What type of therapy do you receive? Is it helpful?

I have seen a therapist for the last couple of years. She is focusing a lot on inner child stuff.

The thing that is frustrating to me, is that she wants me to forgive my parents and heal.

My parents are still in my life. I still strongly dislike them and don't want to forgive them. They have been emotionally and physically abusive. It almost seems as if she is taking their sides instead of mine.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I just got with a new therapist and we're going to do some DBT. Its good for everyone they say. Im looking forward to it.

That is positive. I don't mind the therapy. It is hard work. But... Sometimes it seems like she is making excuses for them.

I don't know if she is practicing DBT of not.

[gayleggg]

I think mine uses solution based. He mainly focuses on what I'm having trouble with at the moment and keeps tabs to make sure I haven't drifted off in some dark place. It does help because he helps me see when my thinking is distorted.

Just a thought, I don't think your T is against you. I think that she only wants whats best for you and holding resentment only hurts the person holding it, at least, that is what has been passed on to me during my therapy.

I hope, gayleggg.

Usually I feel that way, but lately, I have been losing faith. I think she really doesn't see that they are manipulative and abusive. I feel she makes excuses for their behavior.

[wiretwister]

my t said i was emotionally abondoned by my family,,,and is the root of most of my issues... both of my parents are dead,, no chance to resolve it,, be thankful yours are still here... make your peace now if only for yourself...

[meganb22]

I have been seeing therapists on an off for a year. To be honest, the only help I get out of it is that I can vent to an outside party. But other than that, I feel like it doesn't help me that much, if at all. I've tried DBT groups, but I don't like the group aspect of it and I inevitably start feeling better and quit going. Then I start feeling bad again and I'm back where I started. I really want to find a good psychologist, but I haven't found one yet.

[Victoria'smom]

My T doesn't want me to do anything. He suggests things with certan problems but we focus on the here and now.

[Mountainbard]

Hi Valentina. I know forgiveness can be really hard, but in the long run it's worth it to find it in your heart to do so. It's the only way to heal some of those old wounds.

[Wander]

I have been seeing the same therapist for four and a half years. My life has been incredibly unstable along with the bipolar so it has literally been a life saver having him in my life. To start with he taught me a lot of coping skills to help deal with intense emotions, DBT and CBT stuff and then he helped me deal with what was going on in my life along with any issues to do with past traumas that came up. As I have been so unstable he has not pushed me on dealing with past traumas unless it was needed to get me through that period. I think over the years we have used most types of therapy available. He uses whatever tool is best at the time and I find this approach helpful. As I have a history of severe abuse he has been very careful not to stir the pot more than I can handle. I love my therapist and would most likely be in a much worse state without his help.

[Skywalking]

Welllll...honesty hour, PC bipolar crew?

I hated therapy and I'm never doing it again.

I tried it for about four months at the urging of my psychiatrist, but it was useless and boring and a waste of money. I also wrangled with horrible anxiety about it. I was terrified just sitting in the waiting room. It made me feel so much worse that it was like I was paying to go be tortured for 50 minutes a week. I seriously can't believe a therapy room is supposed to be a safe space, I would feel safer scuba diving with sharks.

The therapist spent most of our sessions talking about herself, which is either a sign she wasn't a good therapist or she was trying to get me to open up through self-disclosure. Either way, it was deeply annoying.

To be fair, I should have realized before I attempted it that it wouldn't be useful, because there is 0% chance I'm ever going to trust a therapist the way you apparently have to trust a therapist to get anything done (based on what I've learned from reading the PC forums, anyway).

I haven't trusted people that way since my stalker incident and frankly I don't see a benefit to trying. After the way I was hurt by my stalker, I consciously don't want anyone near me or my feelings. It's not worth it, and I get very anxious and defensive just thinking about it when my psych brings up wanting me to try it again.

I am an emotional porcupine.

On the other hand, I've done a bit of reading here and there - not about bipolar, but about CPTSD and dealing with toxic family - and *that* has improved my life significantly.

I don't mean to bash therapy, I'm sure it is absolutely wonderful for people who are willing to try it. I know it can be a lifesaver. I'm just openly and emphatically not willing. At least for now.

I have been doing lots of work. And I forgive my father more than my mother. My Father is a physical bully and i can understand that. It is my Mother. She is truly a emotional manipulative monster. She tries it with her grandchildren too. She is like a pesky,
irritating fly buzzing around my head.

Actually, I have tried with her for years. I seriously think it will be a relief when she dies. I know that sounds cold, but I don't think it is. When someone cause that level of emotional turmoil...?

Now she is screwing with her grand kids. That is not OK.

Me personally would tell my therapist to move on till I've moved out and been away from them x many years. It took me almost 20 to forgive mine, and we're still on semi talking terms.

I talk to them. I just want a huge amount of distance. We live in the same town and they are very, very intrusive.