[hopealwayz]

And what is or has been your experience with having 2 therapists?

[ScarletPimpernel]

I have an individual T and a group T. But I think you mean 2 individual Ts.

[junkDNA]

I did at one point but it was required of me. I found it confusing. I was with my current T in his private practice, and also seeing a therapist in the treatment facility I was a part of. I would bail on the 2nd T's appointments a lot

But T2 was the one who really got me to admit my transference for my current T

I've had an EMDR T and a CBT T. I also for a while had a regular T and a T from the rehabilitation center where I went to after my leg amputation. Presently I have a regular T, a family T (who we don't see every week) and a pdoc, who is sort of a second T.

[LonesomeTonight]

I don't have two individual T's, but I do have a T and a marriage counselor. And MC will often address stuff that's more individual to me (but that generally still affects our marriage in some way) in session. So it's like having two T's sometimes. They have rather different approaches (at least in dealing with me), and I find that helpful because sometimes I need someone to be more challenging to me (T) and other times someone more reassuring (MC). And they have different insights into why I feel what I feel and do what I do--sometimes one gets it more, sometimes the other. So it balances out, and I think I'm getting more benefit than if I was only seeing one or the other.

However, it can be confusing at times, if one seems to suggest one approach, and the other a different one. Which I think is the reason that some T's don't want you seeing a second T. My T wouldn't be OK with me seeing MC individually on a regular basis when I'm also seeing her. She said that would be "duplication of services." But she's OK with the current setup because the main purpose is marriage counseling (even if individual issues are addressed within sessions).

Not therapists but for a time I was seeing two psychiatrists

Not in parallel when I was seeing them regularly but I kinda juggle two a bit now that I only want contact and appointments occasionally. I can also imagine seeing two in parallel, especially if I see them for different things, for example on alternating weeks. I would make it clear for both of them though because many Ts don't like when a patient sees someone else at the same time and it might be the source of unnecessary conflict.

Here is an older thread about the topic:
https://forums.psychcentral.com/psyc...herapists.html

[SoConfused623]

I have a T and a P-doc and I talk about everything with T and just anxiety and depression with the P-doc. I know that some people have 2 therapists and I know that it wouldn't work for me because I'd have trouble remembering what I said to each one! It would be so confusing for me and I'm already SOCONFUSED! LOL

[kecanoe]

I see two ts. At one point I was seeing 3. They all knew about each other. It works really well for me. I have a strong tendency to be dependent (as in mixed personality disorder with dependent, avoidant and schizoid traits) and seeing more than one helps keep that in check. It helps me to know that I don't have to go so long between appointments (at one point, going 24 hours between appointments was painful and harrowing). I focus on different things with different ts. They each have their style and their specialty and some topics just lend themselves to discussion with a particular t. It gives me a fall back. When I saw just one, I texted ALL the time. Now I rarely do, and when I do text it is easy to wait for a response and I do not feel the need to keep seeking the "right" answer from t1.

I've been anxious and not sleeping for a couple of weeks. One thing that has contributed is T3 backing off her usual very directive style. I like consistency. I told T1 that and we talked some and I was still feeling pretty yuck, but my session was ending. T1 asked "what can we do to get you thru til appt with T3?" I said I think I can do that, but what if it goes badly (T3 does some wonderful somatic stuff but she is not so great at talking); T1 said to just get ahold of him if it doesn't go well. He's probably fairly confident that I will figure things out with T3. But it helps me to know that if I leave there all dissociated I can get some help from T1. It makes the time before session with T3 more bearable, gives me something to hang onto, makes me more confident in giving it a try with T3.

So yeah. I find it hugely helpful. Seeing T1 twice a week just wasn't enough support. And seeing T1 five days a week was not helping either.

[stopdog]

I have had two therapists - both professing to be psychodynamic - for the last 5 or so years. I rarely see the second one now mostly due to my own schedule. But it worked well for me and I did not find it confusing in the least. I never allowed them to talk to each other or even know the other one's name. They were told I saw other therapists and neither one objected. If they had objected, it would not have mattered to me - I still would have done it.

[RainyDay107]

If you don't mind me asking, how do you all afford two Ts? I'm disabled and have Medicare. Therapists are hard to come by unless I pay out of pocket.

Originally Posted by glamslam

If you don't mind me asking, how do you all afford two Ts? I'm disabled and have Medicare. Therapists are hard to come by unless I pay out of pocket.

I think one can alternate two every other week, for example.

[kecanoe]

My insurance is ok with me seeing more than one t, as long as I don't see them on the same day. For them, it is no different than me seeing one t twice a week.