[Secretum]

Have you ever talked to your t about this site?

I've mentioned it in passing, both to the t I see now and an old t I had in college. Neither liked it. They seemed to think that this kind of an environment makes patients think that they have problems that they don't really have.

I'd like to go into mental health care, and I think I would be encouraged if my patients used a site like PC. I think it would show a sincere desire to learn and to cope.

[stopdog]

I don't care what a therapist thinks about it. I have not talked to either about it because I don't see it having any bearing on therapy with either of them.

[precaryous]

I have mentioned it to my T. She hasn't given an opinion about it one way or the other. She hasn't discouraged me from PC, either.

[JustShakey]

I've mentioned it a few times. My T expressed concern that others' negative experiences has potential to influence how I may see things with him. I agree that that could definitely be a problem, and may have had potential to affect me in the past, but I'm well over that now - I had hellish transference with previous T and it probably would not have been beneficial for me to be on PC back then (I wasn't), but now it's educational. I see a lot of pain similar to what I went through in other people's posts, and it normalizes things for me, helping me to process and understand the past.

[JaneTennison1]

I have talked about it with her. She doesn't discourage it, she has me form my own ideas. I told her about a thread on here "things I wish my T would say to me" and I felt lucky that she had expressed a lot of the things other people wish their T would.

[Lauliza]

Ive mentioned it in passing but never with specifics. T or pdoc haven't seemed phased by it. My pdoc has had an article or two on PC and other similar sites, so he's pretty internet savvy. I imagine he (and most others) assumes clients frequent these sites and forums pretty often.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Ex-T suggested this site to me so I coupd get more support. And I've told new T about here. She had some concerns about me obsessing over my issues, but otherwise she was fine with it.

My therapist did not like this psych forum for me. She came on once hoping to find a place that was more positive, and that I might get more out of, but she didn't find anything. She did want me to understand why I was on the forum, and how it was helping me get where I wanted to go. She taught me how to walk away if I was getting stressed by certain things.

I've learned to use it to challenge myself, and to increase my tolerance for different ideas and opinions. I am more tolerant in my life (just not about therapy as usual), because of some very wise regulars.

No. I have never mentioned it. This site doesn't really affect my "real" life. It also doesn't affect therapy for me. It might sound awful, but it isn't "real" to me. I know that doesn't make sense, but when I'm off here I don't even think about it.

T wouldn't come here nor would she give an Opinion. Whose to know what can or can't help someone.

[growlycat]

My CBT T seems neutral about it.

My psychodynamic T once thought that PC was triggering for me, that hanging out in healthier venues would be better for me. I agree only in a small way---PC has been a great support. There are few other places even online to discuss MH issues openly. He seems more supportive of it these days, as long as it is a support. He would rather I shut off the devices and do stuff with people face to face though.

[anilam]

I asked about it in the beginning. He didn't like it that much (several reasons were given) I took them into consideration and decided to join PC.

My first T used to make sarcastic comments about it, but I think that was due to his insecurity that I might be saying negative things about him and he was worried people might have a negative opinion of him. I once mentioned writing about a rupture on here and he said "I suppose there were a lot of (my name) supporters on there?" As if we were pitted against each other. I told him "well they're all (my name) supporters because it is a support forum, but there was a lot of sympathy for your position too". He seemed quite surprised. I know he goes on a T forum and he has always given me the impression T's on there are quite horrible about their clients.
My current T has said "it seems like a good additional source of support for you" and when I have told him things people have said to me he has said things like "that sounds like an excellent observation" so he's a lot more supportive about it.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by Secretum

Have you ever talked to your t about this site?

I've mentioned it in passing, both to the t I see now and an old t I had in college. Neither liked it. They seemed to think that this kind of an environment makes patients think that they have problems that they don't really have.

Yes, but I have never mentioned the name of the site. I asked why people seem to get diagnosed with schizophrenia when they have never had a full-blown psychosis. She gave me a list of reasons why this happens from misdiagnosis to malingering. She also agreed sites like this and psychiatric units can make people believe they are suffering from psychotic symptoms, such as seeing things at the corner of one's eye. We can all get this when we are tired or stressed. She told me this isn't a symptom of psychotic illness which I agree with. When I was ill I didn't experience that. I also asked about visual hallucinations, which I never had. Apparently these are very rare and suggest an organic rather than a psychiatric disorder. She stated people who report these experiences tend to have personality disorders and are easily influenced by others.

My psychiatrist is my source of information, not this website.

