[RACEKA]

How do I know if my therapists is doing what he is supposed to do? Is he supposed to start the sessions or am I. I seem to go in and vent current problems and we talk about them, but he doesn't seem to push me like I need to be pushed. He has helped me in recovery from drug addiction and he knows I am cutting but he doesn't even ask about it anymore. I'm trying to deal with my parents abuse especially my mom, but I always seem to get things started. He wanted me to do the empty chair, but I couldn't. I can't tell people how I really feel. I used to getting abused for that. Can you tell how your therapists handle these situations?

depends how the Therapist works. When I first went to the T I go to now, I accused her of doing nothing!...I told her she was useless...I would tell her of my cutting and she wouldnt really say much about it..I thought she wasn't taking care of me...but 2+yrs on, I realised she is taking care of me and I haven't felt the need to cut in a while now....maybe you need to repeat to him what you have posted here?...otherwise we are forver second guessing them...

Take care.

[RACEKA]

Thanks, I probably should but it's hard for me to tell someone how I feel, especially the professional.

yes I know. It does get easier.

[Perna]

The therapist is supposed to respond to you, it's your therapy, not theirs. So, your job is to give them something to respond to. You should start and take the main role in your therapy, discuss what has gotten you thinking and feeling during the week, what "adventures" you've had with other people, difficulties, etc. :-) Hopefully your T will pick up on your "affect;" how you "sound" emotionally, whether you are laughing discussing a funeral or crying over spilt milk :-) My husband was an engineer and use to go to trade shows to see "what isn't there" so he could figure out what needed inventing. T's are sort of like that; they look at your overall presentation and see where there are holes or excesses and try to help you see them too so you can work on changing things that aren't helpful to you. You can't "fix" what you can't see.

[JustAPixie]

Why not tell your therapist in the next session that you are really worried about (insert issue) and you don't know what to do anymore. Let him understand that it is a mjaor thing for you and that you cannot continue in this way...