[InRealLife45]

Anyone participate in partial hospitalization DBT & go to school (graduate school) at the same time?

My therapist told me not to go to school while doing DBT program (8:30-3:00 m-f) but my program chair said she thinks I can handle both, that being busy would be best for me and help prevent a spin out resulting from terminating with my therapist, that I can control it, I don't have to spin out.

I'm not sure what to do...

School would be two days a week, one day/one class from 6-10, the second day two classes, two hours each, still 6-10.

Program chair also thinks I'm "getting attached" to her. I told her I wasn't going to get a new therapist that I just wouldn't attach to anyone, and she laughed and gestured with her hand and said "what do you think you're doing here?" You're getting attached to me...so you won't get attached to a therapist, you'll just get attached to your program chair?

[growlycat]

I work full time and I wanted to do a DBT group myself. I ended up seeing a local CBT T instead--he is better covered under my insurance than DBT. My nearest DBT group does not bill insurance directly which is such a hassle I decided not to bother right now. But if money/insurance were not an issue I would have done it.

If you think you can do it, and you probably can, go for it. Only you know what schedule you can handle.

When you say your therapist, isn't that the same one that discouraged you from doing anything to improve your life? I personally don't think the world has to stand still while one seeks treatment.

[divine1966]

If it's only two nights a week you can certainly do it. I got my masters while working full time and had a kid at home. That's not un manageable

As about attaching to the chair.,. I believe you need to
Find good t who can help you to figure out why are you attaching to people and how to get better abput it. I would drop old t though for sure

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[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by divine1966

If it's only two nights a week you can certainly do it. I got my masters while working full time and had a kid at home. That's not un manageable

As about attaching to the chair.,. I believe you need to
Find good t who can help you to figure out why are you attaching to people and how to get better abput it. I would drop old t though for sure

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its two nights a week but its still three classes. ad i feel like ill be drained emotionally from dbt. but i dont know. I guess i can try both for one week and see if i can handle it. if not i have 7 days to drop my classes with refund.

I find being busy helpful. I completed a large piece of work for my studies last month the same week that I had a really difficult week in therapy. Somehow my emotions just parked while I studied.

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by Brown Owl

I find being busy helpful. I completed a large piece of work for my studies last month the same week that I had a really difficult week in therapy. Somehow my emotions just parked while I studied.

I'm afraid I can only "park" my emotions when I'm not eating. And trying NOT to relapse my eating disorder.

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[ThisWayOut]

I think you need to take t's advice with a grain of salt. She's not proven to have the best insight lately...

If you think you can handle school and dbt, if might be worth it to keep busy. I still think you would be well served by finding a qualified and workable t.dbt is great for skills, but not for processing stuff. If you can find a way to swing both a t and the program, it would probably work better. I know you said insurance doesn't cover both, but maybe you can work something out with them?

[InRealLife45]

Gotta find a t first!!!

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[ThisWayOut]

So keep looking... :P

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by ThisWayOut

So keep looking... :P

Dead end. No T for me.

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[BonnieJean]

Instead of 3 classes, can you take 1 or 2? It would lighten the load but keep you moving forward.

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by BonnieJean

Instead of 3 classes, can you take 1 or 2? It would lighten the load but keep you moving forward.

it would only be two classes at a time- one 15 weeks, two 7.5 weeks.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by InRealLife45

Dead end. No T for me.

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I don't know if you are in a big city/large metro but there are so many Ts in my area you throw a rock you hit one. Plus your professor might help?

Two classes are even better. You can do it

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[InRealLife45]

She already tried, no dice.

The issue isn't a lack of t's, it's a lack if t's willing to work with bpd and eating disorders that also take my insurance.

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I'm sorry you haven't been able to find a new T.

[divine1966]

When you call for appointments do you have to disclose your concerns? When I was looking for t called large clinic and said I want to see a t. That was it. They never asked what for. Later on I filled in paperwork etc

Do therapists actually tell you that they will not work with you when they hear your diagnosis? That shocks me, I know people with any kind of variety of Mental illnesses and they do see therapists. This is so crazy you can't see a t! Very unfair

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[PinkFlamingo99]

I think it depends on what YOU feel you can handle. I'm taking time off right now and I'm very very thankful because I'm not doing very well. I think inside you know what you can or can't handle.

