And according to the checklist( which I answered completely honestly) I am severely depressed. I am so worried about letting t know how bad I am, she knows I pretend to be ok but if I really let her in I am scared and plus I am afraid if I tell her how bad I really am she will stop me from becoming a t. I don't think she can tell my teachers as she knows them well but I don't trust her not to.

She can't tell anyone and you can still be a T. In the states T's are required to have a T. My T said he was seeing a T once 4 times a week! Button just be honest and let them help you overcome your issues and it will make you a better T in the long run!

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by LolaCabanna

She can't tell anyone and you can still be a T. In the states T's are required to have a T. My T said he was seeing a T once 4 times a week! Button just be honest and let them help you overcome your issues and it will make you a better T in the long run!

Not all states require a therapist to have a therapist. The state I live in does not require it (not even supervision is required after a period of time). It does not require a therapist to have ever had therapy themselves either.

I stand corrected.... thanks SD

It is compulsory in this country for a t to have a t. I am afraid because she knows all of these ts so well and she often brings up my teachers and it hits home that she could easily mention my name and then it will all spill out.

[stopdog]

In your country - is there no requirement mandating privacy? Here, in my state, a huge deal is made about confidentiality.

Originally Posted by stopdog

In your country - is there no requirement mandating privacy? Here, in my state, a huge deal is made about confidentiality.

Yeah there is a confidentiality rule but as my first t broke that, I am a little nervous about sharing things with these t's and as this t is my first ts supervisor and she hasn't told me this, a little part of me feels like I can't trust her.

[SallyBrown]

Originally Posted by button30

And according to the checklist( which I answered completely honestly) I am severely depressed. I am so worried about letting t know how bad I am, she knows I pretend to be ok but if I really let her in I am scared and plus I am afraid if I tell her how bad I really am she will stop me from becoming a t. I don't think she can tell my teachers as she knows them well but I don't trust her not to.

I know a lot of this is a trust issue, Button, and I hope you can overcome that. But I just wanted to say that if I somehow found out that my T struggled with severe depression, I'd love him even more. First, because I'd know he struggles past his own issues to help others with theirs. Second, because I'd know he knows what it's like.

Something that happened a few months ago made me realize that my T didn't have a very good concept of what it was like to be really seriously suicidal. And that's ok, he doesn't have to know firsthand. But... I couldn't help but think that it would make such a difference if he did. So, for one, no one can prevent you from becoming a T because you struggle with depression. And second, depression doesn't make you any less worthy than anyone else. It's nothing to be ashamed of .

[stopdog]

Here is a blogger on psychology today who has had issues of her own. There are others - this is just one example.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...wly-in-therapy

[Eliza Jane]

Originally Posted by button30

And according to the checklist( which I answered completely honestly) I am severely depressed. I am so worried about letting t know how bad I am, she knows I pretend to be ok but if I really let her in I am scared and plus I am afraid if I tell her how bad I really am she will stop me from becoming a t. I don't think she can tell my teachers as she knows them well but I don't trust her not to.

If you don't tell her, you won't be able to take full advantage of your therapy. Isn't the point of therapy for future therapists so that they can get a handle on their own issues so that they can better help others? It would be a little like cheating on your finals to go through therapy pretending to be okay when you are not.

I also really think the T will be okay with it. And hopefully helpful.

Good luck!
EJ

[learning1]

I believe therapists try to honor confidentiality but there are little slip ups and situations that I'm surprised to hear they are allowed to discuss clients with other therapists. When I've been a little concerned with it, I've asked my t's to tell me more about the rules, or asked if there were any exceptions, or something like that, in hopes that it reinforces them against slip ups. They might think I'm a little paranoid, but I think it's worth it. I figure the threat to their reputations, let alone their jobs, if they ever get caught slipping up is a pretty significant deterrent and they are pretty careful, but I still catch minor mistakes now and then.

[Willowleaf]

I doubt you will be the only one training in this position. I have been in training for a different type of therapy and it was scary how many people fell apart at the start. We had no requirement to see a therapist, but it is the ones of us who have that are making a success of things. My t once said she often finds she does some of her best work when she is having her own problems. She said the important thing is to recognise your own problems and admit them to yourself and get help through therapy and supervision. When we were talking about how this could be she talked about maybe subconsciously you are giving out the message that it is ok to hurt you can get through it. Not sure how I feel about this but have acknowledged some truth in it as long as our problems never impose on the client. As others have said it is better to have a t that knows what some of these things feel like.

[ECHOES]

she will stop me from becoming a t

Can she do that? How would that work?

[wotchermuggle]

I just wanted to pipe in with something.

I have an online friend who is studying to be in the mental health field and she got kicked out of school by her therapist and his disclosures. You are right to be concerned.

Thankfully, she was able to still continue but at a different school, but it has been very traumatizing for her.

Originally Posted by wotchermuggle

I just wanted to pipe in with something.

