[MotownJohnny]

Any certain approach or methods? Level of certification?

There are a lot of them out there, so not sure what to look for.

[Teacake]

In looking for someone who knows the physiology of trauma, as evidenced by being able to explain it to me. .

If you want to evaluate the value of a degree, look at the admissions and graduation requirements of the degree. Universities distribute this information to prospective students. If you arent sure what a course desceiption means, get a sylabus and check out the textbook and readings. Its a good idea to sample at least one or two courses this way.

Caveat emptor.

Interview carefully. Ask one or two open ended questions on topics you have carerully researched. This is how you screen for over confidence/under competence, colloquially known as bullscripters.

Test. Stress the person you interview just a bit. Nothing is worse than a supposed helping professional who cant handle strong language or intense emotion. No one needs a therapist who meses caretaking.

[MotownJohnny]

Thank you, Teacake.

[Teacake]

You're welcome, Johnny.

[CrazyPrincess]

I kind of found and started work with my therapist on accident. She sees adults and kids, so she was actually seeing my daughter for her difficulty with processing emotions (and other struggles). I liked the therapist, she always is calm and nothing--- not even my child's outbursts and meltdowns-- seemed to phase her. So I agree that you need someone who can handle the big emotions. I like that my T is able to explain trauma, PTSD, symptoms, body reactions, ext to me. She seems to always be able to explain why I do something or why I have certain reactions. I don't know if that makes sense---for example when I told part of a trauma memory, I admitted to having pieces missing from my memory and at the same time, remembering small insignificant details. I always thought I was crazy, or something was wrong with me for this, but she told me it made perfect sense-- it's a normal reaction to an abnormal, traumatic experience. Things like this seem to happen frequently in therapy for me. I will talk about something that I think makes no sense, or that makes me feel crazy and she will have an explanation and understanding of what I am talking about.
One last thing, my T's main goal with me is to make me feel safe. So rather than talk about my traumas at the beginning, we talked about symptoms and she worked on helping me establish safety in her office. Now, I have begun to share more, but it's always my choice, always up to me to lead. At my first appointment, I couldn't even bring myself to talk. It was horrible, and embarrassing. I asked her to talk, and so she did. She talked about trauma, PTSD, ext. But she also told me I was in complete control of anything that happens in our sessions, that I could even tell her where to sit, have her turn around and not look at me, basically whatever I needed to feel safe. I have seen a lot of shrinks, and I have never had someone give me that kind of control over my therapy. It was relief and made me feel very safe. I don't know if any of that helps, but good luck in finding someone!

[Lady Courtesan]

I have been assigned to my trauma therapist (same place you go Teacake) and have no choice. She totally freaks me out because she reminds me of one of those Nazi scientists in the movies. I' so terrified of this whiole process. I've been doing okay pretty much on my own the last six months. But I have to dance whatever they dance they choose because they control the pursestrings.

Any advice on how to do this? How to deal with this woman that frankly, terrifies me? They want to know everything-well, how did that feel when they held that knife against your throat and told you they were going to rape you again before they killed you?

And that was just the first time.

Should I be honest and hope for a miracle?

Part of recovery is facing the truth and the truth is that no one ever really cares. We are too seperate, too distant, all alone within our selves. Three billion souls on this rock and only the animals know how to communicate with each other. So if no one chooses to answer me, I don't mind.

[Open Eyes]

((((Lady Courtesan))))),

It is important that you tell this therapist that she "terrifies" you and makes you feel "unsafe". A PTSD therapist "must" help the patient feel safe, that is one of the "important" responsiblities a therapist who specializes in treating a patient with PTSD needs to maintain. If the patient doesn't feel "safe" with the therapist the therapy will not be helpful. You should not feel intimidated and think you have no say because someone else is "controlling the purse strings" either.

[MotownJohnny]

Thank you. I'm sorry, but I disagree that no one cares. I could have taken the totality of my experiences and become very isolated, bitter, and cynical. Instead, I opened up a lot to people, and have found a lot of very kind and caring people out there.