Therapy Not Working Or My Heart Just Isn't In It?

[EveHarrington]

Maybe writing wasn't the issue, maybe writing too much was the issue?

I mean------in session------can you write things down? This would limit how much you say, but would give you an opening to talking about and processing a certain subject.

It's a tool to open a door to something greater------processing by speech.

<scribble down a thought>

<hand it to your therapist>

<therapist starts the conversation>

The key being not saying too much, and your therapist being the one who starts the verbal communication (which will lead to resolution).

I honestly think your current therapist is throwing away a valuable tool (writing) not because it was a bad tool but because your last therapist didn't really use it properly.

 

[GWhizz]

With my old T it was only used during sessions and we'd try to talk it through also. But my new T doesn't work that way at all. She wants me to find my voice. It's specifically because I became mute with all the trauma going on. I get triggered in therapy (feeling like a child etc) and act out that way. She wants me to first become more grounded and comfortable with her I guess so that we can break that habit.

At first I was annoyed at her that she wouldn't let me write things, even stuff about how I felt about previous sessions etc. But I now understand her rationale and I agree that writing will not help me. I do value writing when necessary so I appreciate your advice, though it has it's limits. I really want to break my silence though so that I can begin to open up and process things. I don't want fear to continue to hold me back forever.

I think I'll just ring her this week and be open about why I'm not coming. At least then we can actually talk about it honestly rather than me making excuses.