LonePhoenixContributor
DID & how to make virtual/video therapy work when you don't live alone?
Today I have two problems I want to talk about. The other day, I decided to have another browse for therapists. I found one that seems promising, they stated explicitly on their site that they work with DID and have lived experience with overcoming trauma. And they don't require a GP referral. However, they only do virtual sessions.
Being overheard is a big concern for many alters in our system. I suspect this is partially trauma-related (from being taught that they have to keep the trauma a secret). They'd only feel comfortable if we had a completely private space to talk with the therapist. So having the sessions at home in our study isn't really an option, as we aren't home alone very often.
I would be fine with having the sessions in the car with my laptop. But I'm concerned about how I could keep the car cool for a whole hour, unfortunately I don't keep it in a garage, and there aren't many shaded areas nearby where I could park it.
I feel like I wouldn't easily find another therapist who openly states they work with DID and has lived experience. I really need someone who's knowledgeable. It's really frustrating that I don't know where any of these DID and complex trauma therapists are or how to find them. I guess my only option is to just keep emailing people and hope I get lucky and one of them has good connections???
CW: hypnosis, paranoid thoughts
And there is another alter who thinks it could be too unsafe to disclose to therapists that we think we were hypnotised, because if they aren't good people, they could exploit it. Or they could even be connected to abuser groups, and actively work to prevent us from breaking free.
But from my perspective, it's just as, if not more, unsafe to do nothing and not investigate this potential trauma with a therapist. Having all these conflicting opinions all the time is seriously exhausting. I have to negotiate and work to make sure everyone is happy.
And now that I think about it, I feel like video therapy would be much safer for these alters, as there is far less risk and very low chance the therapist could hurt us over video. All the more reason I have to work out a solution to the privacy problem to make video sessions work for us.
