Text T how I feel...

I guess you know what your relationship with T is really like- we are not there witness how she behaves in session or her tone, body language etc, but from your posts and what she has texted you back it seems to me she is a little too familiar and crossing boundaries. You are a patient, she is a T and she should respect that position. If my T were to start swearing at me I would find it uncomfortable and unprofessional.

I think I get that what she is saying in her reply to you is that she cares about you and hates to see you listening to the negative stuff in your head, but she really could have been more supportive in her response. If you are feeling sui then I would imagine her response hasn't helped a great deal (it certainly wouldnt for me)

My first reaction to this is "Whoa! What is up with this!" I, personally, could never work with a therapist who talked to and treated me like this. The cursing is over the top. Then again, I don't talk that way and it appears by your response back to her that you do. So, in that respect, maybe you are comfortable with your therapist cursing at you?

Not sure how long you have been with your therapist, so maybe this is normal for you guys? Do you like to be talked to like this? Does it help you? I know that some people do need tough love and a very strict therapist who "tells it like it is".

I have to wonder why you think this is okay? Is this how you were treated by your parents or someone else? Is this normal for you to be treated like this by others? It sounds very condescending to me.

To be honest, it makes my skin crawl when I read it. I don't have this kind of relationship with my therapist. Yes, she does get firm with me and says things I don't like. Yes, she does tell me in a round about way that I need to stop allowing my mind to keep going back to the negative and force myself to focus on a more positive outlook for my future.

I think if your therapist had written her message this way, it would still get the message across, but not be so condescending and harsh:

"Stop focusing on all those old negative thoughts/patterns...you need to focus on how good of a person you are....that's why you need to find a way to do things that are more positive--- like maybe volunteering with others...stop focusing on all the bad....it's sad to hear when you are a good soul and could help more people. Try not to allow yourself to play the victim...it's so not true...and old part of you keeps making it a focus...focus on good things...can you go and join a meditation group?...Will you think about going and doing more good things for others?"

This is really important. Only you really know the dynamics between you and this pdoc/t.

Cats, my pdoc/t is similar. She doesn't sugar coat nuthin'. She just tells me how it is because that is what I respond to best.
I am much the same - just in case you hadn't noticed

I agree with what Chronic said. My T is very direct and blunt but she still delivers in a compassionate manner. What you said about her "suck it up Buttercup" way of responding goes against what DBT teaches. I know you aren't doing DBT, but i want to clarify because some people believe DBT to be a harsh form of therapy and it is not. I think your T may be frustrated that you are going there in your head again, perhaps you have done that before? I don't think the way she spoke to you was very helpful, although I do think that some of what she said makes sense. It sounds like she wants you to get out of your own head and stop listening to the negative self-talk, and that she feels really bad that you keep doing that to yourself (ie she knows you are worth so much more!). My T has, at times, raised her voice at me to snap me out of whatever, and it works well for me because we know each other so well and she knows exactly what to say and how to say it to get me back on track, so maybe this is why you dont feel this is abusive.

Well, I still haven't heard from her today...doesn't really look like she is going to reply to me anytime soon. -sigh-

Your T cusses at you? I'm so upset to hear that, that's awful! Has she always done that? I understand the tough love thought train, but if someone is feeling sui, that doesn't feel like a helpful approach...

Thanks TayQuincy, yes I do need to get away from listening to all the negative self talk but it's the voices that I have a real problem with and I do not understand why she won't prescribe something for me to get rid of them. She has before.

Wasn't there a new rule that you guys weren't going to text on the weekend? Maybe she is waiting until Monday?

I am hopeful that you will be able to regain your power in your next conversation with your pdoc/T and demand that something be done to help you as the current strategy is not working. This is YOUR treatment.

Did she say she wouldn't prescribe meds for the voices? If she did, can you ask her why?

Cats, in your other thread you said "So it looks like I am only able to text her during the week now. Not on weekends. She didn't say how many so I guess that is still at my discretion. She is only going to call me on days during the week that she doesn't see me."

I wonder if she is sticking by that new boundary??
I do know that there were exceptions for cutting, etc. It sounds like she needs to be more clear.

Oh no. Why are you going from bad to worse??