Thread: My T's profile
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Old Jul 03, 2017, 11:55 PM
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ScarletPimpernel ScarletPimpernel is offline
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Member Since: Nov 2013
Location: US
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ElectricManatee View Post
I wonder if it might have something to do with balance. I don't have BPD, but I still don't think that my T could fill up her whole client load with people whose needs are as intense as mine are right now. Speaking strictly from a logistical standpoint, I don't think she would have the time or energy to accomodate 20+ clients who need two sessions a week spaced out by 3-4 days, somewhat regular phone contact including evenings and weekends, a perpetually intense therapeutic relationship, etc. Does it mean that I am difficult or needy? Maybe. (I prefer the term "high-maintenance." ) I imagine (though of course I can't know for sure) that many of her other clients need different things from her based on their life stages, relationship issues, diagnoses, etc. So if she is managing her client load well, she is probably seeing an interesting mix of folks and using different skill sets and forging different kinds of connections with each of them. It doesn't mean that she doesn't like working with me or that she can't help me simply because I am sometimes challenging in ways that other people probably are not.

So my point is that your T may have removed BPD from her list of specialties not because of you specifically or because she can't help people with BPD, but maybe because her practice is full in that regard and she doesn't really have "spaces" for more BPD clients at the moment. Therapists are ethically obligated to only agree to take on what they think they can handle, based on their own needs, professional interests, and training. If you're satisfied with how much your T is able to help you, I would try to focus on that and not the mysterious factors that govern how she selects clients. If you are worried that you take up too much of her time and energy, talk to her about that. A good T will have self-care routines and supportive relationships in their personal life to help them deal with the emotional demands of their work, so maybe your T can reassure you about that. I'm not sure whether your T will tell you specifically why she took BPD off her profile, but if you have doubts about her skills, then I do think that you have a right to ask if she is qualified to work with people who have BPD. Hopefully you will feel better if you try your hardest to believe that there are a dozen reasons why your T modified her profile that have nothing to do with you or your diagnosis.
Thank you. This makes a lot of sense to me. Maybe it's not me, but someone else taking up her energy?
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