How Frequently Do You See Your Therapist/Psychologist?

[tude]

Awakening,

I can only share my very limited experience. Every two weeks works best for me. Weekly is just too much. Working three days a week in that crazy ER and seeing the doc leaves me too little time to recover and feel good. Due to scheduling conflicts, there have been three weeks in between. That just seems to lack continuity. Wow, this reminds me of a children's story of three little bears... too much, too little, and just right.

This past December, I did come out and say coping and managing the symptoms isn't enough. I have a very clear goal as to why I am there. In spite of the overly client-centered approach, it is up to me to adhere to my goal of doing CPR again. Yeah, I can talk about the day-to-day stuff but that doesn't help me achieve my goal. She doesn't push me and sometimes I wish she would. So far, I have been able to push myself.

Awakening, answering those questions about what you want for yourself and what you want to achieve in therapy, and whether you want to continue to tread water sounds like a good place to begin. Keep us posted. I'd be interested in how your doing.

Take care,
tude

 

[2quilt]

appointments

once a week. i have a hell of alot to fit into one hour per week.

 

[Auburngirl]

Awakening-I also relate to feeling like a fraud. It's a difficult thing to deal with. Have you been upfront with your therapist about your concerns?

I see mine weekly, which for now is about right. Less frequently and there's too much too remember, and I can't imagine more I think that would be too much.

 

[linasmom]

I see mine every 2 weeks, only because I can't afford to go every week. My Therapist, during our last session, expressed his frustration about me only being able to come every 2 weeks as he would really like to see me every week, and I would really like to see him every week. Hopefully this will be able to change soon because I know that I need to be seeing my T every week.

 

[Lucky Laser]

I can raise my hand for the feeling like a fraud thing too... it has been interesting to see that others feel the same way. I have even asked my parents if anything else happened to me during my childhood that I don't remember because I have those days when I just think "get over it already, you have friends that have had worse and they seem to be getting alone just fine!" Then again, the more I learn about PTSD and psychology itself, the more I realize that one, a lot of times those friends really aren't just fine and two, its pointless to compare traumas and reactions. I learned that one here. :0)

As for the therapy question, I see mine once every two weeks. I think this is about right for me because I need time to think through the session and try to apply the knowledge I have gained. The things my therapist suggests are usually things I can do outside of the office. I sort of view him as a guide. My progress is my own choice and he can direct and re-direct me as I travel that road. Its really hard and painful, but I trust the idea that it has to get worse before it gets better and I know that I have to do certain things and face certain fears if I want to live well.

How often do I think someone else should see a therapist? I can't really answer that... it really depends on where you are in your process, how much effort you are willing make on your own, and how much you can take and use out of each session.

 

[sessnme]

I have so many issues that I think 4 hours a day everyday would be good for me. But in reality I see him once every week and my other Dr. once a month.
It always seems that one hour isn't nearly enough. All that happens is I get to talk for 45 minutes and he responds with "well said" or "you have every right to be angry". It almost seems like a waste of my time and money.
That is why I hope that relationships can be made here and I may find some healing.

 

[Anonymoose]

I usually see a therapist monthly and find that to be more than enough sometimes. Of course, I don't have a therapist who, in my estimation, helps me very much.

 

[2quilt]

LL, Someone else looks to be doing just fine!

Yeah, I have heard that too, that so and so has had a harder life than you ever did, and he / she seems fine, so why can't you stop whining.

What that speaker does not know is the truth under so and so's smiling exterior!

I have also had people who don't know the whole truth about me, tell me that they are surprised to learn that I have depression, PTSD and am on an antidepressant. I seem to them to be a fraud because they don't see me on my bad days when I don't leave the house. They are casual friends who don't see me unless I have the energy to leave the house and put on that "normal" exterior to blend in with the crowd.

These are the same people who don't see what's covered by my clothes and say, "You don't look disabled." What am I supposed to do with that comment? My best response has been, "Funny, you looked like you had manners a minute ago."

It's easy for people who don't know the real you to make an off the cuff comparison between you with someone else, especially when that speaker has no idea what your life, nor that of the person you are being compared to, is like! In my opinion, that speaker's comparison is worthless.

Almost everyone wants to "fit in" and be "normal" and accepted, so we smile when we are in pain, and on bad days, we stay home. We don't want to be the subject of gossip, or have to deal with thoughtless comments.

 

[Shoshin]

Once a week until recently when I tried twice to go two weeks...with not so good results. I think I may go back to once a week...

 

[sunnydaze]

I see my T every 4 to 5 weeks. This was my idea due to the money. I just started making appointments for every 3 weeks. My T told me not to worry about the money but he wrote off over $1000.00 previously and I feel guilty for not paying. How can I say, I can't afford it when I tell him we bought a house, my husband bought a motorcycle and we paid $700.00 for our dog ect.
Does anyone feel I should allow my T to not charge me what my insurance doesn't pay?

A week ago, I brought in a list of tramas that happened to me since childhood @ his request. I typed 3 pages up after thinking about it for a month. I have had flashbacks and memories recalled that I forgot about. I just remember another one the other day. I cannot believe how many things did happened to me. In 3 weeks, I will see what he has to say after reading what I wrote and what kind of approach in therapy he will start using. I know one thing, he was totally shocked at my list. I felt like, he looked at me different like my list scared him most likely, I read him wrong and it was my imagination. He had no idea what I have dealt with all these years. I didn't either, I repressed most of them until now.
sunnydaze

I have been seeing him on and off for 12 years. He thought he was mostly treating me for chronic pain and 1 sexual abuse incident. As he wrote for my diagnosis single-episode w/ major depression. Than after my step-son was murdered 8 years ago, he added PTSD w/ panic and anxiety attacks.

 

[becvan]

I have been seeing him on and off for 12 years.

Okay, I've been coming back to this again and again.. 12 years? You've been paying for a therapist, that has heaped on the diagnoses, for 12 years? OMG...

I have a question for you.. how much progress have you made in 12 years.. I'm really curious to see the answer for this one...

bec

 

[sunnydaze]

Becvan,
As far as my T's, I have been seeing T's for about 30 years. Others have gone to other type of practises , have moved to different states or I got rid of them. If you read my 1st post about myself maybe it will help you understand how complex my situation is. I have tried many meds throughout the years to find out the effects after taking awhile no longer helped or they were not the right ones for me. Year after year of my life, I suffered another trauma. As soon as I started to heal something else would happen to bring me back down. Perhaps, I will share with you one day the traumas, I just typed out for my T than maybe one can understand.

I am fortunate to cope with life as well as I have. I came real close to many breakdowns but my T now has been there for me. If, I call him in an emergency he calls right back and helps me calm down. Like, I said I have seen him on and off for 12 years. It has always me thinking I didn't need him anymore to only go back downhill than start all over.
sunnydaze