[solpuer]

A little background info on me: I have been diagnosed with major depression and severe anxiety. I see a psychiatrist about every other month (only for med changes/updates) and a therapist every other week.
I was diagnosed with this condition January 2013, but I have had feelings of depression and anxiety since the 5th grade (I am going into my senior year now). I struggle to function in social situations, and I have had bad experiences at both schools I have been to. I had to home school the last part of my junior year because I was pretty severely harassed by a group of girls online and at school to the point of not being able to get up and go to school in the morning. I would have a panic attack before I even left the house, and if I got so far as to get in the car I would contemplate running off the road just so I didn't have to go to school.
I am going to a new school this year in hopes of having a somewhat normal high school experience for my senior year. I do not know anyone at this school or know anything about the school really (I didn't get to choose the school, my dad did), so I am extremely anxious that things could end up the same way that they have been in the past.
I haven't been sleeping well at night if I don't take ambien, I'm miserable, I don't have motivation to do anything, I feel exhausted all the time and I feel like I'm about to crawl out of my skin in every social situation that I am put in. I have been on Paxil, Prozac, and am currently weening off of Pristiq onto Cymbalta.

Now, as I said, I do go to a therapist every other week. However all she tells me when I explain to her my concerns for the following year is "I am going to think positively and believe in you and believe that you can do this. You should also think the same." She also tells me (and has been telling me since I began to see her about 5 months ago) to focus on 4 things: "Feeding your mind good things, your body good things, exercise and sleeping well." I can tell her that I am completely miserable and that I cannot think positively even though I am trying as hard as I can, and believe me, I am), and she will still say these same things. I have previously told her that if I were to die, I would not care, and she still told me the same things.

I'm not sure if this is all a therapist is supposed to do, but I honestly thought going into this that I was going to have someone to explain to me why I feel the way I do, give me coping techniques, and generally help me plan for the future. I am extremely frustrated and I feel as though I have no one to talk to that will really give me good advice.

Is this really what therapy should be?

[stopdog]

Unfortunately there is really no standard for those therapist people. There are all sorts of therapies and therapists.
Have you tried any other therapist? That is what I would suggest - perhaps interviewing several others of different and similar orientations to the one you see now and compare them.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Originally Posted by solpuer

I honestly thought going into this that I was going to have someone to explain to me why I feel the way I do, give me coping techniques, and generally help me plan for the future. I am extremely frustrated and I feel as though I have no one to talk to that will really give me good advice.

My first two therapists more more of the style that you describe yours as being. It took working up the courage to try one more therapist to find someone that does exactly what you describe above. She helps me to understand why I feel the way I do, helps me to learn and practice healthy coping skills, and is there for me when I am panicking and need someone to help me calm down.

[feralkittymom]

Supportive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are pretty common treatments for depression, but it doesn't sound like your T is engaged sufficiently. One visit every two weeks is also a bit sparse.

[neutrino]

That reminds me of my first therapist who I started seeing in May this year. She told me things such as "just stop caring what other people think of you", "just stop carrying out your compulsions", "just ignore that thought", "just think positive thoughts" etc. No matter what I said and no matter how many times I told her it's not that easy she repeated those sentences and told me to "just do" things. I left every session feeling angry and annoyed with the therapist and I dreaded every session. I didn't like her and I couldn't trust her so I quit after about four weeks. Even though quitting was scary it was the best decision in a while. Now I've got another therapist who's much better.

I'm not saying you should quit. I'm simply saying that not all therapists will be right for you so you might have to "shop around" a bit before finding someone you feel comfortable with. I'm still trying to figure out if I trust my new therapist (and that might take a while) but at least I don't want to smash things when I leave the sessions anymore.

Therapy needs to be a committed regular thing.

[tinyrabbit]

I think you need a different therapist!

I had one like that in my teens, briefly. He made me do breathing exercises. He was useless.