Is It Necessary To Have A Trauma T?

[chant2012]

Does anyone think that it is necessary to have a trauma T? I feel I NEED one. I had a good T. We were together for like 2+ years but things started to get too deep and I tried sharing things that were maybe too deep and it just wasn't going anywhere. I felt very invalidated when I tried to tell her about the "aspects" of me inside my head. Also more things have been surfacing and I feel like she was too "easy going" about things and there was no structure. I need structure. I need someone to help me figure out the horrible things in my head and body. I can't deal with the dissociative stuff and the horrible somatic stuff. I don't know if they are body memories or what but they are BRUTAL... Such pain....

So does anyone have any input? How did you find your trauma T's? I can't find anyone even remotely close. I can't find anyone who deals with dissociation or trauma. I am at a loss.

 

[Rumors]

I don't have an answer but I just wanted to chime in and say that I am sorry that you are going through that.

 

[chant2012]

I don't have an answer but I just wanted to chime in and say that I am sorry that you are going through...

Thank you very much.

 

[Deleted member 33287]

Yes I think it's important. You don't go to a Italian restaurant to get good Chinese food

 

[watundah]

Definitely, as they understand best the impact of dissociation, attachment disorders, hyper-vigilance and so on.

I found mine thru a friend. If you are near any.kind of crisis or treatment center or can search for trauma or PTSD specialists on line, you may find someone who can make a referral. Or ask your present T as difficult as that may be.

 

[chant2012]

I don't have a current T. I see no one. But I did research. And emailed 3 trauma T's to get back to me that are within all 2 hours of me.

Definitely, as they understand best the impact of dissociation, attachment disorders, hyper-vigilance...

 

[Deleted member 33287]

Here is some bad news that you don't want to hear. Good therapist have no free time. Its a catch 22 because you want to seek help but they aren't always avaiable to give the help.

 

[watundah]

Excellent and good luck!

 

[Suzetig]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say it's more important to have a competent, ethical therapist and someone with a particular discipline. A competent therapist will work with you and will educate themselves about what's going on for you, seek support and supervision etc to hold the work safely. Yes, it's good if they come with some knowledge of trauma, dissociation etc and most will at least have attended some training on trauma as part of their core training. If I had a choice between a poor trauma therapist and a competent generalist, I'd take the latter every day of the week.

 

[chant2012]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say it's more important to have a competent, ethical therap...

That makes sense. Thank you. My old T said she knew everything about everything basically and would t even look up stuff on RA or that type of trauma,because she'd already learned it all. But I felt like I needed something different.

 

[NightSky]

I agree that someone competent is key. My therapist is not a "trauma specialist," but she does advertise experience with PTSD. She has taught me a tremendous amount about my symptoms and why I have them, is able to ground me immediately when I dissociate and has never once been anything but amazingly supportive through a very rough time with somatic issues and flashbacks. I often think I'll be too intense for her but in the year that I have been with her she has only been validating, affirming and calming. I'm not sure how hard T's like this are to find, but I know they're out there. I'm sorry for what you're going through.

 

[EveHarrington]

If you want to process your trauma, then yes, a trauma therapist is necessary IMHO as only a trauma therapist knows how to guide clients in processing trauma (EMDR, exposure therapy, etc).