Is this the right way to go about getting 'better'?

My therapist, a clinical nurse (-_- I was seeing a psychologist but got given a clinical nurse after leaving the mental health services care for a short period of time), seems to be more focused on how I am doing in regards to making friends in college and how I'm doing with getting on the bus etc. She's much more focused on solving my problems yet I don't even know what those problems are or where they stem from.

I've not been diagnosed with anything, no one has suggested anything. My boyfriend thinks I have PTSD, my mum thinks I have bipolar and I'm pretty sure everyone I meet assumes I am depressed. All I know is that there is something wrong with my head, but everyone I have spoken to at this mental health service place doesn't want to diagnose me.. not that I've asked to be diagnosed or even hinted at it.

I'm not on medication (which I think would help me personally - I'm not a talky person..), I barely see my therapist (she has no time and has more urgent cases), yet I feel like I'm about to collapse into a heap of broken-ness and I don't know what to do. I know I'm bad. It's weird to say, but my mental health right now is deteriorating and it's bad (for me to deal with anyway). Yet I don't even know what the hell is wrong?

Is this the right way for my therapist to be going about getting me 'better'? I am one of those people that likes to know the problem before coming up with solutions.. I'm pretty sure my therapist is more interested in how many friends I've made or what I'm learning in my classes as opposed to whether I slept the night before or not or whether I am actually eating and being able to leave the house etc.

What do I do? Should I tell her all of this.. what if she turns around and says there is nothing wrong with me? (I know that's the ideal outcome.. but I have a big feeling it's not just nothing). I've had mental health issues ever since being young and my whole family believes there is something going on... just no one knows what.

I don't know the way things are set-up in the U.K. vs. the USA, but seeing that you said you barely see her, I wonder if your clinical nurse is really a therapist.

In many large health agencies here, patients are assigned to check-in regularly with a nurse who monitors how they're doing and whether or not they need to see a psychiatrist for a medication check, be assigned to group therapy or individual therapy. The nurse asks about daily life and how things are going and offers helpful suggestions, and it can be very helpful, but it's not necessarily what I would consider therapy. It's what I'd call support.

In many areas, there are waiting lists to see a psychiatrist or psychologist or therapist. Can you ask the clinical nurse if you can see the psychologist again or be put on the waiting list? If you tell her you think you need that help and why, she may be able to expedite it for you.

From what you said about yourself, it does sound like regular weekly sessions with a therapist where you sat down and talked for close to an hour would be helpful to you.

Perhaps request to see a psychiatrist? my initial plan last year was to start with a therapist while my primary care physician handled my medication, but my symptoms worsened (severe anxiety at the time, overall a blend of anxiety and depression) so she referred me to a psychiatrist. I didn't click with the therapist I saw in the psychiatrist's office, but actually hit it off very well with my psychiatrist so she schedules extended appointments (45-60 minutes) for me rather than the 15 minute med check and does therapy with me then.

I still only see her on a monthly basis as she has a larger client panel than a therapist would. That said it is sufficient for me. It might be a good system for you, even if not at least you could perhaps get a more clear understanding on a working diagnosis and discuss meds. Perhaps then they can recommend another therapist in the group that you'd be a better fit with than the current nurse.

If you have suffered trauma you need to tell your therapist about it. You say you are not a talky person, so how about writing down your major problems? Thats what I do as I tend to go blank when faced with a doctor/therapist.
Mental health care in the UK needs improving.
Apparently a diagnosis of bipolar for instance takes an average of 10 years!

I'm so sorry for imposing on your thread, but I'm new and I see how to reply to a thread but after 5 months of looking I can't figure out how to start my own topic and I have so many questions!!! I'm on the iPhone Tapatalk. Thanks in advance and again, I'm so sorry about interrupting your space!!!

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Thank you for the replies, I do greatly appreciate it.

I currently see her for hourly sessions. What I was trying to say in my first post, is that I am a person who likes routine. I like to know what I'm doing, when I am doing it and why. And right now, it's stressing me out having appointments left right and center... they are never on the same day, never at a similar time and never with the same amount of space between them.

Yes, I said I wasn't a talky person and by that I meant, unless I am on a rant or something has very much bothered me (and the person there is someone I am comfortable with), I don't like to talk about myself or my experiences. However, I can talk for hours about it if the other person leads the conversation (asks questions). Which I have told her many times...

I've written down my major problems before, but right now, I'm having difficulty separating the physical and the mental (I'm experiencing a lot of muscular/joint pain and I doubt my possibly-mental problems by just putting them down as a result of my hurting from my joints etc).

I'd very much like to see a pschiatrist - as well as having the qualifications/experience, I'd also like to talk about medication and find out what exactly it is 'wrong' with me. I feel as though the lady I see, well, it feels like she can't do any of that.

I guess, I can sum it all up by saying that my 'therapist' right now seems as though she doesn't take my problems nor what I am going through seriously. And, it could just be my self-esteem however, I feel like I'm being treated like a stereo-typical 17 year old girl with mental health problems (i.e. apparently I'm emotionally unstable - no seriously, that's my current 'diagnosis'/why I was referred to see a mental health worker).

Worst part of all of this. 2 years ago I saw the same service, only I was referred to a Child Psychologist (who works with people up to the age of 18). I saw her for about 7 months and then I stopped seeing her because I went through a tough bout of depression/denial thinking everything was fine. When I went through a bad period again, I was referred back to the same service, only this time I was handed over to a Clinical Nurse.

I don't know what to think.. or say to her on Friday. I'd feel rude saying I'd like to see a psychologist/psychiatrist.

EDIT: Wow, sorry for the essay - I've had a tough day and needed something to rant about.

Nothing to be sorry about, Khione. You expressed the problem well. It's not rude or wrong to ask to see a psychiatrist. It's not an insult to the nurse, especially if you explain you're wondering if you might benefit from medication for your symptoms. I wish you the best and hope you get the help you're asking for.