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Should I Get a New Psychologist?

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Posted 12/19/2011 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
I've been experiencing depression on and off since I was a child and I'm 27 now. I have been actively going to psychologists and psychiatrists to combat it since I was about 21. I've gone through 4 psychologists before coming to my current one. I've been seeing her for about a year and a half once every two weeks. I like her a lot more than I've liked any of my other psychologists, but I'm not sure that we're getting anywhere with my therapy. In fact, I don't feel like it's therapy at all. I find that every time I go to see her, we spend the whole hour just talking about whatever the little issue of the day is. On the one hand, it's good in that it helps me sort out the day-to-day issues of my life, but on the other hand I am not sure that it's helping my overall depression or getting to the root of my problem.

I'm currently on Wellbutrin which seems to be working well, but I know I need to really work on some emotional issues or once I stop taking the meds I will be right back to where I was before. Should I trust my psychologist and just keep going with what we're doing or should I tell her that I don't think we're really getting to the root of the problem? Or am I just wasting my time with this psychologist and should I find another one?
Posted 12/19/2011 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ManekiNeko,

Welcome to the depression forum. I would talk to your psychologist and tell her what you are feeling. Tell her you want to do cbt. Cognative Behavioral Therapy. That covers a lot of different aspects of depression. IF not cbt, just that you want to explore more into why you don't feel well. She should accomodate you. Write a list of all that is bothering you and initiate the conversation towards that. That should help.

My psychologist and I are about the same way. It is almost as if we are visiting. But I am feeling well and have for a long time. I just keep going. But my psychiatrist is there too. And that is where I get my meds. It is a long drive though and sometimes I wish I didn't have to go at all. But need the meds. To keep me feeling good.

Do you plan on quitting your meds? Why? If they are working, continue taking them. Generally we have a chemical embalance and need the medications to keep us evened out on the seratonin. I hope that you don't stop taking the wellbutrin just because you are feeling better. I did that with effexor and boy was that ever a mistake. I was bad...

Keep posting. Know that we all care.

Have a great day!!!

Hugs, Karen
Posted 12/19/2011 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome Karen! I think I will take your advice and just tell her I want change things up and do CBT. I just wasn't sure if therapy progressed this slow for everyone or if I was being too impatient!

I don't plan on quitting Wellbutrin anytime soon and certainly not without my doctor's approval, but both my psychologist and my doctor said that the meds would only need to be temporary, just until I get my serotonin levels up. Then I would be able to come off of them. Although the Wellbutrin does make me feel generally more positive, it also seems to make me tired, groggy and a little spaced out. I've tried several other antidepressants over the years and they all made me feel the same way. My lack of energy is already an issue even when I'm not on meds so I don't think I could deal with feeling this lethargic for the long-term!

Thanks for your thoughts on my issue Karen! :-)
Posted 12/19/2011 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that you should bring this up with your therapist. Lack of progress or even a sense of progress in therapy is great fodder for therapy. In terms of CBT, make sure the clinician has been trained in this model. With that said, your therapist might want to better understand your motivation to use CBT before actually pursuing it as treatment.
Posted 12/19/2011 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
That's a good point GradDad. I don't even know if my therapist has been trained in CBT. I will still bring it up with her and see if she thinks it would help me. If she isn't trained in CBT I'm sure she'd be happy to refer me to someone else. All I know right now is that my current method of therapy isn't working and it's very...well..... depressing! lol Hopefully my therapist and I can work together to make some positive changes to my therapy sessions.
Posted 12/20/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others, bring it up with your therapists and talk it over and
if your not seeing any changes by the third appointment, then maybe think about seeing
another psychologists....remember he/she's working for you and should be
able to understand...Many many well wishes...
Keep us posted as we do care...
Posted 12/20/2011 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chartreux. Changes by the third appointment? Wow! I'm wayyyyy overdue then! mad Fortunately, my next appointment is tomorrow morning. I'm glad I got some feedback from you guys first!
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