to victim services. Victim services has already dropped my case in the past because of suicidal ideations. Their therapists don't deal with clients experiencing that. I've technically been searching for the right therapist for 2 years now. Always being referred out.

 

[joeylittle]

Are you interested in somatic work, or EFT, or some other modality? (Since you mentioned you don't want EMDR). You can usually go to the main site for the modality, and they will have information on who in your area is certified.

Plan to interview around 5 different ones; just decide that's the goal. It's a little easier to remember that you are in the drivers seat (I've found), if you start thinking of it as a hiring process (which it is).

Are you in an especially limited area? That can make things more difficult, definitely. I believe you are also on a waiting list for an inpatient program, is that right? It can be a very good way of making big progress in a short time, and it can help you know more clearly what you want to do in your individual therapy.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

I will however I suspect they'll refer me to victim services. Victim services has already dropped my c...

You can expect that to happen with any abuse therapist, it's not the kind of therapy one can do if they are having active suicidal ideation. And for good reason, when you start this kind of therapy it brings everything to the surface, and self-harm urges can return. Most expect that, but they expect us to use skills to not act on the urges.

I understand where your situation because it happened to me in September, and I was suicidal, and they told me they could not do it safely in the state I was in. I got myself admitted to Sheppard Pratt Trauma Disorders Unit in Baltimore Maryland so I could learn to manage my flashbacks and such. Once I was discharged and was stable I went back to them, and we are now into our third week of therapy.

My suggestion is since you have a suicidal ideation issue, that you get help for that, get stable, and go back to them and let them know you got help and are ready for any help they can provide you.

Look at it from victim services position, doing this kind of therapy is a recipe for making your ideation more than ideation, but planning, Trust me I have been down this road already.

I struggle every day right now to maintain my safety, and that is just from dealing with this therapy. What do you think would happen if I was having suicidal ideation. I think the answer is obvious. I probably would not be here writing to you on this forum.

So I strongly urge you to take a fresh look at your whole situation, and get the right help you need, in the right order.

 

[watundah]

I agree with you on Psychology Today. It looks like they all check a list of boxes regarding expertise. I was looking recently and did a lot of digging deep on Google. It took a variety of buzz words and website reading. Also, don't be afraid to email and ask their background expertise in trauma specialization and their fee before even spending time on the phone.

 

[watundah]

Also, I found mine now through a friend who was already seeing her. Have any fellow survivors you can ask?

 

[Symphony]

You can expect that to happen with any abuse therapist, it's not the kind of therapy one can...

Unfortunately I'm a step further than that. We've already acted more than once (others did the deed). I know there is a plan in place (by others in my system) on how they want to end it and I just keep making excuses for them not to. I'm running out of excuses and I'm tired of being "out" all the time. I wasn't designed to do all of this. I was designed to keep an appearance of semi normal up. It's time for me to go back inside and I f*cking can't because those idiots are going to do something really stupid if they get triggered.

(asking sincerely) How am I supposed to deal with that? It's not just a 5 days IP with new meds and I'm done thing. It's a "my alters are out to get me" thing and I'm exhausted enough to start agreeing with everyone's reasoning on why we should do it.

 

[Symphony]

Also, I found mine now through a friend who was already seeing her. Have any fellow survivors you can...

Not local. Just on here.