4hr Psychotherapy Session

[ms spock]

If you have an adverse reaction Billie. Remember the Suicide Call Back Line 1300 659 467 and Life Line 131114.

 

[billie]

I will sweet, thank you so much. I tried ACIS; they are a strange mob! I also have the local hospitial calling in every day with their mental health care plan. x

 

[ms spock]

What is ACIS?

 

[billie]

Some mental health organization through the hospital.

 

[BloomInWinter]

We're here for you, @billie . Think of us sitting beside you as you go through this. Remember we are waiting to hear back how it is going, so we want you to share with us as much as you are able.

We're cheering you on. You can learn the skills needed to come out even stronger from this experience.

 

[billie]

Well it's been two days since the session, I feel like I am recovering well but the events are still playing in my head. The session focused on the first events of being exploited. Whilst I talked about the certain events over and over I was constantly guided to remain grounded.

Mindfulness was used whilst I talked about difficult stuff. Moments were allowed for silent reflection, but my T controlled the timing of it to ensure minimum dissociation. We got through a lot of traumatic events. A lot of flooding came in.

My T had to make sure that everything we spoke of was processed. There is still so much to go through. The stuff we went through could not have been done in one session because it would of been too dangerous with the flooding the psychotherapy induced. It was done very gently due to my breakdown over the weekend. I do have one memory that is still playing in my head, but I am currently painting, then I will challenge myself with CBT.

I had a manic episode last night, but I run a help line. This is because I still can't make sense of the trauma. I know this will take time, so I need to allow to make room for this in the mean time. My T contacts me everyday and guides me with my learning of my grounding techniques.

 

[anthony]

To be perfectly honest... IMHO... 1 hour, or what they call hour sessions (50 minutes) are completely and utterly useless to anyone with severe trauma. It is far better IMO to have 2 or 3 hour sessions, once per week, as a whole lot more can get accomplished faster, with a much safer outcome for the client leaving the office. You just can't raise severe trauma, then within 50 minutes expect the person to be all ok upon leaving.

 

[billie]

That what was happening to me in the shorter sessions. My T found that because there was so much involved 50min can only be used for light grounding skill sessions.

 

[ms spock]

It is far better IMO to have 2 or 3 hour sessions, once per week, as a whole lot more can get accomplished faster, with a much safer outcome for the client leaving the office. You just can't raise severe trauma, then within 50 minutes expect the person to be all ok upon leaving.

I had never thought of it that way.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

Hi billie, I'm so glad it is going well and I'm so happy that you have a T who cares about safety. You're awesome and you inspire me :)

 

[BloomInWinter]

Yes, my 50 minute sessions were solely focused on Cognitive-Behavioral-Skills, practicing grounding techniques, learning how to trust. It took me quite a while to basically rewire my brain into being a much healthier person so I was able to stabilize my life.

Now I have weekly 1.5 hour sessions and that's not enough sometimes for me to be fully back in the present upon leaving. We're looking into insurance giving me 2 hour sessions.

 

[Hashi]

I agree that 50 minutes is pretty meagre for trauma work. What I was concerned about was four hours of trauma work given the seeming lack of stability:

I dont know if my grounding technique is good enough to get through the next few days. I don't want to be locked up.

I feel like I'm running on empty.

I had a massive breakdown after experiencing major flashbacks at work, got sedated, and now my inturnship is hanging on a thread.

This, IMHO, doesn't point to a four hour session on trauma.

But @billie, I hope you're OK and this has worked out.