[Standup2me]

My P.doc wants me to see a psychologist for talk therapy. I had one session and came away confused

I don't really understand why I am there or what it will accomplish.

Practice mindfulness and journal my gratitudes...I already do that.

Help me understand what I am supposed to get out of this

[Wild Coyote]

Did your pdoc give you any idea as to why you may find this helpful?
Do you have some ideas of your own as to how this might be helpful?

We could have a lot of different practices in place and can still benefit from talk therapy, including a supportive therapeutic alliance.

I have many practices in place, yet I lack support. Much of my family still operates in unhealthy ways. I am the "odd one," for wanting a healthier life. As I have gotten more healthy psychologically, I benefit from support which is based in healthy exchanges/practices.

My therapist can see where I may not (I may have a blind spot or a lack of awareness/insight) and can help me with this, too.

Often, the therapist and client identify goals together and work toward these goals.
Any goals you can think of to contribute to the therapy goals list?

I have started therapy in the past, also wondering if/how it could possibly be helpful (while holding much doubt) and, in time, found it very helpful.

Hopefully, you'll know much more about whether, and just how, therapy may be helpful to you, soon.


WC

I think it depends. To have a goal is great, but it's not strictly necessary.

For instance, despite being terrible about goals, I've recently considered that it might be nice to not be gripped by so much relentless anxiety and fear. It's exhausting. I don't know how much it's possible to dial down, but it's rare for me to be able to express a concrete goal so if an opportunity were available, that would be what I'd want help with.

Why? Because it's not something I've done well with on my own, and it very much gets bottled up. Which doesn't help, but I don't want to burden my BF with it. He's not trained to handle it without being overwhelmed himself. A therapist would be.

Sometimes, the only "goal" might be to be able to hold on. There was a really rough time when I had an appointment every week. I held on so hard to that day. That day was like a beacon. A point of accountibility. The T was doing CBT with me (though I didn't know what it was at the time). And there was homework.

Whether there's a concrete goal or not, it can simply be a place of support. Maybe someone doesn't have much in the way of support, or they struggle with asking for help, or worry about burdening their person/people, it's a place where it's about YOU. Sometimes that's the only place that's really happening.

(Sorry so run-on/disorganized. No concentration for editing.)

[Standup2me]

Thanks everyone, I think that what I hear you saying is that I might not know now (at this point in time) why I am there, but being there will lead me to the answers.

I have no support systems at all, so maybe that is why my Pdoc recommended it.

It is hard though...thinking that I need to talk to someone.

Talking is hard

[franz kafka]

Talking is indeed hard, but if you can find the right therapist and develop a good relationship, you can get a lot out of it. I rely a lot on my therapist and I never thought that I would.

[Standup2me]

This might sound strange, but how do I know what to talk about. This is all so strange to me

[Victoria'smom]

Keep a journal and go through it the day of.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

This might sound strange, but how do I know what to talk about. This is all so strange to me

If/when you don't have concerns/questions, the psychologist will help by asking questions, conversing with you. It will probably go very well. The psychologist will likely set you at ease.

I often enter the room for a therapy appt, not knowing what to discuss and we find something productive to discuss.


WC

I've done therapy on and off. I would get the same feelings as you "why am I here...what is this going to accomplish....how is this going to help me in anyway". I don't think I was ready for therapy back then. I wish I would have stuck with it to be sure but I would always quit. Now I'm getting therapy and use it as part of my support team. I also have PTSD issues I need to work through. Talking is very hard....being vulnerable is very difficult. I'm committed to making progress and am utilizing any tools available which might contribute to progress. It's too early to know if therapy will do any long term good but I'm thinking positive and plan to get anything and everything out of it that I can. (((Good luck and hugs)))

[bioChE]

I have the same feelings as you, the "Why am I here?" I've done it a couple times for a few months but never found any real value there. Could be the therapist, could be me, or it could just be that I have a good, supportive relationship with my family and friends and I don't need to talk with someone else.

[Nammu]

One of the unexpected benefits of therapy for me was that I learned to recognize sooner the highs and lows so I could be more proactive in arresting a full on episode. I got feedback that I was more depressed or slightly manic and that helped my own awareness which helped me stay stable.

[annielovesbacon]

One of the main reasons I go to talk therapy is because it helps me get better at recognizing my own moods and recognize the highs and lows of BP and the warning signs of an episode. Having an outside party (ie the therapist) can analyze and look at things in a way differently than you can, which can be very helpful. It also can feel good just to talk about your feelings with someone whose job it is to help you and not judge you.
On your first visit, the therapist will probably just want to get to know you and ask a lot of questions about your background, what doctors you see, what meds you're on, if you have any diagnoses, etc. Then in future sessions s/he will start getting more detailed. Maybe they will have you track your mood, and if you have a super bad day -- why? What triggered it? You might talk about that with them, and they will give you tools to deal with or prevent bad days.
I think you should go, even though you're nervous and don't really know what to expect. Therapy isn't for everyone, but I think you might be surprised to see what benefits will come out of it.