Therapy has been a different journey. My first therapist taught me about coping tools, but then scared me to death with the statement the best that I could hope for was being functional. I need to thank her for that proclamation as it gave me the impetus to research and work hard on my own.
My new therapist has given me the tools and the plan for dealing with my own emotions. No more disassociation and no more numbing.
Now I am at a crossroads and therapy is by need .As I discover the things that need to be fine-tuned, there are times I need help with in formulating a plan. I am more comfortable working on my own, but having a therapist as a guide to keep me on track is beneficial.
Still am working with my psychiatrist on evaluating some of the physical and neurological effects of the trauma. He has done a great job in helping me to navigate the rigors of chemotherapy and the interaction of the drugs with PTSD.
But what I want at this point is to mop up everything that I can and move forward just living and enjoying my life. So therapy and seeing the psychiatrist become on an "as needed" basis. Not conventional, but it is working so far.