[ricwag]

I've said for years that I had no use for Therapy. Now I think that I just didn't understand what it was and wasn't for, how to best utilize it and what role I had to play in getting better.

I also think that someone should have just come out with the BPD diagnosis years ago.

A question for everyone:

How effective do you believe "talk" therapy is for BPD?

Are you aware of any statistics?

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by ricwag

How effective do you believe "talk" therapy is for BPD? Are you aware of any statistics?

I think not so effective, that's why they are pushing DBT, they being insurance co's, and whoever NIMH (funding research grants), to try to find something that works for BPD. Esp since as Flooded noted elsewhere, T's will outright refuse new BPD appointments. Statistics might be available by googling Linehan?

There are four major "types" of therapy that were specifically developed to address the symptoms and personality traits of BPD. All four have been "manualized", meaning there has been a lot of research done on the effectiveness of their specific techniques. If a clinician wants to use one of these types of therapy in practice, they need to pay BIG bucks to be properly trained. The four are: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Marsha Linehan), Transferance Focused Therapy (Clarkin, Yoeman & Kernberg), Schema Therapy (Jeffery Young) and Mentalization Therapy (Fonagy & Bateman). All four have demonstrated some great results and all four are pretty different in their approach.

Personally, I think a clear, well trained clinical approach and strong technical skills are important when looking for a good therapist, but I also believe that the match between client and therapist is just as important. As a person with BPD, I don't think typical "talk therapy" was particularly helpful for me. When I started therapy I found that I could quickly get overwhelmed emotionally and that would lead to cognitive distortions and disruptions in the connection I had with my therapist. I needed to learn good solid coping and grounding skills before dealing with trauma issues. I was originally with someone who was a "good" clinician, but she was too eclectic in her approach to therapy. I needed more structure. Just my take on things.

[Lil Ant Lady]

im curently in my 5th week of talk therapy and feel its done nothing for me.
all i do for 50 mins is sit there and talk about myself. my therapist asks me about 3 questions the whole time and just asks me to think about why im feeling the way i am. i keep thinking "if i bloody well knew why (well i do... bpd lol) then i wouldnt feel the way i do!!" i pay for my therapy and so far i think its been a waste of money.

i cant get any dbt here... although im going to push for something else. there is this thing where i live called 'team 63' (not sure on why its called that) and its group psycotherapy for borderlines

[gashly]

I haven't found talk therapy helpful.

So far I've found exposure therapy mixed with dbt elements most helpful, as I am very fearful/anxious and it forces me to get beyond my fears. But I can't afford that therapist now.

I found dbt a bit helpful, but feel like I've stalled. Have no experience with the other three types of therapy and am intruiged about them.

[ECHOES]

I am in talk therapy with a psychodynamic psychoanalytic psychotherapist. I chose this orientation after much research.

I have been in therapy before, but in CBT or REBT type therapy, which is very different than what I'm in now. Those therapies had little to offer me, but I did learn from them. It just wasn't what I wanted, but it took research to find out what it was I do want.

I've never done DBT but I don't have a desire to.

This therapy is different. Maybe it is the fit, maybe I am more ready, I don't know.
But I do know that she is helping me understand what is happening at a level that is below the surface. We look for parallels, for connections, for the fear that is often behind the issue at hand. We explore my perceptions and relationships.
She helps me to know and understand and accept me. And that's what I want.