Too complex to treat

[Akhos]

I saw my therapist today, coming towards an end of my funded sessions so we naturally started talking about the future and support etc.

She told me that my level of trauma is so deep, with so many aspects spanning on such a long period of time, that I would require long term intervention for any substantial difference to be made, however due to my awareness of myself, that I could at least maintain a high level of functioning for work etc, but to just be overally aware of my emotional and psychological limitations. My triggers are becoming substantially more noticable which is a good thing in a way I guess, as it gives me something to work towards accepting and preparing myself if I know that something will trigger an attack.

Has anyone else ever been told by their EMDR therapist that they need long term intervention due to the level of complexion of the trauma? How did you address this?

 

[Crow]

I was told that about seventeen years ago. We're looking at maybe two more years and I'll complete the trauma therapy.

EDIT: EMDR helped but Somatic Experiencing has been the modality that has propelled me forward towards a regulated life.

 

[desiderata310]

Yup. me.
I had a therapist willing to fight to keep seeing me.
EMDR is not the end all be all when it comes to complex PTSD.
Tell her you want to get well and just surviving isn't enough. Ask her to suggest someone else. CALL your insurance and ask for help because you aren't healed.
Don't leave this alone. There's no reason for this.
I'm damn near 4 years in and my therapist isn't giving up on me. He talks till he gets what he needs out of the insurance companies.

 

[EveHarrington]

Your title does not match up with your text. Me thinks you're catastrophising perhaps.

 

[Akhos]

Thanks everyone. I need to go back to my doctor and see what else they can do for me.

Your title does not match up with your text. Me thinks you're catastrophising perhaps.

I am? Could you explain how please?

 

[shimmerz]

Has anyone else ever been told by their EMDR therapist that they need long term intervention due to the level of complexion of the trauma?

Yes. Over and over and over again. 10 years ago, anyway, and certainly in Canada (even now), most T's don't know much about complex trauma. Here, as well, there is very limited private trauma care, so options are scarce if a T says a client needs more than a day a week worth of care.

I was booked into Mt. Sinai hospital, who had a care/observation facility. I waited a year to get in. 2 weeks before my intake date, they closed up shop. For good. So frustrating it hurts.

How did you address this?

By deciding for myself, based on my own research, etc, how to take healing into my own hands. And I didn't mess around. I worked WAY outside the box. I had no other options as there was literally nothing here for support besides a T at 160. per 40 minutes. And he was suggesting I needed to come in to see him (when we learned Mt Sinai was closing) 5 days a week. Who can do that?

I call this time of my life, my trailblazing years. And I am proud of the decisions I made during that time.

 

[EveHarrington]

Thanks everyone. I need to go back to my doctor and see what else they can do for me.



I am? Could you...

Your title states that your too complex to treat.

Yet your therapist says you require long term intervention.

The second statement does not support the first one.

There are people who require shit tons of therapy, hospitalization, day programs, medication, etc, etc, etc.... But this does not mean they are untreatable.

I don't think there is anyone who is untreatable. It's just a matter of putting in the time and work and finding out what helps you the most.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Has anyone else ever been told by their EMDR therapist that they need long term intervention due to the level of complexion of the trauma?

Yep. My therapist advised my insurence I may need to he in therapy for life.

How did you address this?

I keep going weekly and keep plugging away very hard at therapy and different therapies and ideas to help me gain foward ground.

 

[Akhos]

Your title states that your too complex to treat.

Yet your therapist says you require long term intervention.

The second statement does not support the first one.

That makes sense thank you. Sorry, I didnt title it correctly :)

 

[Friday]

EMDR didn't used to be able to treat complex trauma at all. It can be used on complex trauma now, but requires a lot of advanced training & supervised hours & less complex cases on the practitioner's part, has a very different timeline than standard EMDR, and also requires a lot more prepatory work on the clients part.

- So it may be that you're too complex for THEM to treat (they don't have the adv. training or experience).

- Or it may be that you're too complex to be treated in the time allowed (by NHS, insurance, the therapists plans to move to Antarctica next winter, etc.)

- Or it may be that you have a few years of work to do before being a good candidate for EMDR (that phrase "good candidate" = it being something that would help you, lousy turn of phrase).

So it can happen... For at least a few different / common reasons. But as others have said, EMDR is just one modality.

 

[Freida]

I've been doing emdr for a year and she told me recently I'm looking at up to 2 more years because we have to work on each individual trauma separately. My regular T agrees. It sucked to hear, but they keep reminding me that it took a long time to create the trauma so it will take a long time to fix it

 

[biaaw677]

Helpful to read that others are considered "too complex to treat" and need such long term therapy. This is my position too. My problem is finding therapists with sufficient knowledge/expertise; they seem so few and even less likely/willing to take NHS contracts for patients needing multiple therapies over a long period. The whole situation leaves us on our own and reliant on self research etc. Just why are their so few therapists sufficiently qualified, knowledgeable and skilled? It clearly is not shortage of patients needing such help.