What am I supposed to get out of therapy?

Just hasn't done me any good thus far, so not sure how it will do me any good in the future. I mean sure when I told a therpist I was suicidal I was able to get help but I don't feel I get any improvements from therapy.

And no offense but some posts I see about therapy disturb me...I don't want to worry about a therapist crossing professional boundaries and behaving like a clingy but manipulative person who wants to be my 'friend'. If I go to therapy I want professional help not someone trying to have some super close relationship or what not...those kind of complications would not help.

Maybe there is some kind of therapy besides CBT, it just hasn't worked so far though I admit Ive gone through varous therapists since I was 15, never really stuck with one for any long period of time.

It depends what you are there for. Why did you start therapy at 15? Why are you in therapy now?

Yeah it can be a very existentialist question, or a very practical one. Its really whatever YOU need.

I attempted suicide when I was 15, so it was decided I should go to therapy vs impatient treatment as long as I would sign a safety plan saying I would tell someone if i was feeling like harming myself or others, which I did. A year before i graduated I quit going, then I went to college and this and that and eventually moved back to my moms house...and started going again thinking it might help me cope so I could go to community college since going to regular colleges full time was not working out. And now I suppose I am going because it is recommended and I don't know what else one does for mental health aside from stuff like trying to eat better, getting enough excercise doing things you enjoy to distract from negative thinking and looking into holistic health or whatever. I've tried various anti-depressants which just make me more anxious and I have valium for anxiety as well as trazodone to help me sleep.

Hellion: I would hope your T could help you find what it is that really interests you in life and maybe point out some options to you that are worth pursuing. If you could find something you enjoy and perhaps incorporate some of that enjoyment into a career path, that would be remarkable. Eating well and exercise are important yes...but maybe your T can help you to find your passion in life. Wouldn't that be exciting?

I am on SSI because I cannot function well enough for work let alone a career. I already know some things that interest me, but it doesn't really help me feel passion or get rid of symptoms that prevent functioning.

I'm sorry Hellion, I did not realize you could not work - right now. It sounded like you were in school no? Your symptoms are between you and the professionals to work on and bring down to a level that is bearable for you. There must be a middle ground that you can attain. It may take some time and a lot of patience to get there but you need to believe you can do it. You do have a counselor helping you I hope. It's great you have interests to pursue when you are ready. Take things slow...one step at a time...and give yourself credit for the little things you accomplish everyday. I hope you will get some relief soon.

I was in school yes, but I couldn't handle the stress and for reasons I wont go into in this thread at this point being in a classroom is very triggering. I suppose it doesn't help that I only have maybe a couple sessions a month....just doesn't sem to be getting me anywhere but I am doing my best to be patient.

I just dont get it am I supposed to be entirely honest with them....and what if they don't like that I am essentially a hippie born in the wrong generation.

I think you should be entirely honest with them. If you're holding stuff back they can't get the full picture to really help you. Also I think it's important to find someone you're comfortable talking to and want to talk to. Not just someone you're "supposed" to talk to.

Hmm I suppose that is part of the hard thing...I dont even know if I am comfortable talking to the therapist I have, but usually I am not comfortable talking to anyone till I see them more often and get to know them more....so still giving it time to determine if I really feel comfortable talking to her about things.