[raspberrytorte]

I don't have one. I can never find one that I like or trust, and some of them have been just awful.

I only had one that I liked, and she really helped me work through some problems I had, and helped me get over a traumatic experience that happened to me when I was eighteen.

This last one I didn't trust at all. She was way too tell my pnp, call my husband, tell everyone everything that we were talking about happy. And I saw her shortly after I got out of the hospital last (for a mania psychotic episode), and I was very angry about the whole experience, and she kept on insisting I was still manic, despite how I wasn't. For her it was always bipolar this and bipolar that. I felt like a label. And she told me that I resent my daughter (because I never planned on becoming a mother), and I DON'T resent her!

So I stopped seeing her.

How important do you believe it is to have a therapist?

I just have such bad luck. I saw one during my last severely depressed episode, where I was having all of these self harm thoughts, and she actually made me demonstrate to her what I wanted to do to my arm (like slice it with a knife). That didn't make me feel good. Only one appointment with her. Last appointment. I mean, wtf.

[BipolaRNurse]

My pdoc is also my therapist.....one-stop shopping, as it were. I don't feel the need for further therapy, and he doesn't think I need it either. I can tell that man ANYTHING and not be judged. That's good enough for me.

[cashart10]

Now that I have one, I don't know what I'd do without her. I'm just hoping I connect with the new one I see on Wed (that actually takes my insurance) as well as I have with my current one. I tell her EVERYTHING and she helps me process and sometimes even get through my days. I guess it's just up to finding the right person who you connect with.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I have to have one; required by my pdoc. But I also can't imagine functioning without mine. He's been my therapist for over 9 years now and can read me like a book (which is both good and bad depending on what I want him to know).

I had many bad experiences along the way to getting him. I had another one who was great when I was in college and then I tried a lot of awful ones in grad school followed by someone I saw for 4 years but she didn't really make me do therapy; we talked about our cats a LOT. When she moved suddenly to Luxembourg (really) I switched to this one and he's perfect for me; makes me work hard, supports me, and knows when not to push. I will not stop seeing him until he retires.

I have no idea how to find someone who is a good fit. I know at the point that the 2 that have worked for me have been Christian men, both born in 1957, both with very positive approaches to handling things that other therapists have tried to tell me I would never get over (PTSD stuff). I'm not sure what happens when everyone born in 1957 retires (pretty sure that's when my pdoc was born too although she's a Jewish woman so doesn't meet the rest of my stereotype and really she's absolutely perfect for me as well).

I know it can be very hard. I think I went through 5 therapists in a few months in grad school because they all were awful.

[Victoria'smom]

I don't know what I'd do without my therapist. He's available any time from 8-8pm when I call. He detects mood shifts, talks to my psychiatrist, and my families therapist, advocates for me, holds me accountable for taking my meds, and processes my week. He deals with psychosis and suicidal thought like you told him you're going to the store after session but doesn't down play the seriousness of it.

[Chickenkicker]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I don't have one. I can never find one that I like or trust, and some of them have been just awful.

I only had one that I liked, and she really helped me work through some problems I had, and helped me get over a traumatic experience that happened to me when I was eighteen.

This last one I didn't trust at all. She was way too tell my pnp, call my husband, tell everyone everything that we were talking about happy. And I saw her shortly after I got out of the hospital last (for a mania psychotic episode), and I was very angry about the whole experience, and she kept on insisting I was still manic, despite how I wasn't. For her it was always bipolar this and bipolar that. I felt like a label. And she told me that I resent my daughter (because I never planned on becoming a mother), and I DON'T resent her!

So I stopped seeing her.

How important do you believe it is to have a therapist?

I just have such bad luck. I saw one during my last severely depressed episode, where I was having all of these self harm thoughts, and she actually made me demonstrate to her what I wanted to do to my arm (like slice it with a knife). That didn't make me feel good. Only one appointment with her. Last appointment. I mean, wtf.

You can sit in therapy for many sessions in a row and walk out thinking its a waste...but one day lightning strikes and the last piece of the puzzle is put into place that causes you to rethink your behavior. My therapist gave me the instructions on how to unbuckle the 100lb backpack of guilt and regret I'd been carrying for 45yrs in a couple of sentences.

You don't have to like your therapist. I got my best and fastest results from therapists I -didn't- like...because we got right to the problem instead of losing focus shooting the breeze and posturing.

Psychs and therapists are representative of the general population. There are lazy ones, unmotivated ones, mean ones, indifferent ones...and some that just grate you the wrong way. Keep Trying!

My response is, are you well adjusted for lfe? If not, very important. If so, don't need one hun. Life experience s the greatest therapy after the fact. But if you want to avoid what I had to live through, go to therapy.

