[Arwen_78]

I've been seeing my psychiatrist for just a few months, twice pretty much. Yet, I think I picked a good one as they listen to me quite a bit and he seems to know a lot about ADD.

Anyways, last time I visited him it was suggested that if I felt that I was still having problems yet felt the medication was working that I might want to also look into therapy. The only experience that I have had with therapy was with my childhood psychiatrist. We talked about how school was going and he would keep tabs on my grades. While all that is good I'm not really in a place as of yet to afford to just pay someone to talk about life.

I've been pretty good about helping myself and I understand that the drugs aren't some magic pill. Yet, maybe it would be a good idea. Yet, what is I'm really trying to get from getting a therapist? What would I really get from having a therapist? I'm not sure that it's worth doing yet.

I've don't have a great support group as it is just family (who understand ADD but yet don't), my boyfriend (who is trying his best to understand my ADD and my moods) and really just myself. I'm learning more about ADD along with why I might do what I do or feel how I might feel. It's a new area of my ADD for me.

AH, yeah, I should say that it is quite possible that more than one of my supporters outside of myself could be ADD themselves. That is my boyfriend whom I live with. We have spend the last 3-4 years learning how to live with one another so we are not going to give it up yet.

[mazing]

Therapy can be a lot more than just chatting about life and if you can afford it I would suggest you think about it - even start with a few sessions to see how you like it and set some goals about things you might like to look at. If you find you are doing ok and don't need it now at least you know the sorts of things they can offer if you need it in the future.

It can be a great place to get support, especially if you don't have many people around you. And even then, as they are neutral and not directly involved in the situation therapists can often provide insight and support in different and less biased ways. They can also help you work thorugh the best ways to manage your ADD and support others close to you who may be struggling as well.

[archipelago]

Therapy has changed over time with me so I benefit from it more as exploration than treating symptoms. It can do both of course. I like therapy because I like to work on myself and also feel really understood by someone quite skilled so it is exhilarating to go.

That is my experience. With you, it depends on what you think you might get out of it. If you don't know, perhaps it is worth checking out for a while, as mazing has suggested. If you feel that it might be unnecessary or a burden, then perhaps it's not for you. Going to a support group is often a good alternative because you can come and go and it is usually doesn't cost anything.

[Perna]

I would make a list of my problems that I would like to do something with/about and maybe make notes whether each one is getting better or not with meds, rank order them and then pick the top three to work on? Do a bit of an experiment figuring out how to work on them by yourself/with your support group and decide after you have whether you want further help from a therapist? You could try a six-month experiment, say, and part of that would be saving a certain amount a month so after the six-month period you would have a little fund started to help pay for therapy if you decided to go that route.

[Arwen_78]

All good things to think about. Yet, what are some questions I should be asking myself in my decision of going to not going for therapy?

I've also spoken with some friends all of which have or know some in therapy. I've learned of a place in my city that if you make under $16k a year it's free. Which I do make way under $16k a year. Yet, my thoughts are on would I get the care I need from a therapist I get for free? Plus, would I feel more comfortable speaking with a female or a male therapist?

I would also like to do some homework about the person, i.e. how long have to been in practice, where did they attend school and so on. I'm use to having someone who is regarded as top or close to top in their field. As that is what my mom did for me growing up.

[CantExplain]

As I see it, there are basically two kinds of therapy: you can dredge up the past and try to come to terms with it, or you can focus on the future and learn the skills you need to cope with it.

I spent too long on the past and not enough on the future.

[learning1]

I think if it's free there's a chance it won't be as good, but since it's free, it's worth trying and see if you can get lucky and find a therapist you like there. Otherwise, you have to think about whether the financial debt you might get into for therapy causes more problems than the therapy fixes. I don't konw.

[PrisonBound]

Free doesn't equal bad. Often times, if it's free, its being done at a university. Yes, the actual therapist might be a resident (but still an MD) who is being supervised by highly trained psychiatrists. Its no secret that teaching hospitals are some of the best to go to for a physical illness because of this..no different for psychiatric illness.

Just my 2 cents. But I work at a university

[Arwen_78]

Agree, free does not always = bad. The thing is it isn't being done through a school, which if it was I'm OK with that as they need to learn. Usually if it's through a school the person who is doing has had to watch or shadow for some amount of hours. It's just sometimes free means you might get someone who is use to dealing with complete nut cases, which I am not, there is nothing wrong with this but they might look at me as one of the nut cases. I'm just in need of someone who might might help me keep my mine on goals. Just someone to push me more than I can push myself.