[chalmette70043]

Do ya'll end up having to do homework giving to you from you therapist or counsler? I dont' like homework, never did. Why do they do this? Its not like its easy stuff to do either.

[Perna]

Maybe they do it when we're drifting or something. Mine rarely asked me to do things but the one time that stands out for me I had to think about "humiliation" one week, she just casually suggests this as I'm walking out the door and, of course, I was humiliated that week! (Don't think of pink elephants :-) That ended well but then she did the "disappointment" word for a week. Didn't pick "happiness" or something pleasant, oh, no :-) At least I learned a lot and can tell various feelings apart and figure out where they come from, etc.

Maybe look at the homework and figure out what you think they're trying to do and what you want and change it so you do it in a way that works for you? They can't flunk you if you don't do it "right"/their way.

[MissCharlotte]

I have never had homework and if I did I wouldn't do it!!!!!

I just told T yesterday that if my therapy wasn't self-directed it wouldn't work.

Chalmette, can you let T know how you feel about this method and that it may not be the best path for you?

Peace

[SingDanceRunLife]

I got an assignment last week from my T. She told me to read Brain Lock. I did. It was more interesting than my homework for school.

[MyBestKids2]

I am stubborn and bull headed and absolutely unequivocally refuse to do homework for any T.

There I said it, I feel so much better

[chaotic13]

I got my first homework assignment last session. The repercussions have been profound. At this point I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

[sunrise]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
chalmette70043 said:
Why do they do this?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">It's part of the treatment techniques used by therapists of certain approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. They are probably doing it to try to move things along in therapy and help you make progress outside of session.

My therapist has only given me "homework" a couple of times, and then we don't bring it up the next time anyway. It's just an outside exercise and he has no way of knowing if I did it or not. If you think of it is being for yourself, rather than for your T, maybe it will help you do it.

If my T gave me homework regularly, I probably wouldn't like it either. We make plenty of progress in therapy without it. Plus, I write in a journal regularly for myself, so I am thinking, processing, and discovering things through the journal--the things that I need to at that moment, rather than an external homework assignment that may not be what I need right then. If the homework became a nuisance or was not helpful to me, I feel comfortable enough with my T that I would just say to him, "this isn't working for me."

I think one valuable thing about homework is it can help the therapist get to know you better. Maybe it might be especially useful for people who have trouble expressing themselves verbally in session and can serve as a conversation piece of sorts. Then as the client gains comfort in the therapy setting, and is able to share what is on her mind, then the need for the homework might diminish. Just throwing out some ideas.... Why don't you ask your T why he/she gives homework and what value it is?

[chalmette70043]

Thank you all for your responses. I'm gonna tell ya a little bit more of where i'm coming from with these questions of mine.

First thing is she told me to get this book and handbook titled Feeling Good by David Burns. She said read the book then bring the handbook to the appt's every week. I got the book in the mail yesterday and just started to slowly read it.

But the main homework thing she wants me to do is write about what i went through from the point of waking up sunday morning and evacuating. All through that week, up until my brother made it back to us on Labor Day. Then she said i should post that story here at pc. ( I'm not going to do that, becaues alot of it is just very painful to deal with). I've spoken to 4 friends who i will email it to. My t wants those friends to read it, then come back at me with questions on my feelings, emotions, then and now. And then when i see her again next week to bring a copy of what i wrote and a copy of what questions my friends asked and my responses to it. My t told me she finds that i'm more open to friends i speak with here at pc. Its true, a little. Speaking face to face is a rough one for me. Cause i can feel those emotions building up. And when i think of alot of things, the emotions build up into a rage of anger and i dont want it to go so far as becoming violent in her office. When i get to that point of rage, i can't control myself. Something takes over me, like i'm possessed. Anyway. Ya'll get the picture.

I just dont like homework.

[Kiya]

I understand the blind rage - that's me too. So i hold back to control it. I don't like being that way and i feel no one deserves it. My t is trying to get me to "stop containing"... but I feel she has no idea what she's asking.

That does sound like a lot of work. I'm sorry! I went and got a PTSD work book - you might find something like that more feasable too - you can do pieces of it when you are ready.

Good luck with all that.
Kiya

[chalmette70043]

Hi Kiya. Thanks for responding. I'm sorry you got the same thing going on too.

My t said something about meetig in the room they have for the kids at the center. She said they have this styrofoam bat and i could beat the crap out of stuff. But i told her i didnt like that idea. Cause i really want to cause damage. I use to do that with my real bat. I would go into houses that were set for demolition and hit studs until they would either break or come unnailed.

Alright, i'm going of course here.

Thank you ((((Kiya))))