I have an online friend who is studying to be in the mental health field and she got kicked out of school by her therapist and his disclosures. You are right to be concerned.

Thankfully, she was able to still continue but at a different school, but it has been very traumatizing for her.

Oh dear, that must have been very hard for them, now I am going to close up and not tell t anything

Button...just ask your T about confidentiality and your concern about school.

Originally Posted by learning1

I believe therapists try to honor confidentiality but there are little slip ups and situations that I'm surprised to hear they are allowed to discuss clients with other therapists. When I've been a little concerned with it, I've asked my t's to tell me more about the rules, or asked if there were any exceptions, or something like that, in hopes that it reinforces them against slip ups. They might think I'm a little paranoid, but I think it's worth it. I figure the threat to their reputations, let alone their jobs, if they ever get caught slipping up is a pretty significant deterrent and they are pretty careful, but I still catch minor mistakes now and then.

Thanks Learning, its better to ask even if we risk t's adding paranioa to our list You are right about the risks though that Ts risk everything if they break the rules. I can totally understand if a client is at risk but otherwise no.

Originally Posted by Willowleaf

I doubt you will be the only one training in this position. I have been in training for a different type of therapy and it was scary how many people fell apart at the start. We had no requirement to see a therapist, but it is the ones of us who have that are making a success of things. My t once said she often finds she does some of her best work when she is having her own problems. She said the important thing is to recognise your own problems and admit them to yourself and get help through therapy and supervision. When we were talking about how this could be she talked about maybe subconsciously you are giving out the message that it is ok to hurt you can get through it. Not sure how I feel about this but have acknowledged some truth in it as long as our problems never impose on the client. As others have said it is better to have a t that knows what some of these things feel like.

Thanks Willowleaf. It is better to have a t has experienced things we have and who has struggled through life. It does make us better people and certainly more empathetic.

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Can she do that? How would that work?

I don't think she is allowed to do it but I don't trust her not to do it.

Originally Posted by SallyBrown

I know a lot of this is a trust issue, Button, and I hope you can overcome that. But I just wanted to say that if I somehow found out that my T struggled with severe depression, I'd love him even more. First, because I'd know he struggles past his own issues to help others with theirs. Second, because I'd know he knows what it's like.

Something that happened a few months ago made me realize that my T didn't have a very good concept of what it was like to be really seriously suicidal. And that's ok, he doesn't have to know firsthand. But... I couldn't help but think that it would make such a difference if he did. So, for one, no one can prevent you from becoming a T because you struggle with depression. And second, depression doesn't make you any less worthy than anyone else. It's nothing to be ashamed of .

Sally
That's a shame about your t, its also a shame that he wasn't able to feel what you felt, it sounds very painful and the support would have eased it a bit.
WEll I have had my share of problems but I am worried that it will be on file that I have suicidal tendencies and this could go against me. It's a catch twenty because I know how people feel and want to help others find the light again but it could also mean that I am not mentally able to do this job.
Btw, it would help to talk to someone who has been there and been suicidal rather than someone who has read about the feelings and symptoms in a book.

Originally Posted by Eliza Jane

If you don't tell her, you won't be able to take full advantage of your therapy. Isn't the point of therapy for future therapists so that they can get a handle on their own issues so that they can better help others? It would be a little like cheating on your finals to go through therapy pretending to be okay when you are not.

I also really think the T will be okay with it. And hopefully helpful.

Good luck!
EJ

Thhis is so true EJ, thank you for pointing it out, and I don't want to cheat my way through therapy, I want to do the hard work and reap the rewards.

Originally Posted by stopdog

Here is a blogger on psychology today who has had issues of her own. There are others - this is just one example.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...wly-in-therapy

Thanks Stopdog, I read through a lot of her blogs today and found them all very interesting and she is living proof that therapy is an ongoing process, it is a journey we have to continue.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by button30

Oh dear, that must have been very hard for them, now I am going to close up and not tell t anything

I don't want to scare you, but I wanted you to know what happened to her. Is it possible for you to see a therapist OUTSIDE of school? I think that would be a fantastic option, and one where you could be yourself fully without the worry of getting kicked out of school. Or even see your school therapist (if that's a requirement) but do the REAL work with someone else?

I mean, it's totally dishonest, but we all know how people look at people who struggle with mental illness. We have to look out for our own best interests, too, because no one else is going to do that.

[Anne2.0]

Originally Posted by button30

Thhis is so true EJ, thank you for pointing it out, and I don't want to cheat my way through therapy, I want to do the hard work and reap the rewards.

I think that this is a very positive attitude. I think the advantage of your having this information from the checklist now, at this relatively early stage of your healing, is that you will be able to see how far you have come in the future.

I think if you focus on doing your work, your symptoms will improve with time and the potential issues related to your mental health will resolve. I don't think anyone will be concerned with where you've been; it's where you are that is important when you become a T.