[~Christina]

I have a wonderful T. I went through a few in my search for someone that I clicked with.

For me my T has been more helpful than any medications I have ever been on. He has helped me learn coping skills and how to effectively use them. He has helped me work through trauma in my past. I have processed and come to terms with many things that have haunted me all my life. He has been the only medical provider I have been willing to be 100% honest with.

He's 68 and when he retires I have intention of finding a new T, I see no need to start over and bring anyone up to date on my life.

He saved my life many times. I will never find another like him.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

My response is, are you well adjusted for lfe? If not, very important. If so, don't need one hun. Life experience s the greatest therapy after the fact. But if you want to avoid what I had to live through, go to therapy.

My problem usually ends up being that I have nothing to talk about.

I know about CBT. I feel I'm pretty self aware. I even had a therapist tell me that. That I was very self aware of myself and my issues.

It's usually just a matter of me implementing what I know. I write in a journal. I do meditation. I kind of put my own little twist on the things that I've learned throughout the years.

I just have to come up with a way to cope with this new anxiety/paranoia/dissociation issues I've been having lately. I'll come up with something.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I love my PsyD! It took a long time to find one I really like. he helps me understand my disorder better and detect oncoming mood changes that I don't always see!

Id say theyre important to our search for stability.

[dontevenknow]

I am struggling with a similar question....Can I make it through the summer without T? I worked with a T for 2 ish years until I left for college then saw her last summer and at Christmas. I had a T at school (who ended up leaving) and will have a new one there next year as well as the Pdoc I have had for 2 yrs at school (who just prescribed for the whole summer).
The T I worked with before school always welcomes me back and encourages me to come, and we email occasionally. I told her I am trying to do this on my own this summer (although I said that last summer too and backed up on it). She is great and I do like her but I have 2 qualms. 1. I am living with my parents right now and I hate taking to them about my mh issues. I need their financial support for insurance and therapy and I don't want to burden them more than they already are. 2. Paying so much money for therapy makes me really question if I am going because I absolutely need it or if I am just going because it is comfortable and safe....UGHH

[Skywalking]

Tried it, hated it, psych keeps after me to do it again. I try to keep an open mind, but...nah. It's not for me. :P

Sometimes I feel like I need to pay somebody to talk to that hopefully won't judge. They won't even have to say a word, just nod their head.

[Espurr1989]

My therapist gave me the all clear twice now, so I guess she really didn't think it was important for me to have one. I am considering talking to university counseling this fall though when I will be on campus more often. It will be interesting to talk to someone who doesn't diagnose me with bipolar on the second session and then on our last session say "I don't know what you are. I'm not a good diagnostician." I hate how I feel like I'm constantly having to convince myself that I am actually bipolar and not just crazy.

[wiretwister]

had a t that had my pdoc's ear in his office.. she was very helpful to get what I needed from him,, but she only did day sessions and my work made me stop,, found a t that worked at night after a hospital day shift,, she kept falling asleep.. but she did identify issues from childhood,, but in the end it just seemed like too much money for so little return...neither ever tried to teach me any coping skills... so I guess for me it is not very important to have a t

[BeyondtheRainbow]

You therapist kept falling asleep?????? That's horrible. That's beyond horrible. I am so sorry.

There are better ones out there, therapists who stay awake the entire time and who don't tattle to the pdoc. (It seems that I should not have to type such a sentence). That's just sad.

[Nammu]

The right T can help so many ways. Foe me it was mostly because they helped me learn to recognize the ups and downs as well as support when times were hard.

[wildflowerchild25]

I think it's important if you have trauma or something like that as well as bp. But it can also be helpful to have an outside party to talk to even if you don't have trauma because someone else can see your moods and help you identify triggers and coping skills. I quit therapy in December because I felt like I didn't really need anyone to talk to anymore and I have definitely learned all the coping skills I need (I just need to use them).

Now that I have had a death in the family I am hoping to get in with my old therapist because I will need someone who didn't know him to talk to about all the guilt I feel and anger and everything like that.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I think it's important if you have trauma or something like that as well as bp. But it can also be helpful to have an outside party to talk to even if you don't have trauma because someone else can see your moods and help you identify triggers and coping skills. I quit therapy in December because I felt like I didn't really need anyone to talk to anymore and I have definitely learned all the coping skills I need (I just need to use them).

Now that I have had a death in the family I am hoping to get in with my old therapist because I will need someone who didn't know him to talk to about all the guilt I feel and anger and everything like that.

Yes. If I had a death in the family, particularly someone I was close to, I would definitely need a therapist.

I am so sorry for your loss.