Multiple Therapists

[allitherapy]

My therapist has been away for a few weeks and I have really bonded with my substitute therapist. I know some of you have multiple therapists and I was wondering what the benefit of having multiple would be. I am very much looking forward to my original therapist returning, but I also work very well with the new one, so much so that I really want them both! Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Sterre]

(I always misread your name as: Allintherapy;), it makes me laugh everytime i see your name pop up)

How lucky you are to have found that the T you are seing as a substitute, and you connect so well!

Next month I will start participating in a weekly stabalizingcourse for woman with CPTSD, besides my weekly visits to my original T. I will also start PMT with another T. So from next month on I will have three Therapist. ( Oh, the luxury!)
So for now I cannot answer your question, but I'm sure I can within one month!

I think it's good to work with multiple T's if there is a good connection, they all have a diffent view and appraoch for us, to learn from. I think it's important that there is good communication between the different T's about what they discuss with you, and about what happends during sessions.

 

[kers]

I think there's a difference between seeing multiple professionals for different treatments, and seeing multiple therapists. Some people have an individual therapist and a couples therapist, for example, or an individual therapist and an EMDR specialist, or an individual therapist and a group therapy leader. It's my understanding that it's considered problematic to see two therapists for the same thing (i.e., individual therapy).

It sounds like this is a great topic to bring up to both therapists, actually. You could explore whether this is a pattern, for example, or what makes the second therapist equally appealing, or how their approaches are different but good for you. It may be that the second therapist is not able to take on additional permanent clients. Who knows. Bringing it up with both of them could be really helpful!

 

[Happy Head]

I too am going to soon begin seeing multiple therapists. One individual and two different groups. I had another individual T but ran out of my alloted sessions (long story). Anyhow, I've met with all three T's now and I've found that they each bring something different to the table which is great. So far it hasn't caused a problem.

 

[Deleted member 5760]

This is happening to me now. Haven't seen the new guy yet. I'll give him my usual '3 strikes you're out' policy. That said, I'm still gonna show up. So I must be fairly open minded. If it works - I'll do it!

Two for me now. Classic overachieving. One can tranquilise me while the other tries to talk.
(said in jest)

ISH - where's that 'direct me to a lobotomy' sign again.

 

[jewel]

I have a T I see weekly, a PA i see monthly, a psychiatrist I see sometimes, as well as a group with two therapists in it and everyone is in the same practice so they all work together if there is an issue. With that said, when I was seriously in a dark space and very SI I told the group T o said that b/c I was telling him I wouldn't do anything....then I was in the hospital. So, there are good therapists and not good therapists. Don't trust just anyone.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Benefit... If each therapist has a different focus and/or therapy style.

I have one therapist who is a neurotherapist and attachment disorders specialist. She focuses on stabilizing me through neurotherapy and deals with my trauma and attachment issues.

My other therapist is more of a generalist and works on non-trauma specific issues. Right now we're working on my self esteem.

The work of each therapist does NOT overlap, nor do I talk about the same sorts of issues with both as it is not good to get potentially conflicting advice.

The work of one complements the other, and vice versa.

I would not recommend going to two individual "talk" therapists though.