[Lauliza]

I think you should give it a try. In my experience, the busier I am, the better. I can't "park" emotions so easily either, but I managed 2 classes a semester with 3 kids a part time job and being separated from my H. Without the distractions of therapy and school I would have had too much time to sink into despair.

I do understand the lack of therapist options given your BPD dx and especially for the eating disorder. I'm in Boston and am interning at an ED clinic and the Ts with real ED experience are very rare.

I think it might be risky for you to go completely without a therapist, however, even if it's only for months check ins or even less. I think Divine's suggestion to keep the borderline part of your diagnosis out of it initially. If you state it as if it's your primary diagnosis (which it shouldn't be anyway for insurance purposes), then it can scare some Ts since aside from DBT Ts, most don't have enough expertise to do that kind of work. Insurance isn't usually generous with benefits for clients with personality disorders either, so sadly that could be a deterrent as well. So while you are interviewing Ts maybe give depression and anxiety as your issues and save the rest for later. Many people enter into therapy giving only the basic, least intense info - most is uncovered well after trust has been established and you feel connected.

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by Lauliza

I think you should give it a try. In my experience, the busier I am, the better. I can't "park" emotions so easily either, but I managed 2 classes a semester with 3 kids a part time job and being separated from my H. Without the distractions of therapy and school I would have had too much time to sink into despair.

I do understand the lack of therapist options given your BPD dx and especially for the eating disorder. I'm in Boston and am interning at an ED clinic and the Ts with real ED experience are very rare.

I think it might be risky for you to go completely without a therapist, however, even if it's only for months check ins or even less. I think Divine's suggestion to keep the borderline part of your diagnosis out of it initially. If you state it as if it's your primary diagnosis (which it shouldn't be anyway for insurance purposes), then it can scare some Ts since aside from DBT Ts, most don't have enough expertise to do that kind of work. Insurance isn't usually generous with benefits for clients with personality disorders either, so sadly that could be a deterrent as well. So while you are interviewing Ts maybe give depression and anxiety as your issues and save the rest for later. Many people enter into therapy giving only the basic, least intense info - most is uncovered well after trust has been established and you feel connected.

I've found myself unceremoniously referred out when i lie or omit my bpd diagnosis.

At this point I really just feel over the whole therapist thing. If they don't want me, I don't want them either.

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[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by divine1966

When you call for appointments do you have to disclose your concerns? When I was looking for t called large clinic and said I want to see a t. That was it. They never asked what for. Later on I filled in paperwork etc

Do therapists actually tell you that they will not work with you when they hear your diagnosis? That shocks me, I know people with any kind of variety of Mental illnesses and they do see therapists. This is so crazy you can't see a t! Very unfair

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No, I choose to tell them up front so neither of us wastes our time. Most of em just don't want to deal with it and that's understandable.

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[Lauliza]

Originally Posted by InRealLife45

I've found myself unceremoniously referred out when i lie or omit my bpd diagnosis.

At this point I really just feel over the whole therapist thing. If they don't want me, I don't want them either.

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That's too bad. Well I hope the DBT program works out for you. I still think you can do it and stay in school. I've seen clients in partial programs work, go to school, etc.. There's no reason for you to put something as important as school on hold.

[InRealLife45]

Originally Posted by Lauliza

That's too bad. Well I hope the DBT program works out for you. I still think you can do it and stay in school. I've seen clients in partial programs work, go to school, etc.. There's no reason for you to put something as important as school on hold.

Just signed up for my three classes, so hopefully it works out.

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[divine1966]

Originally Posted by InRealLife45

No, I choose to tell them up front so neither of us wastes our time. Most of em just don't want to deal with it and that's understandable.

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I don't suggest you lie. It isn't my style. I just asked if you have to disclose because when I called around looking for therapists on both occasions no one asked if I had Illness or disorder. I wanted therapist and that was it. Now at a first appt I had to write answers about my concerns so if I had mental illness then it would come out then.

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[Lauliza]

Originally Posted by divine1966

I don't suggest you lie. It isn't my style. I just asked if you have to disclose because when I called around looking for therapists on both occasions no one asked if I had Illness or disorder. I wanted therapist and that was it. Now at a first appt I had to write answers about my concerns so if I had mental illness then it would come out then.

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This is what I meant too. Not lie, just give the basics and leave the detailed info for the first appointment.