To me, therapy is more than just crisis management during times of high emotion or conversely, in times of numbness. For me, once all that is manageable, then I can move into a more positive type of therapy to develop meaning in my life, seek out and know how to maintain healthy and loving relationships, find my life's true calling--all that kind of thing. I found I couldn't do that type of positive work when I had crises and was falling apart. It is a great place to be in to have the crises under control and be freed up to work on being happy, finding joy, contributing to the health and well-being of others, etc. I know some people only want to (or only can afford to) use therapy to come up from the negative to a sort of neutral zero state and then they can take it from there without a therapist. I think I am at that place and moving into positive territory now, and yet I still like to have the assistance of my therapist on this part of the journey. He's super helpful and is actually great in this area of work--human potential and all that. I think I am under-utilizing him here but want to do better. skysblue, your post helped remind me of that. It can be hard to get over the idea that a therapist is there just to help with big problems.

Skysblue, have you told your T what you posted? I think it could be a great discussion! He might have some ideas and be able to help you articulate what you are wanting from therapy now.

There is no one goal of therapy. Each person has different goals. Good work to be thinking of this instead of just drifting. I look forward to hearing what you come up with.