about therapists

Hi all

Do therapists prepare themselves/do self-recaps on discussions of our past session prior to a new session? And do they like follow a structure where they are meant to "teach" certain tools in each session as the course of therapy progresses?

It seems to me like they start off with "how have you been?" , followed with a few more prompts to get me talking. Im wondering if they do things systematically in the course of treatment or do they "let it flow" - wait and see what we have to offer(problems we bring up in sessions).

I notice my therapist invites her next patient in as soon as i step out of her office. Its weird bc I expected them to have to take some interval time to recap/refresh their memory on stuff about the next patient coming in lol.

How are yours like?

BR,

I remember mine as reading through notes from the last session...and asking leading questions such as:

"Last time we were talking about..."

Also, since I was in CBT, my homework review came up soon after starting the session...so that was a written account right there for them! ;)

I am not sure how your therapist is able to prep for the next patient with no time in between...

...maybe she just has an exemplary memory!

I hope that in general your therapy is going well for you!

S.C.

Hi

I think they do follow a structure especially if you are doing CBT therapy but they also allow for you to talk about what has gone on for you since your last meeting.

My therapist records our sessions this was with my permission and I assume she make notes from that after the session. It is a good way to do things as you feel you have their full attention when you are speaking to them.

Hibee

Hi hibee and NC

I think I should be able to see some structure as I progress further into therapy. Like you NC I do a lot of self help too so I guess that part is taken care of.
My therapist hasnt touched on exposure too much, mostly just the key concepts but I have plans on exposure myself so we'll see...

Thanks for sharing

That is one of my concerns too! I always imagine the day where therapy starts to come to a close and I'm not ready to face it myself just yet lol. Thanks for sharing this with me I hope I see what you're saying when the time comes.

By the way SC can I just ask.. So you've been through one course of CBT? any other treatments? And how long now since graduation from therapy? Haha sorry for the colossal amount of questions I just need more input from the experienced Dino :)

Hi Hibee

Wow thanks for sharing your experience on therapies! Interesting that schema therapy works better than CBT for you. A few weeks ago I was reading some articles and books on schema therapy but not too in depth.. It did sound appealing/worth the try. I know it's got something to do with your core beliefs and how you interpret the world and yourself if I'm not wrong. What are the discussions like?


Sounds like you've come a long way and are still going strong.. I applaud you for your resilience I hope this is something I can learn.. :)

HI Breathenrelax, sorry for the delay in replying to your questions, for some reason I keep rereading this thread and wasn't sure how to reply, lol.

I am not thinking like everyone else, I think your therapist is doing things half ***. Sorry but that is just how I see it. A normal session should be 50 minutes, that gives them 10 minutes to write their notes down and then look at their next clients past notes and be ready to ask them how it is going and bring up any questions from the past visit.

What you are doing is just talk therapy, and I don't find it as helpful for helping with anxiety as CBT or Mindfulness therapies. If it was me I would talk to your therapist and see if she is schooled in either of those and if you could do one or the other with her. Both of those therapies show great results in helping with anxiety/panic disorder. Both of these therapies also have homework which you should go over on your next visit.

As far as my therapist, well he is exceptional. He also teaches the 2 group therapies I go too. I was seeing another therapist (she left for another job), who was alot like yours but would only see me for 15-20 minutes each session, I felt like we never got enough accomplished and it wasn't until I got my new therapist that I realized just how bad my prior one was.

My new therapist remembers everything, I talked about the custody issues in the group therapy I go to on mondays, i told everyone that court was on thursday. Well I had my first one on one with my new therapist that following friday, before we even got to his office he asked me how court went. I was so at awe that he remembered court was the day before and finally felt like I was heard. He is a very busy therapist and sees a lot of clients, so it amazed me that he remembered all the details I told in group therapy the monday before. A therapist should remember, or at least read their notes before they see you, so they can bring up things you talked to prior, to ask detailed questions.

If you don't feel like you are being heard, or if you just aren't clicking with your therapist, you have every right to ask to see someone else. It is very important to 'click' with your therapist, other wise it is likely that you won't stick with it. I have gone to therapy so many times over the past 30 years that I couldn't even begin to count, I have never clicked with any of the therapist like i do with the one I have now and I would only go to 2 to 4 sessions and then just quit going. I have never in my life completed therapy, well this time I am going to complete it if it kills me. I already graduated my anxiety group and got a certificate which means so much to me, it's kind of funny just how much that piece of paper means to me, but I finally after 30 years completed a therapy!

I wish you the best of luck in therapy, don't be afraid to speak up if you want more out of therapy.

I commend you are doing self coping skills and reading up on anxiety, that is super awesome. :)

If you are in a CBT program you should for sure be getting homework every time you see her so ask about that next time you see her.

I wish you all the success in the world!!

Hi Hibee

Thanks for your detailed share and advice. If given a chance I would like to give Schema Therapy a go too bc I feel a like huge part of my problems can be addressed through some of my core beliefs that have been gradually solidified from young. I might enquire more about schema therapy with my therapist.
45 min of meditation every morning sounds great I just don't have that kind of time or enough time at all to address my anxiety and I feel like unattended anxiety gets compounded over time.

!!!!!!!!!!

Nevertheless thanks again for your insight on the different therapies it's a great help.