[JacksonLiam]

My first therapist there was transference and counter transference with crossed boundaries on both sides. I ended up walking away from therapy one day because I could no longer handle the feelings it caused. It took me six years to seek out another one. Last year after both parents died, three dogs, my mother in law and my 23 year old neice, I sought out therapy again. It was going well until one day when I finally opened up about my son's shooting and assault for the first time ever, she fell into a deep sleep. I had to wake her up by coughing loud and moving my chair. That was it for me.

I have been seeing a different therapist for six months and was getting to a good level of trust but then on Thursday when we had a snow storm, he didn't bother to call to tell me that the clinic was closing down and he wouldn't be able to see me. I only knew because I have liked the Facebook page of the clinic. I could have very well driven the hour and fifteen minutes to my appointment but didn't because I knew they were going to be closed but it still bothers me that he did not call. Any other time I have been in therapy and they have closed down for a storm, my therapist has always called to tell me and to reschedule.

I expected him to call on Friday because they were back in business but he didn't call. Now I'm wondering if he really wants to see me as a patient and if he's just as screwed up as the other two therapists. I have felt in all three situations that the people I have gone to for help and who my insurance company pays are far more messed up then I am. I'm thinking if he doesn't call on Monday then I am just going to call the whole things quits and give up on our modern day behavioral health system.

Thoughts?

[stopdog]

I'm sorry you had such bad luck. Haven't you all had some bad weather in Maine –that could explain why the therapist didn't call you -they could've had other emergcies going on in his life
I do believe the therapists are just screwed up if not more than everybody else. Looking around at who wants to become a therapist -it's not usually people who are stellar examples of mental health. Most of the ones I know became therapists because of their mental issues -not because they don't have them.

[here today]

Are there any support groups near where you live? Especially, right now, grief support groups? If so, that may be a way to find others that might help with other issues. In my experience, just being with other, regular people who can kind of understand me, in some ways, feels good and is helpful in that way, generally. It may not help with the deeper stuff, but I'm not sure that therapy is always the way to try to deal with those things either. Great if it works, not so great if it doesn't.

Also, have you considered that going to a messed up therapist could STILL help -- as long as you keep the focus on what you are wanting help with? I tried that recently with a couple of therapists and they were clueless, but maybe you could have better luck.