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And now, the good news

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Sandstone

MyPTSD Pro
The NHS have agreed funding for treatment with Pottergate, the local specialist trauma/dissociation organisation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
It has been a long journey to get here.

But, they have only agreed for an initial four months "to see how I engage" and will require a report from Pottergate predicting how long therapy would need to be. Anybody got a spare piece of string?

So, any suggestions on how I manage myself through four months of therapy, knowing it might get terminated or put on hold for another bureaucratic process? It took 1 4months to get to this decision, and the last three weeks of this have been mystified waiting because they sent the decision only in writing, and only to the person who is no longer in that job.

I've a feeling that there is so much pent up and waiting to get out, it might all explode quite quickly, and then be hard to get back in the box if needed. Although I suppose it is equally possible that I'll withhold everything. I've written often about safety, stabilisation and skills building, and my instinct is to ask to focus on them, but I'm afraid that this might look like failing to engage and holding back.
 
So, any suggestions on how I manage myself through four months of therapy, knowing it might get terminated or put on hold for another bureaucratic process?
Congratulations! I don't have any suggestions, other than that that might be a good topic to discuss early on. I imagine a lot of their clients deal with similar things. I think if you just be yourself, things will be fine. Wishing your success!
 
So happy that you finally have this opportunity @Sandstone!

Do you have anything specific that is calling you at the moment? If so and you feel ready and able, perhaps start with that?

If not...I think I would try to take it week by week, I think, so I didn't get bogged down with the future uncertainty and end up getting myself stuck. Easier said than done, I know.

And the safety/stabilisation stuff is such a significant area for you, that I would suggest raising it with them at the start. I think it will be useful for them to know how important/what a concern it is to you so that might guide them or they may be able to give you some reassurance and clarity around it.

Another option, of course, is that you start with them with this very thing - share the concern with them as you have expressed it here and see what guidance and/or reassurance they can give you.

Again - I'm just so pleased that this has come through for you!
 
@Sandstone - my best advice would be to stay in the present with the therapy work as much as you can, in order to get the most out of it. What happens after the four month mark, you cannot control. If you hold back out of fear of being pulled from the program, you won't get maximum benefit. Whereas, if you commit fully you both will get more benefit and either it will be working and they extend, or YOU will decide it's not working for you.

And congratulations. What a f*cking journey, just to get to the open door. But you've been so tenacious, and brave. I'm happy for you!
 
that is great news. I guess you just need to make that really hard decision to rip the plaster off quickly. You have put a lot of effort into getting the funding, it might be better to work on the assumption that 4 months is all you will get and go for it.
 
I'm with @joeylittle, work with the here and now - try not to overthink things or second guess whether your T is working to plan.

If you feel destabilised, work on stability, if you feel a memory or something bubbling under the surface, work with that. Ask your T how they'll help you use your time with them and explore how quickly they'll write their report and how quickly a decision might be made about further funding. Most of all try not to go in with the mindset of "I've got to do this right or I don't get funded" because that will stop you doing the work you need to do. Don't forget to do your own work on yourself too - there are folk here who can help you with stabilisation, coping skills etc. Most of my processing doesn't actually happen in therapy, it's in the work I do on myself in between times.

You can get a huge amount of work done in 4 months/20 sessions if you don't overthink it too much.

Well done on getting funding - congratulations.
 
So. Hugely. Excited. For. You!!! :D

It hasn't just been 15 months. You've been working towards this for years, now. Fighting with local services, trying to find other services, fighting to get those services... I'm just simply thrilled for you :)

How to not negate? Flip it around.

It can't be taken away from you, once you've gotten it. You've already been awarded the time. You get 4 months, guaranteed. They're not going to hop in a time machine at the end of that, and take those 4 months back, you know? They're yours. You also have the option to extend! <happy dance> Which is super exciting. So if you take this 4 month course, squeeze out everything you possibly can from it, and want more? It's already in the paperwork that Pottergate can submit for it. So Phase 1 = 4mo & Phase 2 = either option A) Pottergate or Option B) something you can design with your therapist(s) if you don't want to extend, once you all know each other better.
 
Really pleased for you - what a battle you have fought and won. Well done.
I cant really add advice to what the others say .. stay present and work on the now .. dont focus on what happens in 4 months you cant really control it that much.
I wish you all the best xx
 
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