[fishsandwich]

I've come to realise more and more that the therapy - psychoanalysis - that I have been having for the past three years is not going to help me. I need something else. But what?

I have quite a few difficult limitations:
1. I won't see any therapist who advocates medications or psychiatric treatments. I also won't see any therapist who works through or with a doctor. Somewhat relatedly, I also won't see doctors.
2. Cost is a huge factor.
3. No CBT. I dislike it except when I use its ideas as a self-help strategy.

I know there are dozens of different kinds of therapy, but I don't know how to choose. I'd like to better cope with (amongst other things) trauma and PMS.

Originally Posted by fishsandwich

I've come to realise more and more that the therapy - psychoanalysis - that I have been having for the past three years is not going to help me. I need something else. But what?

I have quite a few difficult limitations:
1. I won't see any therapist who advocates medications or psychiatric treatments. I also won't see any therapist who works through or with a doctor. Somewhat relatedly, I also won't see doctors.
2. Cost is a huge factor.
3. No CBT. I dislike it except when I use its ideas as a self-help strategy.

I know there are dozens of different kinds of therapy, but I don't know how to choose. I'd like to better cope with (amongst other things) trauma and PMS.

Maybe a more eclectic therapist who uses many different types of therapy....like mind/body, etc. Maybe the best way to choose is instead of focusing on your limitations...maybe you should make a list of what you do want in a therpist.... what you want therapy to look like... so when you interview new therapist you could ask lots of questions to see if its a good fit when you call...

[stopdog]

Have you tried anything like reiki or cranial sacral therapy?

[WikidPissah]

I agree with RTS, maybe focus more on what you want then what you don't want. There is a list of med free practitioners on the mindfreedom site.

(traditional mental health services don't work well for me either)

[Perna]

EMDR might help?

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Post...s-Disorder.htm

How about DBT? It's all just coping skills. No talk therapy (well, very little from what I understand). It seems very practical and maybe just right if you are feeling sick of endlessly analyzing stuff.

[adel34]

Hi,
I agree with what others have said that focusing on what you want will be helpful. Although I'm glad you're so clear on what you don't want, that's half of it anyway.
If you're into creativity finding an expressive arts therapist might be helpful. They use art, music, poetry, writing, and dance in the service of healing, and specialize in all sorts of conditions including trauma. It's more active than traditional talk therapy.
Also, what about internal family systems. It views the mind as a system of parts that learn to work together for healing. It too is about active inner work rather than analysis.
Hope this helps.

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Have you tried anything like reiki or cranial sacral therapy?

Yes, but I need talk therapy.

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by Readytostop

Maybe a more eclectic therapist who uses many different types of therapy....like mind/body, etc. Maybe the best way to choose is instead of focusing on your limitations...maybe you should make a list of what you do want in a therpist.... what you want therapy to look like... so when you interview new therapist you could ask lots of questions to see if its a good fit when you call...

I don't even know how to find that. I think the fellow I'm seeing now tries to do that, but I left my last session so incredibly angry at him that I can't see him anymore.

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by Perna

EMDR might help?

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Post...s-Disorder.htm

Oh yeah, I've had that before. It didn't help me any.
I'm very tough to help

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by Lillylillie

How about DBT? It's all just coping skills. No talk therapy (well, very little from what I understand). It seems very practical and maybe just right if you are feeling sick of endlessly analyzing stuff.

That's interesting. I hate CBT and I've recently made another thread about how I can't make mindfulness work for me! I never would have thought anybody would bother to combine them.
Maybe I should just get a mindfulness coach. Or go see a Buddhist monk ;D

[fishsandwich]

Originally Posted by adel34

Also, what about internal family systems. It views the mind as a system of parts that learn to work together for healing. It too is about active inner work rather than analysis.
Hope this helps.

Oh, I just read about that and it sounds really interesting! I'm going to see if I can find a practitioner.

[carla.cdt]

mindfulness is great and can be use in all area of your life. No medication for mindfulness!

[sunrise]

My T's approach is strongly humanistic. Would you consider this? My T is also Family Systems. I think many Ts are eclectic these days.

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by fishsandwich

I know there are dozens of different kinds of therapy, but I don't know how to choose. I'd like to better cope with (amongst other things) trauma and PMS.

Plain ole "supportive" therapy might be helpful.. sure has been for me. Also, a therapist who likes "family systems" type therapy can be really good because they understand a lot about complex family relational issues and how they affect us.. as well as having great coping strategies for those kinds of issues.

[moose1]

I know I'm late to this thread, but OP, I'm curious to know what you don't like about psychoanalysis. I'm in what I would call psychodynamic therapy, rooted in psychoanalysis, and I'm also thinking of leaving my therapist. After 4 years of 3x per week therapy, I'm still dealing with awful depression and anxiety.

For me, I think it's less about the brand of therapy and more that I've just never felt good about my therapist, never felt understood and have always hated his cold, formal style, despite all his other excellent qualities.