[kathyps33]

wondering if counseling is really helping ptsd? i have done several therapies: cbt, dbt and doing a cpt program now but things seem worse not better overall. I have learned some helpful techniques for coping but want to get to the place where the good outweighs the bad? feel like quitting is it really worth it to put myself back thru all the emotions of the abuse?

[splitimage]

Originally Posted by kathyps33

wondering if counseling is really helping ptsd? i have done several therapies: cbt, dbt and doing a cpt program now but things seem worse not better overall. I have learned some helpful techniques for coping but want to get to the place where the good outweighs the bad? feel like quitting is it really worth it to put myself back thru all the emotions of the abuse?

The only trauma therapy I did that was helpful was EMDR, but that has to be done with a really skilled professional, and therapy that did not look at revisiting the trauma, but instead looked at how the trauma was affecting my life now in negative ways, and what I could do now to change my coping. There's an excellent workbook called "Life after Trauma" that helped me a lot, but I'd recommend working through it with the guidance of a therapist.

splitimage

[Ceara1010]

You need a therapist trained to deal with trauma if they are to be any help, and there don't seem to be many of these around, at least not where I live. But I've found that support from people who have PTSD is the best resource.

[Gus1234U]

i find 'heavy-handed, untrained therapists' to be worse than nothing,,,
i always take weeks to recover after some ignoramous triggers me by eliciting discussions of traumas that are still in my life.

that being said, i have found some relief in revisiting old traumas and changing the way i label them. many things have actually led to insights and strengths that i otherwise would not have developed.

it's a dual edged sword, and must be handled with care.