Me: I do not foresee myself going to therapy for the rest of my life, but I guess who knows. However, I think I will reach a point where I've learned all the coping mechanisms I can learn and will be able to work through my problems on my own. It may be more difficult for me to cope without a therapist, but part of me wants to be "independent."

You?

I certainly don't want to because I've never really met an individual therapist who has significantly helped me, but right now I'm required to see a T to see my nurse practitioner so it's possible if I stay with my current area's mental health center or switch to another that has the same policy.

I think I will always have some contact with a therapist. I am certain that it will not always be once per week. I could see "check-ins" every three or four weeks, at some point.

I will definitely be seeing a therapist weekly as potential major life changes are on the horizon. If my husband and I move to Europe, I will definitely need extra support there for adjustment. Such a move would be a huge trigger for my illness. It would likely be delinquent of me not to have a mental health support team (at least a pdoc and tdoc) soon after such a move. Or if I don't move far, such a support team would be necessary if/when I am able to take steps back to working.

While on SSDI, I really don't see how NOT having a therapist is even an option, for me. My current psychiatrist requires that I have a therapist, since he focuses mostly on medication management.

It's true that I have learned a great number of coping skills/tools over the years. However, sometimes I need reminders. Sometimes I need other types of advice and guidance that my husband can't provide.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Unless something changes I plan to keep going to therapy. I like to just be able to talk to someone about how I'm doing. I don't really tend to talk to anyone else about that kind of stuff. I feel like talking about it helps me more than any kind of practical advice because I can generally come up with that myself.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Unless something changes I plan to keep going to therapy. I like to just be able to talk to someone about how I'm doing. I don't really tend to talk to anyone else about that kind of stuff. I feel like talking about it helps me more than any kind of practical advice because I can generally come up with that myself.

^^^ Same.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Even though my therapist is fantastic I feel I know most of the tricks now and we were running out of solvable issues so I sort of indirectly quit.....

[StaticScream]

While I don’t go to therapy at the moment, because I archived everything I could, I still think I will need professional help now and then over the years.

[LilyMop]

Yes I do. I think I’ll go for periods of time and then go back again when I am having difficulty managing things again. This is something I have recently realized I will always need to do.

[~Christina]

I have 9 years with my T, after I moved back to town I got stuck with a different one , he was literally useless. I did got back in with my T thankfully.

He will retire soon , he’s in his 70’s. When he retires I will be done with Therapy. I’m not going to regurgitate my life to someone new.

It’s possible I might need to see one if I go IP, just part of discharge follow up , honestly I can waste an hour a couple times a month and then stop going.

I have a few wonderful Bipolar friends that can help me if I stumble and need to talk my way out of a corner.

[Victoria'smom]

I see myself always needing a T. I only see one every 3 weeks or so but I really need weekly therapy but then I'm stuck in my head to much. I don't see myself being compliant without a T. Pdoc appointments are just to long in between.

[yellow_fleurs]

Probably not continuously, but I may go for a bit then go back if I need more help again during a stressful event or something.

[wildflowerchild25]

I’ve been seeing my therapist for nearly five years. She’s great, I love her, she has helped me through a lot. But recently I have just not felt like going. It’s nothing more than a chat anymore, no real work because I feel as though I’ve learned all I can. We will be reducing our sessions to every other week starting in February. I don’t want to stop seeing her completely just in case I start doing poorly again, but I really don’t want to see her so often.

If for some reason I couldn’t see her anymore I would not find another one. Like Christina, I have no desire to explain my life story to anyone else.

[Moose72]

No. Im not in therapy now. If I need therapy I can get it again.

[Aviza]

I'm in therapy for a very long time if not for life. May be a reduction in the amount of therapy but I doubt I'll ever be done. It's part of how I get to see my daughter, it's likely going to continue even when she's an adult.

[Merlin]

I go through periods where I see a therapist regularly and other periods when I’m only seeing my psychiatrist, though he also does therapy during our infrequent appointments.

[Blue_Bird]

If I'm required to by my psychiatrist then yes, because I'll be on meds for the rest of my life, the mental health clinic I go to requires you to see a therapist too, I know that's different at different places though. I don't see mine as often now that I'm stable. Like once a month or longer in between appointments. When I'm doing unwell more frequently

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Unless something changes I plan to keep going to therapy. I like to just be able to talk to someone about how I'm doing. I don't really tend to talk to anyone else about that kind of stuff. I feel like talking about it helps me more than any kind of practical advice because I can generally come up with that myself.

Talking about it with someone helpful... I agree.