Is your therapist advocating for you?

[Deleted member 28942]

Hi,
In therapy is your therapist advocating for you. Your strengths, your needs, your need to set boundaries? Does your therapist advocate for the little child that you once were? Does he or she take side for your child self?

With my former therapist, I felt that there were times when she was not advocating for my child self and that sometimes she was taking my parents into consideration. With my current therapist, it's different. She takes my side and truly takes my side. She gets a bit angry when I tell her how my dad used me for money laundry and how my mom blamed me for that.

Thanks,
UniversalBeing

 

[Deleted member 41765]

Despite my tendency to not only react to, but indulge in my past traumas, I am so fortunate to have a champion of a therapist. I've been seeing her on and off for 10 ish years and although there have been occasional frustrations and misunderstandings, I have CONSISTENTLY felt supported and SEEN, even if I didn't always feel comfortable with her approach to a particular matter (approaches which in retrospect have proven to be 95% valid and ultimately beneficial). That said, it was definitely rough going at first as I was several shades beyond armored!

Your post poses excellent and important questions. And the potential for trust in this new therapeutic relationship sounds hopeful! I am happy for you!!!

 

[Deleted member 37474]

As an adult that chose my therapist, yes. I was limited in selection due to insurance and location needs, but my choice and if I don't like her, I would leave. My friend has gone through many therapists over the years and has finally found a good one.

 

[Muted]

I feel like my t is an advocate for me and all of my parts. She is very respectful of not just my child self, but my other parts also. She has helped me to communicate with them and understand them, their roles and their needs.

We feel like she has our best interest at heart and believes that we can get better. We trust her and she understands us and has always been safe for us.

 

[Deleted member 28942]

@Gia1019 I am glad to hear that. The way you wrote that sounds like you have Dissociative Identity Disorder. Is that right?

 

[Deleted member 28942]

We feel like she has our best interest at heart and believes that we can get better.

This is very important. That she had your best interest in mind for all parts.

 

[Muted]

@Gia1019 I am glad to hear that. The way you wrote that sounds like you have...

She hasn't officially told me that. I've wanted to ask, but a part of me prefers to be in denial. I don't know a lot about dissociative identity disorder, but I know that I've disociated and that I've experienced derealism. It's scary, but also amazing how the mind protects itself and survives horrible trauma.

She's not big into placing labels on people either. But, she's smart enough to recognize things and deal with them. Maybe she's waiting for me to ask or maybe she isn't telling me until she's certain or maybe she thinks I'll freak out:) Im not a fan of labels either, because it's hard enough for people to understand how hard ptsd is, not to mention DID and all the other things people deal with.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

My therapist is not a fan of labels either.

 

[Deleted member 28942]

She's not big into placing labels on people either.

Im not a fan of labels either, because it's hard enough for people to understand how hard ptsd is, not to mention DID and all the other things people deal with.

That is very important for me too. I do not want to be labeled cause the whole is larger than the parts. I self-identify with C-Ptsd but I prefer Developmental Trauma. Labels don't help us overcome anything.

Here is some wisdom from Maya Angelou on The Power of Words:
Dr. Maya Angelou - Power Of Words

 

[Muted]

I self-identify with C-Ptsd

Thank you, I will check out the article. She has said I have C-PTSD though even if it isn't officially in the DSMV or whatever that diagnostic book is called.

 

[Deleted member 28942]

@Gia1019 a great book to read on this topic is The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. He is the big advocate to get it into DSM.

 

[Muted]

Thank you, I will look into it. I have a hard time reading books even long posts now, is it a lot of text do you know? Sometimes the simplest things completely overwhelm me:(

Great video, so true!!