[beauflow]

so it took me about a month of being depressed and another month just to go through the motions of the county to get to now my third session of therapy today.
About two weeks ago my second session of therapy i was asked by t "do you even need therapy?" and "i think meds will help you". I'm a little upset of with just two sessions this is what i'm told. Not only that but the first session i was told "you need to be stable to talk about some issues". The last session t was honest she said she was over booked with patients. She has 20 more than usual. She did offer to continue with me. I am the one that was like i want to speak with a psychologist to be sure i'm bipolar and t not just agreeing with me these two sessions plus other questions with what will the meds really help with and will it help with brain plasticity? But i'm just curious what others would feel with what little i've given here.

I'm confused that i'm not stable to talk but i don't need therapy per last session. And so quickly to put someone on meds. How do they know what i need? Is this normal for therapy? I wish i could fork out the money for a private therapist but i just can't.
I'm i little disappointed with it all as well it took a hit on my pride to go in and be like i need some help. And i went in to get some more coping methods for life and try to get some grip on how to cope with some other things like suggestions on what i could do to think not just a happy pill or them giving me answers i want to be clear on that i'm sure some can relate to that, maybe? Any who today i go in think i'm just going to be honest and tell her she seems too busy for all of her work load and so on but still see the psychsist and see if they concur with meds. I'll admit maybe some anti anxiety meds may help with some work problems i have. But idk to be honest as well.

[sunrise]

Could it be she is too busy to provide therapy and that is why she is suggesting you don't need it? Can you ask to see a different therapist or are they all similarly overburdened?

I think meds often can help with Bipolar. But if meds are needed, meds plus therapy are even better, so don't give up on therapy just because you start taking meds. You can tell your T you want therapy whether or not you also take meds, and ask for a referral to someone who is able to provide therapy if she cannot.

Originally Posted by beauflow

And so quickly to put someone on meds. How do they know what i need? Is this normal for therapy?

Meds are not within the scope of practice of a therapist so don't put too much stock in the T's advice on this. Wait to see what the pdoc says.

Originally Posted by beauflow

I am the one that was like i want to speak with a psychologist to be sure i'm bipolar

Therapists are qualified to diagnose bipolar. You will also get the opinion of the pdoc when you see him/her, so I don't think a psychologist is a necessary referral here. But if you don't trust this therapist's diagnosing skills, you can always get a second/third opinion.

[beauflow]

thank sunrise.
That's helpful for me i wanted therapy for a while before even considering meds. And yep agree that therapy would be needed even with meds. I was just thrown off. She is busy i understand but today she was more focused it seemed like. I agreed to see her biweek and i brought up that she mentioned she was swamped but she said it would be ok. Today we actually talked about a treatment plan so That's a good sign. As i told t i would read up and maybe get the book we'll be using so i can get some skills to sink in for me. I think t must had reread my intake or something from last session cause she backed off the whole meds and suggested maybe herbal help i like that better so i will do some research on some and run them by. The pdoc i just want to be sure i'm bipolar i guess i'm even going to try a focus organization for bipolar and see what they say. See it's like my whole family or half of them are bipolar and with me i have past issues with something that i just don't want to go on meds and find out later i shouldn't had. I have felt like t has just agreed with me on mood swings and so forth, i guess i'm stubborn as well. Throu this all i've been like nothings wrong with me and so on as i know many do in my family. But idk she likes my ambition with me starting mood tracking on my own and some other stuff (she likes its also a thing she against me with the whole do i need therapy but as i mentioned today she seemed more focused and we made a plan today). But as i told my boyfriend even if she seems too busy maybe i can get something from her input she may have. i'm trying to stay positive with this thank you though today i also mentioned the other organization and she was like well you could try both us and them didn't feel pushed off today with go go go to them (lol?) i do realise part of my whole upset with it could me getting too emotional or feeling it personal and sorry for that