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Your Age Verse Your Therapists Age

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I always wanted older therapists too because I thought they would have more experience. And I wanted them to be psychotherapists: higher educted then 'just' a psychologist. Because I had had so many awful experiences with psychologists in my past. The last 6 years I had two older woman and I had so much trouble with them! I didn't trust them anymore and they didn't know what to do with me. (they said). I think I might have projected my mother on them. I didn't trust them because I had the idea that they didn't understand me. (because of things they did in the therapy). I stopped the last therapy (after three years she said she couldn't learn me anything anymore and that I should quit therapy all together... Stupid woman... That she can't help me doesn't mean that another form of therapy/ help can't help me, but apparently some T's think that, wich irritates me immensily) Anyway I'd lost a lot of hope in ever being able to heal further because of this but because I didn't reach my goals and still have too much issues in my daily life with the C-ptsd I went to another place. This younger woman did the intake. And she was around my age, I think only a few years older. (I was 32 then, now getting 34). And she was a psychologist: exactly what I didn't want. But she had something about her that I hadn't seen in many years. She seemed so sweet and caring, but not weak or something. ( I can't use a T of which I thing they can't handle me...) Really sympathetic and it FELT good. Before I didn't listen to my feelings at all... (I wish I had because I'd left sooner with the other T's). So in the end when they could help me there she asked if I wanted her to be her T or an older woman, for that I had to go to another location. But I chose her, I went for my feeling the first time. And I am soooo happy about that now! She understands me really well and has helped me so much better then the others have.

So yes I think someone needs experience. I wouldn't want someone who is a lot younger then I am: but it's also what someone 'radiates' (don't know the word in English) you know the non verbal things. I still don't know how old she is. It's like I want to compare myself to her anyway: if she'd be 40 or something like that would be a relief to me. Because if she would be around my age I think I would feel less worthy: because I'm not that far as she is. I might feel more like a loser or something. Which is wrong, but I think that's how it works. There's also a T there of my age and I'd never want her to be my T. (when my T is on holiday you can go to a collegua) But I'd rather not. I don't want some little girl telling me how to get trough my traumas while she herself might have been through nothing and just learned it out of books. It sounds not nice that I say this but that's the idea that I have with a lot of T's. Maybe the good T's have been through a lot themselves? Otherwise you don't understand it I sometimes think?
 
I am dealing with this now. My therapist is leaving and the T she is referring me to is young I believe. She's working on her license. I also looked up her name on Facebook and if it's the right person she is the EXACT same age, 6 months difference.

I don't like this and am freaking out. It's not about her experience. If my therapist believes she's a good therapist I trust that. It's just that I've only got two friends that are my age- everyone else is older. I've ALWAYS gotten along better with people older than me.

Plus I was bullied in school by peers due to one of my traumas and that has been playing in my head.

I'm willing to meet her but I have to find a way to voice my concern to my therapist.
 
I have three folks I work with these days (in addition to the body work people). All three are men (my preference). And all three are around my age, give or take a few years. My main person is two years younger than I am. I asked him how old he was at the intake, when he asked me. I never bothered to ask the others because it didn't seem to matter. All of them are highly experienced. I always thought I would want to work with a man who was older than I. And generally I am more comfortable with that scene. But the more I work with my current people, the less it matters to me. I think, though, it would be hard for me to work with someone 20 years younger though.

The only problem I have with the age thing with my therapist is that I really like him and wish that he could be my friend instead of my therapist. I think perhaps the feeling is mutual. But it's okay. Just glad I know him and glad we work well together in collaboration...
 
Age is important to me. Too young, would seem humiliating. Too old, it would be like talking to my mother. Elder, women in particular, hate it. My therapist I think is slightly younger than me but we are the same generation and I think that is important. And I would have never chosen a male therapist, but now I think I would always go for a male. Women will always leave me feeling like a child I reckon.
 
Dear @FindingMyself88,

This is actually a wonderful scenario. Working with your new therapist can heal you from the effects of being bullied by your peers.

One of my trauma T's is great about pointing out the healing that is possible when a fear arises, and we look at it and work on it.

Once you can conquer/heal your distrust and fear of peers, by working with this new therapist, that limiting hurt will be resolved, and you can live in this world in greater freedom, confidence and peace.

In the words of Richard Bach, "There is no problem which does not have a gift for you in its hands."

(If it helps, I was bullied, as well. 5 therapists I have worked with have been my age. I was blocked by family from the first one, and didn't get to know her, but the others I love, and will never forget them and the healing gifts they have given to me.)

I believe that you can rise to this challenge, that you will do great!
 
I get that aspect of it I do and while I think that may be beneficial later on in my healing- I don't think it's the case right now. Even with my current T who I've trusted more than anyone else- there is still stuff down deep that I haven't shared.

I just think right now in this stage of recovery I need someone who is gonna be easier to trust. Trust is difficult for me anyways so why make it harder?

Again, maybe later down the road. But I don't think I'm there yet.
 
I'm currently with a T who is only 2 months younger than me, and it definitely shows. He's very kind and has been helpful with some things, but I'm finding that there's a definite lack of life experience that makes it near impossible for me to trust in the way I trusted my amazing previous T (who is 22 years older than me). I definitely work best with T's who are older than me....maybe 10 years older to 25 years older. They have to be male, though.
 
My current therapist is 40 years older than me. I'm 18 and she is 58. I've been seeing her for 5 years. I've never had an age preference until recently because I was so young and therapy was originally not my choice. My parents made me go. I still see her because how much she has helped me. I couldn't ever leave her. I'm too attached to her. I don't think I could see someone new if something happened to her. But I would prefer a woman who is 15+ years older than me.
 
I have a male T, he is roughly 1-2 hrs older than I. Our boys are the same ages as well, but I've been married a few years longer than he.

When I sought therapy, I wasn't really considering anything other than T needed to be a male. I needed help! Anyone who could do it, was getting the job. But when I really think about it, no way was I talking to someone much older than I....yuck! To close to my parents age, no thank you. Younger would be okay, again...they needed skills, mad skills to deal with my shit.
 
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