Thread: Sketchy Office
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Old Apr 08, 2016, 09:10 PM
M3233 M3233 is offline
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Member Since: Jul 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 63
TL;DR: Nice therapist in really sketchy office that makes me nervous. Will I get over it? What would you do?

Long version:
So my psychiatrist recommended me to another therapist (t2) for EDMR. I have OCD and no trauma. The therapist I've seen for quite a while (t1) though this was odd but said to try it anyways, despite her usually giving the out there suggestions and pdoc turning them down. Pdoc warned me that his office wasn't really nice "like his" yet pdoc's office isn't really that all stylish but it is nice enough to be professional. I kind of laughed it off at the time.

We go for my appointment today that we had to wait a month to get. We drive up and the office is in the back of a pretty beat up insurance office that backs up to train tracks. His door has one of those reversible open/closed signed that you might see at a dive restaurant. There is a piece of paper taped to the door with his name printed on it. I immediately fell frightened as I'm about to go in a pretty sketchy therapist's office. I desire to be aloft and give minimal information so I can get out and never come back. We go inside and it filled with old furniture and the radio is blasting with its cord all over the place.

T2 turns out to be an older man. He invites us into the office where I sit directly across from his desk which is sagging in the middle and kept glancing at. He actually turns out to seem to know a lot especially about OCD and anxiety, although I get the impression that he is not at all planning to do EMDR with me. The only thing negative that sticks out to me out him personally is he doesn't really sugar coat things. When he asked me how bad it got and I described a few incidents he said I had "severe OCD" even when me and my mom protested that things could be worse. Comparatively t1 is always telling me how strong I am, how much insight I have,etc. I'm a super sensitive person and last time I was with someone kinda blunt, it went very bad.

I'm having conflicted thoughts about possibly starting therapy with him. While I can talk to him alone, I felt slightly less comfortable at the moment my mom left. Normally I kick her out as soon as possible. I wouldn't feel comfortable going there alone and don't think I ever would while I actually prefer going to t1 alone.

We've been on the hunt for someone with some new strategies to try. As awesome as t1 is, she has admitted several times that although she is happy to talk to me, she doesn't really know how else to help. We saw another therapist with a PhD (t1 has a masters) and she said she didn't know how she could help either. While t2 hasn't given us a plan of action yet, he sounds like he has some ideas. Then again he hasn't heard the boatload of things I've already tried.

I just can't get over the atmosphere! I've been in not so nice areas before and usually I'm fine. It just the idea of reviving a service from a profession who presents himself this way. It makes me really have doubts about trusting him. Also spotted a book that had a title that pertained to hypnosis (although it was self-hypnosis) and that kinda added to the weariness. I'm conflicted whether I'll get over this or not. I'm leaning towards at least trying another session and seeing what ideas he has. Do y'all think I'll get over this? Should I seriously plan on seeing him for therapy? Fortunatly t1 is actually the best and doesn't mind being a fall back. She actually told us to tell her if EMDR goes well. Any advice is much appreciated. I'm going to try to talk to pdoc about it at my appointment in a few days, but I don't know how much time I'll have to discuss it.

Wow I'm sorry that was so long! Thanks! Y'all are the best!