Soooo- I'm a firm believer in therapy and have always been willing to go. For the past 6 years, I saw a male therapist (LMFT), who was helpful to me until this year during my struggles. I felt he and I had "grown apart" as I just felt my therapeutic needs were not getting met anymore and he was sharing TMI abt his personal life (nothing unethical at all, just talking too much abt his own life).
So, I found a female psychologist over the summer. She was ok but I just didn't connect with her.
Fast forward to about
6? weeks ago, I found a female therapist who had good reviews. Called and she wasn't taking new patients until Dec bc she was having knee surgery. I really wanted to see a woman but she and her husband are in practice and she referred me to him. I said why not and started seeing him. He's a LCSW & very intelligent and personable. I was excited at first bc he was very enthusiastic about
my being able to be treated.
The issue I'm now having with him (and im truly not a difficult or picky person!), is I'm noticing a pattern of HIM talking too much. Sometimes it's relevant and other times it seems its 10 minutes about
his life- when he was in graduate school, about
his adopted special needs daughter, etc. i feel for every 5 mins I speak, he speaks 10 minutes and when I leave, I can't even remember anything fabulous he's said to help me?! (I'm an experienced therapy client and I know not every session is life changing & sometimes you may leave scratching your head wondering what was even discussed).
In almost all of the sessions, he says how I'm just "right there" & have all the right thoughts and tools to help myself- but I feel there's no action on his part telling me what the hell to do! I left there yesterday and felt like shouting SHOW ME THE MONEY! He repeats stories too. (Oh & he's the one that mentioned one of my symptoms sounded like an absent seizure- the SAME health anxiety fear I'd told him about
the week before & he knows I have hypochondria. I did tell him the next appt that I was disappointed he said that bc he's not a medical doctor & also knew I was suggestable (his term) & he shouldn't give medical opinions on something not concrete so to speak).
I know he's very intelligent & he is personable but I 'ain't getting what I need and am disappointed. Of course this leaves me feeling yucky bc I was so hopeful and I'm put in an awkward position. On one hand I want to speak up for myself and be like "I'm not getting what im needing and you talk about
yourself too much", but on the other hand, I'd rather change 10 poopie diapers than "confront" him.😆
I've made a call to my psychiatrist to get referrals for therapists. I've also looked on my ins website for names of therapists in my area.
I'm just feeling yucky bc I had so much hope for him & now it's like that sound on The Price is Right when someone loses "wahhhhhh wahhhhhh."
Not only have I been on a med roller coaster this year but now a therapist one, jeez!
Thanks for listening to my rant!
Peace-
Lisa