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Yes.... work out some kind of system that keeps you feeling OK....if that's not possible think about finding a therapist who can meet your needs. Since the most important part of therapy is the "safe and trusting relationship" it's going to be harder and take longer if you don't feel safe in the...

Your therapist is right, however that doesn't mean you jump into things. I found that challenging myself, with the support of my therapist has helped me. It is uncomfortable, I prefer things where people don't talk..... yoga, dance etc. OK so some people do small talk at the beginning or end...

From what you say I don't think your therapist is trying to get rid of you. This may well be the "meaning maker" part of your brain jumping to conclusion. You have just acknowledged that you have different parts and your therapist knows that all your parts have to trust her before integration...

There's a lot in your post that would indicate that your therapist is inexperienced in many ways.... the touch thing being just one..... to give touch and then withdraw it can be more damaging than not giving it in the first place. If your therapist was unable to draw safe boundaries and was...

"I've tried to walk away, but he doesn't want that and won't accept it. He also won't change anything or get help." Until the person with the issue recognises they have an issue and seeks help there is little anyone else can do. The military is a very strong conditioning process and drinking is...

You're only 3 months in.... and it sounds like she has some problematic issues.... I've learned over many years and much pain that women with issues are like catnip for me. Now I've some distance (and much therapy) I can feel the attraction, but not act on it. This has been VERY...

If this is a pattern that both of you know, and the pattern is potentially toxic to one person then if there's a real desire to move forward into a healthy relationship there will be obvious and sustained attempts to change. This all/nothing contact process can be an indication of Borderline...

Yes, talk to your current therapist about the situation as it will be affecting your relationship with them. If you had requested old notes be destroyed and you haven't had confirmation that they have been then approaching your old therapists licensing body might be a way forward. Your current...

Sounds like the underlying childhood stuff is more likely to be the root of this. There is UK research that indicates military Vets with family/childhood issues are pre-disposed to combat PTSD. It is often more difficult to get Veterans to open up to childhood issues because of the value...

I tried to think my way through my stuff, but I've found that a combination of thinking, connecting to my feelings/emotions and doing bodywork has given better results. Thinking is good, but it only goes so far.... so a good trauma therapist will be in it for the long term and interested in...

I'd be wary of groups. Even if a therapist is great at 1-1, groups are a COMPLETELY different ballgame. I've been in several groups run by competent, experienced therapists where I've been lucky to avoid becoming a psychological casualty, and have seen others on the edge also. Though these...

I'm on therapist No. 6. Of those only the last 3 have been useful. None of them were trauma "specialists" but they were skilled therapists and interested in what made me tick. My view is that every therapist should be a trauma specialist because that's 90% of their caseload when in training...

I had a similar experience, but luckily my previous therapist was one of those old school ones who integrated both talk therapy and bodywork in her practice. She laid the foundations for the experience so I wasn't freaked out when it started to happen and I think that made a big difference to...

It is possible to get to a place of being OK with yourself. It can take a while. Now your therapist knows, it seems like you are scared of your reaction to their reaction to them knowing. (ie they will ask you about it). This is normal. Ideally it's not a time to stop therapy, it's a time to...

I'm not from the US..... but even then... the idea that when you're training you but after that you don't have to is a bit alarming. Your therapist does these things in training because that's part of keeping the client safe. It's not just paperwork, it's part of the ethical framework of...

It's important to be able to talk about your suicidal thoughts. Not feeling able to talk about such things inevitably affects the therapeutic relationship over time. If your therapist is working in a large clinic it doesn't always mean they talk about cases, however in my country a large...

I suspect your therapist is inexperienced. Mobile phones have given us this impression of being "always on", but losing a phone, lack of connectivity in a building or area and something as simple as a long phonecall draining the battery can render either client or therapist unobtainable. The...

What you did was "normal", your comment about consent forms came from frustration, but has a deeper significance..... consent is exactly where you need to be coming from..... not forms as such, but making sure you have explicit verbal assent to each thing you do. This might seem odd..... but...

You've only been there a couple of months. I've learned the hard way to keep my big mouth shut, but still mess up. It woulnds like you're in a dysfunctional workplace..... in such situations trust no one and play with a straight bat. The age difference seems to be triggering and it seems to be...

You could do something else that is potentially therapeutic and use that to boost the effectiveness of your weekly therapy. I explored various dance and massage options.... with the support of my therapist. I found the combination of talk therapy and body/movement process very beneficial. Later...

I haven't come across any scientific evidence ..... if you know of any that's peer reviewed I'd be interested in the reference. Peter Levine describes his methodical approach and gives 2 case studies in his book "Trauma and Memory". The "working through" process involves assessing the body's...

This is normal. Even if you don't feel stuff or find it hard to put words to..... the process is about becoming aware of your sensations and developing a vocabulary around them. Therapy is often about building a shared language so that you and your therapist can communicate verbally about...

I've found TRE useful...... my previous therapist was Reichian, and though she didn't call it TRE..... it is exactly what she was doing. I didn't have the explicit visual response you did because I'm more C-PTSD. The effect of the exercises was cumulative over time until I had a significant...

There seems to be a lot of "stuff" flying around between you and your current therapist. I'm kinda surprised about the language your therapist is using in the emails... there's something not quite right there..... just the way he communicates would ring alarms bells for me. I'd be looking for a...

There's a guy called Gabor Mate who writes about ADHD from the perspective of neuro-development. His view is that ADHD is often associated with lack of a nurturing environment in childhood. This causes all sorts of relational issues and potential for addiction. What Mate is saying is that ADHD...