I have discussed this site with an acquaintance who is a psychotherapist. I was open about it because I thought I was doing my therapy wrong. Apparently, I'm doing it correctly even though my experience is different from most of the content posted here.

[LindaLu]

Mentioned PC a long time ago and she said watch it, it's a negative place to hang out for long periods.

We have discussed why I keep coming here even during those times when it is harmful for me. I doubt whether he has an opinion about this site as such, I don't think he has ever visited it, but he is interested in what coming here does to me. He wouldn't advise me not to come here, of course. He doesn't offer advice, that's not what I employ him for.

[ThisWayOut]

More than one of my T's (because I cycle through so many being students or community providers) have actually recommended online forums or support groups. 2 actually mentioned PC specifically. My current T mentioned using an online forum, though I am unsure if she was talking about a professional support forum, or a personal one.
I think my views on any resources depends heavily on the individual and how they utilize the support... It can be helpful for people who otherwise have no support, or who have trouble getting out of the house. I could see it being problematic for someone who has boundary issues around their own health vs what they read about, or who is triggered by some of the talk here... But I think negating the value of an online support forum these days because "it makes people think they have illnesses they don't" is like telling people that any exposure to other people, or education around illnesses is problematic...

Mine appreciates that I have made some valuable friendships here, but cautions me about the ways in which he believes it is harmful. He does not care for this forum in particular because his impression from seeing it and talking to many of his colleagues is that is aimed more toward certain groups of people more than others and tends to encourage and enable some very unhealthy behaviors and patterns. We have discussed the way certain things are handled on this forum, and he believes that it recreates really unhealthy patterns for me from my childhood and he dislikes that it causes me pain. However, he also sees the value in our discussions about those patterns, and that this forum is helping me learn to draw boundaries and accept when even those "in power" side with and defend the persons harming others with unhealthy behaviors, and simply walk away rather than engage and fight it. He wishes, however, that I would be able to do that at some point without the pain and angst around it.

[nervous puppy]

I have told my T about it, and she hasn't encouraged nor discouraged me. She has said more than once that she wants to check it out. I bring up things I've posted or things others post that really hit home for me so we can talk about it. I've told her that I wished I had found this site years ago as it might have helped with my therapy back then.
I must say that between this site and reflecting on the loss of my ex T, I am absolutely "doing" therapy differently. T wants me to slow down, but I want to go faster. She said it's like working with a grad student.

I think that coming on this forum can be quite empowering, I've learnt a huge amount about therapy on here. I'm surprised Ts don't seem to see the positives. Do they think they are the only ones who should know what is best for their clients in therapy?

Originally Posted by Brown Owl

I think that coming on this forum can be quite empowering, I've learnt a huge amount about therapy on here. I'm surprised Ts don't seem to see the positives. Do they think they are the only ones who should know what is best for their clients in therapy?

I agree. Some of the responses here highlight to me the disturbing godlike attitudes many therapists have toward their clients. Maybe they feel threatened. Who knows.

[JustShakey]

I think a lot of therapists' opinions are likely influenced by their experience (or lack thereof) of Internet subculture. Socializing on the Internet is a completely different animal than real life socializing. I think a lot of people who are comfortable with real life social settings are as uncomfortable with Internet socializing as some of us are with real life socializing.

[msxyz]

Therapists talk to other therapists about their cases all the time, I don't see why that kind of exchange should be limited to only their side.

I wonder how a therapist would react if a client would express concern over that? That it's really not that good for them? Somehow I don't think that would be taken seriously at all.

Originally Posted by puzzle_bug1987

I agree. Some of the responses here highlight to me the disturbing godlike attitudes many therapists have toward their clients. Maybe they feel threatened. Who knows.

For me my therapist saw how down it got me, and how it was negatively affecting my life at the time, so we continued to have the discussion of what I was getting from the forum. We often went on here together in my therapy sessions, and she helped me with understanding some of the responses, both positive and negative. The one thing she wanted to make clear was that I did not have to defend her and her practices. Working with her on the forum allowed me to continue to be me – make my own mind up, even if it differed with everyone posting or even her, my therapist. I am grateful that she was willing to explore PC with me for what I needed to explore to help me heal at the time.

I know longer use it for all the same purposes I used to use it. We still talk about my coming on and she is no outward feelings about it one way or the other. And, maybe because I am no longer her client.

[LindaLu]

Originally Posted by Secretum

They seemed to think that this kind of an environment makes patients think that they have problems that they don't really have.

I'm not sure what this means. Something about Contagion? Self diagnosis? Moral panic?

Are you comfortable explaining? If not that's okay. Might be sensitive topic.