Yeah, I was also wishing each of these areas was a different thread...

I didn't find my T, he found me. Due to my injury, the immediate fix was to the jaw and the oral surgeon is a cracker jack guy and had done research on statistics on well being of patients after surgery. He pulled together a team for his patients: physical therapist, clinical psychologist, sw,, lab personnel, who met weekly and coordinated needs and plans for the patients. I needed to go into thepain center, but was barred by a quack psychiatrist, so I was added to the oral surgeron's team. I still see the physical therapist and the clinical psychologist 15 years.

I do not recall the first appointment. Pain was skyhigh at that time, and I had no meds. DrF says that we met in the oral surgeons office for the first 2 years. I don't recall any of that time there. The first appt I do remember, I warned him about minimalzation and said I didn't want to hear it from him. I shook his hand when I left, since I really didn't think I would get to see him again, since he believed my pain and suffering. (And ins. co tend to stay away from those kind of doctors.)

He is male, and I'm quite happy with this. I found women were too much into the "aaw honey, I've been through that and it isn't so bad..." Plus, I grew up with 4 men 3 brothers, and my dad... and talk more like a man than a woman.

He is pretty much the same age as me, and years ago, once he convinced me that my ptsd is quite compound (and ongoing) that he and I were going to grow old together. .. 15 years so far...

His style is warm, open, caring, listening. He doesn't take notes during the session, unless it's to write something down for me to remember, He keeps session notes separate from the information the insurance co can, and does, require he send them, so they never get any personal info they really aren't entitled to. He allows phone calls 24/7. I guess because we don't abuse the privilege and only page him when someone is desperate. We are allowed to leave as many messages on his voice mail, as needed, and he sometimes will call us back from them, even though we didn't ask. When we send the message priority, he calls within the hour... usually minutes he has even called me from a baseball game (GO MIAMI HURRICANES!) bless his heart.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the main base of therapy. It becomes eclectic when I dabble into another zone... and decide to use something else. Usually what ever happens and makes good therapy, works. He is experienced with hypnotherapy, and also virtual reality therapy for phobias. I trust him in all.

Transference is not a problem, it's an expected part of good therapy. Since I used to be the psychologist behind the desk, it is probably easier for me to get into transference, and also to purposely draw him into it. He doesn't for long, and I know that he has a "confidant" that he shares any difficult issues, situations with so he stays very stable and safe for me.

Like I said, I saw him before the jaw surgery, but therapy didn't begin until afterwards... so it's been over 15 years.

He is an expert for pain patients, and also patients with PTSD. His understanding is remarkable, and his consistency is unbelievable. He knows what he knows, regardless of what any one expert might try to make me believe other... I can always see my T and find the same, safe answers from him.

I can, and do, discuss any topic with him. He has been married, and has a daughter. I have also presented my thoughts in a myriad of ways... acting out, anger, coyly, in riddles, you name it. Sometimes he becomes direct and reminds me no matter what, he stays safe for us... and we don't have to "attack" him or question him etc.

The main thing, he lets me be me as we try to become better. He doesn't allow any "blame" or "fault" for something that doesn't work out right... etc. It is a love hate relationship because he is the reason I have not committed suicide yet... because he cares, really cares... and lets me draw on his hope and his energy...

One of my biggest fears is that I will "lose" him...

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>