[SarahSweden]

I´ve seen a new T for about 10 times now and I don´t feel hope about getting better. I can´t cleary see how she can help me and I doubt she can. She is just who she is and I don´t think talking to her about this will do any good.

Shall I just quit?

I don't think so. But, it would be prudent to tell her this is how you feel. Tell her too your expectations: what will getting better look like when it happens, what is the measurement of improvement, what is a suitable time frame to see these things happen?

Personally I don't believe therapy is there to fix you rather to teach you to strategize and cope.

[AllHeart]

Originally Posted by SarahSweden

Shall I just quit?

Do you get any benefit whatsoever out of seeing her? If so, does that benefit carry more value than the frustrations you leave with? If you quit, can you go to another t? If not, is this t better than no t?

I guess if there is any positive to seeing this t whatsoever, it would likely be worth it to discuss what you are feeling before just quitting. Maybe it won't change anything, or maybe it will. Either way, you'll have peace of mind knowing you did everything you could to make the best of it.

[unaluna]

It takes a long time to make a change. What have you been doing outside of your sessions to improve hopefulness? Really all a t does is bear witness. Or be like a guardian angel. WE still have to do the work. But it HAS been proven that, having a positive influence in your life can have a positive effect on your life, and that someone dragging you down can indeed keep you down. At least my ts have said so. But i have a book about it too. Mozart was constantly encouraged from a young age.

[SarahSweden]

Thanks. No, I don´t get any long time benefits out of seeing her. I sometimes feel it has been a nice time chatting with her but after some hours on my own, I don´t feel any effect.

I don´t have any other good alternatives as this T is the only one at this facility and if I make the choice to quit, they won´t help me to get another T.

I think this therapy drags more energy than I get from attending sessions.

Originally Posted by AllHeart

Do you get any benefit whatsoever out of seeing her? If so, does that benefit carry more value than the frustrations you leave with? If you quit, can you go to another t? If not, is this t better than no t?

I guess if there is any positive to seeing this t whatsoever, it would likely be worth it to discuss what you are feeling before just quitting. Maybe it won't change anything, or maybe it will. Either way, you'll have peace of mind knowing you did everything you could to make the best of it.

[Pennster]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't just quit if you really wanted to, though it does sound like you don't have a lot of options.

Do you think you could try working another way with her? Like maybe try to find a workbook and ask if she will help you work through it? Or ask her to suggest some books she thinks might help you? Or work on mindfulness with her? Or try to advise a plan for some area of your life and use her as an accountability partner to help you get on track?

Maybe there might be some way she could be helpful that you haven't quite hit on yet - I dunno! I can imagine you must be feeling quite frustrated. If you had more options it would be good to shop around but you sound like you don't have a lot of other resources and that you are eager to get help.

[brillskep]

10 sessions is really a short time to make significant changes, even though it may not seem so - I can understand how it feels to be hopeless and see you're not getting better, but just know that this isn't unusual for just 10 sessions. It could be the short time or it could be the fact that this therapist isn't helping you. You could tell the difference by talking to her about this and also thinking about a few things for yourself. For example, were you hopeless before entering therapy with this person? Did you feel you couldn't be helped? There are people who just feel that way about themselves and it's a belief that can possibly prevent one from getting useful help. But on the other hand it may also be that you felt and feel you can be helped and just don't see this particular therapist as having the necessary skills to help you, in which case it would make sense to move on. Have you seen more therapists to choose one you would continue see? That could help you have a range of options, It could be the personality or school of thought that the therapist is focusing on and you might need a different approach. You could just quit, but personally the fact that you ask the question sounds to me like there may also be a part of you wanting to stay. Is there perhaps something that you are getting out of these sessions? You can always look up other therapists and perhaps, if you want, have an honest talk with thistherapist to try and figure out what is happening. That in itself could be a very good clarification for you, to know how to proceed. Good luck!

[Chummy]

It usually takes some time to get used to a T and to see/feel improvement. Sometimes you can feel even more bad because you are talking about all the stuff that's been bothering you.
I've started therapy again over a year ago. And there wasn't really improvement for months. I felt so hopeless. I was in a really bad/low state. I had thought about quiting. I even searched google to see if I could find a T that might could help me. But I stayed with my T. I liked her a lot and she understands most of what I tell her. But at that time I doubted if she could help me. I thought I might be a too hard case for her.

Maybe you can talk to her about your concerns? Thought I didn't tell my T this.
If you really think it won't work, then it's better to quit. I've stayed too long with some T's. I thought it was me. I thought I couldn't be helped. But it can also be the T. T's don't know everything. They don't understand every client they see. They don't know about all the mental diseases that are there

But if they won't help you with finding a new T, can't you look for one yourself? Google what T's there are near you? Or ask your doctor/gp for a referal?

[Trippin2.0]

Maybe her therapeutic approach is not helpful?


I mean I would not find therapy helpful or hopeful at all if all I did was use the time to vent and chat.


I have friends for that.


My therapy is very goal orientated, my T's role is more like that of a guide than a sounding board.


My suggestion would be to discuss this with your T and see if she has any ideas on how to offer a service better suited to you, before deciding to quit.