I would suggest having some outside support when you KNOW its going to be a tough session, or you know before hand you have an "assignment" about your trauma... or if things do get increasingly difficult when discussing it...
My biggest issue was... I spilled out all my trauma in full detail..left therapy...and went home and isolated myself...allowing all of my feelings to escalate.... not intentionally but, clinical depression curves your natural instincts and you rather isolate sometimes then spend time with people.
Nevertheless, even if you spend time with a friend, right after therapy, or a couple of hours after, I even recommend RIGHT AFTER, it is sooo soo helpful. Even if you all do something and never speak a word of the session, it is still soo helpful, sometimes even MORE helpful because this allows you to reconnect with the realness/realities of your present life and remember that the trauma is over and you are stronger and older now. I started going to lunch or shopping right after my therapy.. not to say later on I couldn't reflect on it... but, your brain needs a mental "rest" from all of that sharing/deep rooted problem solving. We're all, only human.
The other thing I would recommend, is do not try to please your therapist. Go at a pace YOU feel is best, and if you feel it is too much or you need a break you need to stop...
I didn't know when or how to stop, I just kept going and going and escalating all my feelings... which wasn't good...
So, in some ways, it is good to hear the opinion of your therapist, .. like you said above your therapist realized that this was a sensitive topic for you and wants to take time to help you get through it.
This is valid as well, so if you and your T come to agreements about discussing trauma this can be good too.
I gave you both viewpoints, letting the client know when to stop and letting a T tell you when to stop, because it really depends on who the person is who is receiving the therapy and who the therapist is. You both have to come to agreements, so I'd just recommend that you not be afraid to figure out what those agreements are while you work through everything.
Or mainly, having that outside support, a relative, or something, anything that you plan/schedule to do right after therapy, you plan it ahead of time, not last minute. And everyones different, so maybe right after therapy you will be too upset or full of emotion,.. Well, then you should plan ahead of time, for the day after therapy..etc.etc...whatever you are comfortable with.
Thats my two cents.. from someone who has yes, experienced CSAbuse ( once by a child and once at school like you) and from someone who went through therapy, discussing my own trauma in session.
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--- A bird doesn't sing because it has all the answers, it sings because it has a song.
Maya Angelou.
so sing. Jazz, sing. --jazzy123456
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"You're not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand." (Woodrow Wilson)
Last edited by jazzy123456; Jun 30, 2011 at 01:24 AM.
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