[Rosan7534]

I feel like my T session are aimless. I had a ton of trauma and I have a lot of issues from all of it. So I start with T and laundry list everything, that takes a few sessions. Then recommends Pdoc who wrote some scripts. Then T mostly spends sessions by starting out how I felt that week and then now saying 'you shouldn't do that' or 'maybe go back to school', 'maybe go to church' or 'try painting'. And then the session is over. I feel like it's totally aimless and I do feel a little better but I hear other people talk about their t and it sounds so intense or profound... my time is usually .. how do you feel, you should try doing this, and then bye. I have moments of rage, dissociation, complete despair. I don't know if going in an *****ing and then getting I'm so proud of you is going to fix it. Thoughts?

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by Rosan7534

I feel like my T session are aimless. I had a ton of trauma and I have a lot of issues from all of it. So I start with T and laundry list everything, that takes a few sessions. Then recommends Pdoc who wrote some scripts. Then T mostly spends sessions by starting out how I felt that week and then now saying 'you shouldn't do that' or 'maybe go back to school', 'maybe go to church' or 'try painting'. And then the session is over. I feel like it's totally aimless and I do feel a little better but I hear other people talk about their t and it sounds so intense or profound... my time is usually .. how do you feel, you should try doing this, and then bye. I have moments of rage, dissociation, complete despair. I don't know if going in an *****ing and then getting I'm so proud of you is going to fix it. Thoughts?

Have you tried telling T that you don't find that approach to be helpful? It also could be that this T and her style are not a good fit for you. I did see a T a couple times who made similar suggestions (like, "make a collage showing your hopes for the future" when I was dealing with extreme anxiety in pregnancy), and I ended up leaving her to find someone else who was more willing to delve into deeper issues and not suggest quick fixes. I recently changed T's again because I felt like I got as far as I could with her, and it's definitely helping to have a different perspective and different style (he's definitely into talking about the deeper issues and the reasons why I do the things I do--like going back to childhood--which I find to be helpful).

[mostlylurking]

Your current T doesn't sound like a trauma specialist to me. Would you be able to try another T?

[Rosan7534]

Originally Posted by mostlylurking

Your current T doesn't sound like a trauma specialist to me. Would you be able to try another T?

I'm not sure if she is or not, it was on her list of stuff she does, but I feel bad even asking and if I had to switch I'd feel so guilty. uggg and then go through everything again with a new one... I was just so happy to find a T that I could see after work.. I'll try talking to her first. I just wasn't sure how it's supposed to be. I hear about people crying or yelling or getting angry and that sounds like it accomplishes something.. I just say yesterday I wanted to fight with anyone, she says that's not a good idea, I say I know and then there's silence. Doesn't feel productive.

[Fernwehxx]

Hm, I'm glad my T doesnt do that intense week review because I feel thars pointless when there's such an amount of past trauma I need to work through. I'd tell your t that you need something else, and best, what you need. Focus on a topic maybe and talk about that. I guess if it can't be worked out, you can alqays look for different t.
Mine aometunes asks me what I want to work on, and I just shrug... Then, I can't complain if she talks about stuff I think isn't important.so, I tell myself I need to be in charge of my sessions, which really isnt my strength. Sometimes is like her to just be there for that little hurt girl inside me, but I don't want to just ramble about things...
If I can't say it, I write it down as a reminder... And either hand her the paper or remind myself to say it.

[zoiecat]

I agree sometimes I think it's up to us to control what we want to talk about. My therapist asks me each session what's been going on since we talked last. Sometimes if a lot of crap is going on that's important to me I talk about it all session. Sometimes I just say 5 words on the subject and then we move on to doing EMDR or reframing or something to do with the past trauma or my Twisted Brain in the way it thinks. If it's been a particularly bad week though and I spend the whole session talking about what's been going on with me then he'll let me do it. Maybe you should try to not talk so much about what's been going on lately. Just say a couple words and tell him what you want to delve into. Sometimes I'm having a difficult week and thinking about some really difficult things I know I won't be able to say it so I have it written down ahead of time I just hand it to him at the beginning of the session he'll read it and give me feedback and we'll talk about that for the whole session. I know it's difficult but try to take more control over what you want to talk about tell him what you want to talk about. Just because they ask you how you're doing doesn't mean you have to talk about that the entire session and they're not going to push you to talk about trauma or deeper issues since they feel you're not ready for they're going to wait for you to bring it up. Good luck therapy is hard.

[InnerPeace111]

I would say my sessions are uneventful and really just quite ordinary. It is outside of sessions where I experience my more profound insights and discover new ways of living. I find therapy more meaningful if I plan for and lead my sessions. My T also gives me practical suggestions from time to time and I try them out with an open mind. I’ve learned some surprising and valuable things about myself from her suggestions.