Need another self-quiz?

Just a thought... all those self-quizzes on the home page.. ever consider putting something together to see how we're "helping" ourselves in therapy?

There are good ways and poor ways to respond to what our Ts say ... how we relate in therapy... etc I don't recall any survey that would help the average person know when the process is really working.Nor have I ever seen something that shows a patient how to evaluate how they are (verbally) responding in therapy.

Please research anything I suggest before believing...

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That's a great idea. Also, how about something that would help someone to know how to tell when they have had enough therapy. That's what I really want to know right now, especially since my T has just told me I don't need to see him anymore, although he still wants to keep in contact through email. I thought it was a little soon. I'm doing really good right now but that's only been continuous for about 6 weeks. Then, I've had a past history of quitting too soon as well as just having no idea how to tell when it was time to stop.


<font color=green>"Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible" Carl Jung</font color=green>

Maybe you haven't seen any because much of this is so indvidualized? Do you think maybe because every patient/therapist/pdoc relationships vary? This is a good topic you brought up here. From my experience, one way I feel therapy is working is how I feel when I leave the building, often it is much better than when I walked in for my appt. so I take that means things are working.
I do know though in some instances, and with a former T, I would leave his place more frustrated, but then it was like an up and down thing, some appts. I'd leave feeling better, and then boom! I would find myself feeling crappy.
This is a tough thing to determine, I would guess there are many things we would need to take in consideration, ask ourselves, "what are we trying to get from therapy?", Is it advice, guidance, someone to vent to, someone to care about me, someone that can determine if I need to be referred to pdoc to help therapy work more effeciently? There can be so many indications if the therapy is really helping, a self-quiz would have to be pretty long possibly?
I haven't a clue of the best way to address all of this, but think you brought up a good point, and is worth looking into, maybe as a group thing? Maybe anyone who is interested and finds anything can add to this, this can have the potential to help many here, so let's search around in our spare time and bring info here and share what we come up with.
At the same time, we should "feel" if our therapy is coming along by the way our outlook turns, also do not be afraid to come right out and ask your pdoc or therapist, "well, how do you think I am coming along?" I would think they would have to come out and answer this question, no?

Take care,
"darkeyes"

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

i agree this is an intersting discussion. i think it must be considered that while the patient-doctor relationship is very critical, it is also very subjective. just like different meds have bad or good effects with different people, people have different "tastes" in what they need from a doctor.

my physicians who i like best are ones who understand that i like to know a lot about my status, know that i am scientifically oriented and that i will go home and research anything he or she tells me on the web. i like a lot of information on what is wrong with me, show me on the xrays, explain the underlying problem, how the medicines work, what my options are and how they each will effect me. that information gives me comfort, probably some degree of control.

but lots of people i know are extremely put off by doctors like that. too much information. it upsets them. they want to know bottom line and options. some prefer is sugar coated, some prefer it straight forward. in each case having the opposite type of doc is frowned upon and criticized "he sugar coats everything so i never know if my diagnosis is really serious or not!"

we all know taht there are some very bad doctors out there, undeniably. but finidng a "good" doctor is a very subjective thing and i try to be mindful of that when recommending a doc to someone else, keeping their needs and personality in mind, unless the doctor in question has some gross misgiving in bedside manner or skill.

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
-- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.idexter.com>http://www.idexter.com</A>

Dexter, that is my exact feelings too, I want any physician to be right up front, no beating around the bush, I too make it my duty to research anything I am diagnosed with or may be predisposed to I do realize for some too much info can be confusing or maybe the reality is too much.
But I urge anyone reading this to be proactive, if you or a loved one is diagnosed with some disorder/illness, take or make some time to research it, look at the "whole picture" resist latching on to just one author/doctor's opinion and or theory, if you see consistancy in what all are saying, then that is a good indication whatever the illness/disorder is close or exactly what the patient has, etc.
I also urge anyone to be open to trying various meds.you may also want to research them too, and don't just latch onto the possible "side effects" vs the good, this will only cause the patient to say "no" I do not want to try this or that, I read it has bad side effects". Everyone medication OTC and prescription ones, can have some side effects or may have none at all, or just so slight that the good effects of treatment are to be weighed if worth it, but try it first before saying "no" to your doc or pdoc, why deny yourself of a good chance of getting better. By law (the right to know act?) all pharmaceuticals, prescription and non prescription must suppy the public with information on any possible side effects or drug interactions, regardless of how minor. (their safety net) so if you are in doubt of the precautions listed on the product or on the manufacturer's safety data sheet (MSDS) that most pharmacies attach to your prescription during pick up or is inside the box, ask the pharmacist and/or your physician.
When it comes to your health rather it concerns physical and/or mental health, always ask questions, never be afraid to

Sorry, I digressed a bit from the original post here, just had to add to this as it was clear in my mind at the present time.

Thanks for listening

"darkeyes"

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

Yes, you all see many of my points even those I didn't make!

Since therapy IS so individualized there are many variables. BUT there are also things that should be constant i.e. feeling safe, trusting (to the best degree), communicating.

A self-quiz would help those who don't know where to start evaluating whether or not they are matched with a psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist or social worker that suits them.

Please research anything I suggest before believing...

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

Hey, wouldn't it be fun if we asked our therapists to complete one of the "so many" written questionaires that they use as diagnostic tools? I like my therapist and she gave me a longgg one to fill out. And I have taken so many over the years. So many really dumb questions but when she went over the results it had me pegged pretty well. I am major depressed, ptsd, dissociate a lot, schizoid (but not sure what that means) and I scored -2 out of 100 possible on being narsasistic. She said she never had a score that low. ha ha No wonder I feel like a doormat.

I especially like the ones where they ask what a certain phrase means to you, "rolling stones gather no moss" or "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". And then it's time for the picture interpretation. And the "art" interpretation. Can you tell I have spent an awful lot of time in mental institutions? ha ha They're coming to take me away ha ha. What's more. I am about ready to go.

Ditto Dave-
I do need that kind of info, the most upset I ever got with a therapist was when they told me that my need to know these things was probably standing in the way of therapy. BS!!
-Ariel