|
Apr 19, 2022, 07:16 PM
|
 |
Legendary Wise Elder
Community Liaison
|
|
Member Since: Jul 2011
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 22,450
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags
I appreciate the input I've received and thank you!
The thing with CBT is that I first heard about it in my late teens. I went to a "rap group" (showing my age, there  ), a bunch of friendly hippies older than I was sitting in a large circle with big throw pillows, on the floor of an old Victorian house. The facilitator encouraged the group members to read about and practice CBT. If I correctly recall, Aaron Beck originated the practice. I delved into it and got into practicing it with the same so-so success I have with it now. As for bipolar disorder and anxiety, CBT seemed to contribute to the problems, because I felt I was failing by not being able to succeed at CBT. That caused me to be anxious, depressed, and angry.
In my later 20's to mid-30's I practiced Buddhism intensively. I spent much time at Green Gulch Farm/Zen Center on the coast, just north of San Francisco. An absolutely truly magnificent place. My therapist back then was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism. I really got into it, and still use many of those wonderful techniques to this day. I once sat an 8 hour silent meditation (with one short break for a silent snack) - that was powerful. Like WOW powerful. It changed my life. But I sat zazen every day, usually twice per day. So yes, Buddhism has been a tremendous influence in my life, especially breath practice.
So I could go on with "credentials" - but my point is that when I walk into a therapist's office and they are all excited about teaching CBT to me it's disappointing. For me CBT is literally 42 years old in my life. I figure that if it would have been amazingly helpful for me it would have, by now. And like I say - I do obtain some value from CBT, but since my early 30's I haven't hit on the therapeutic technique(s) that I feel are as helpful as medication is.
Anyway. I called the new clinic and made an appointment for May 2nd to see a therapist there. It's so close to my home, I'll probably keep the appointment, mostly out of curiosity. A few days later I'm scheduled with my current T. And yes - she's an angel, a beautiful human being. And we do have a strong bond. All along, though, I have had a strong feeling that she's quite intrigued with me, but not quite sure what to do with me. I just don't know if there's anything more I can learn from her than I already have.
I know one thing. If I do keep the appt. with a (probably not, but potentially) new therapist, I am asking questions! I will be "interviewing" her before I tell her anything but the basics about myself. I want to know where she comes from, is she is/has she been married, kids or no...etc. I'm not interested in yet another therapist who is swooning over New Age culture. I have protection bells sprinkled with lilac essential oil hanging in my house and I love them, they're great, they're beautiful, I don't need a therapist to tall me about how I should hang protection bells in my home to help keep bad childhood memories away. 
**~*Zafu cushions with golden mandalas on them all around~**~*
|
You have had numerous “ types” of therapy work throughout your life and I truly believe we all need to pick and choose what parts from all of it works for us. It’s absolutely not one size fits all.
Maybe you just need to float for a while ??! 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Helping others gets me out of my own head ~
|