How long with bad therapists, how long with good therapists?

MBM17 · May 17, 2016 at 01:57 PM

How much time have you spent with helpful therapists, neutral therapists, and damaging therapists?

I've had a LOT of therapists. I've been in therapy since early 2008 and met with a total of 25 therapists one or more times. Only 11 of those have been for more than 4 sessions, so I consider myself to have had 11 therapists.

I've had a lot of therapists who have overall done more damage than help (seven). They total about 19 months.

A lot of therapists have been kinda neutral, like meh.

I've had five good therapists, but the first four totalled only 9 months. I had to stop meeting with all of them, not by choice (one moved, one was in the hospital, that type of thing).

Then I met my current therapist, who is an amazing fit and has helped SO much. Now I've been meeting with him for 30 months and I'm SO glad I found him. He gets how my brain works better than anyone else. It took long enough to find him, that's for sure!

Skeezyks · May 17, 2016 at 08:02 PM

The Skeezyks has not had good experiences with therapists. They ranged from dreadful

to so-so.

He no longer sees one.

BeyondtheRainbow · May 17, 2016 at 08:09 PM

I don't know my total. One in high school through children's protective services; she protected my mom (her friend) and not me. A great one in college. A bunch in grad school, all disasters except one who was a trainee and just was overwhelmed by me but did try to help the best she could. Then 4 years with one who I thought was good but really just chit-chatted with me every session instead of making me work on learning to function. She had little experience with bipolar and I think she didn't really know what to do with me except try to distract me and keep me happy if possible. Then 10 years with the current one who is great and I will see him until he retires which I don't like to think about.

So a rather wide range for me but ultimately it worked out the right way.

seoultous · May 17, 2016 at 09:34 PM

I have had a total of 3 therapists. The first one was ok. I saw her about 3 times. The second one was very good and I saw him for 4 years. My current t is amazing and I have been with her for 7+ years. Nothing but good experiences for me.

Victoria'smom · May 17, 2016 at 10:01 PM

I had 4 in high-school 1 horrid, 1 good, and 2 meh.

as an adult 1 meh, and 1 good total of 6 adult years. Now I'm getting ready for a new one.

BastetsMuse · May 18, 2016 at 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBM17

How much time have you spent with helpful therapists, neutral therapists, and damaging therapists?

I spent twenty years in therapy, and my pdoc wants me to go back into therapy. I think there was something good about every therapist I had, even as there were bad things. The worst was having an affair with a therapist I had....that one was the last therapist and I am nervous about having another one.

I hate feeling vulnerable to people and therapy really emphasizes that in me.

May 18, 2016 at 05:30 AM

I've only had 2 therapists. My first therapist was an idiot, but the second one (my current one) is awesome.

Here's why my first therapist sucked:
When I first came in, I told her I was depressed and I explained my symptoms. I also mentioned that I tend to become depressed from time to time. (I didn't know I was BP yet.) She said, "No, you don't seem depressed to me. You seem fine. I don't think you've ever experienced depression if this is what you think depression is like."

Then when I had another appointment with her, I was actually in a mixed state. I told her I was depressed but full of energy. (I also didn't know I was BP yet.) She said, "No, that's pretty normal. Sometimes I get 3-4 hours of sleep. This happens as you get older and, unfortunately, you have to accept it. You should do a sleep study."

Later that week, I saw my pdoc for the first time, and he was like, "No, you're BP and you're currently in a mixed state." Never saw my therapist again after that.

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Skeezyks Disreputable Old Troll Member Since Oct 2015 Location: The Star of the North Posts: 32,762 (SuperPoster!) 9 17.4k hugs given	May 17, 2016 at 08:02 PM #2 The Skeezyks has not had good experiences with therapists. They ranged from dreadful to so-so. He no longer sees one. __________________ "I may be older but I am not wise / I'm still a child's grown-up disguise / and I never can tell you what you want to know / You will find out as you go." (from: "A Nightengale's Lullaby" - Julie Last)
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seoultous Member Member Since Feb 2011 Location: in an old house Posts: 379 13 22 hugs given	May 17, 2016 at 09:34 PM #4 I have had a total of 3 therapists. The first one was ok. I saw her about 3 times. The second one was very good and I saw him for 4 years. My current t is amazing and I have been with her for 7+ years. Nothing but good experiences for me. __________________ Bipolar: Lamictal, and Abilify. Klonopin, Ritalin and Xanax PRN.
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 15,299 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,618 hugs given	May 17, 2016 at 10:01 PM #5 I had 4 in high-school 1 horrid, 1 good, and 2 meh. as an adult 1 meh, and 1 good total of 6 adult years. Now I'm getting ready for a new one. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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