New Therapist

Hey @Trickster ,

Thanks for sharing a little about yourself.

I've certainly had my fair share of therapists in the past in both group and individual therapy.

Did you know that medicare subsidises 10 sessions of group as well as 10 sessions of individual therapy?

As for your post, can I clarify and pinpoint what you are looking for? Is it people's experiences of therapists? Sorry, I'm a little confused (apologies if this sounds a little rude). I don't want to give an answer that's totally off the mark.

@tymepeople's experiences of therapy. What red flags and green flags do people look for.

Yeah sorry my punctuation and grammar gets lost and I get a little rambly when I'm sorta uncertain myself.

@Trickster My experiences have mainly been positive….. 2way conversations, being listened to and heard, involved with ideas of discussion my next session, feeling comfortable to talk about almost anything, including my SI, and feeling supported etc, 2 way discussion about different therapies. Apologies for any misunderstandings.

negative experience …. Therapist deciding everything including type of therapy. No preparation or coping skills discussed prior. Way session was run I was triggered and therapist didn’t notice and never asked if I was ok

Hey @Trickster ,

With any therapist I've had, I tend to take what I want and leave what I don't want. I may try what they say, but it doesn't mean I'll keep going with it.

I've always been respectful of my therapists. Each one has their own strengths and things we can learn.

That's my experience.

My biggest mistake in therapy was caring so much about what my therapist thought/felt. I was always respectful, but I felt I needed to improve “for them.”

My best decision was seeing a therapist that specialises in my issue. For me with CPTSD this was trauma informed therapy. The difference was enormous. Also, say directly what you want. If you want to start a particular treatment immediately, say it.

Some red flags I’ve had before:

- a male therapist who called me a “honey of a woman” on my first visit.

- any therapist who claimed to work with trauma but did not work in the gold star treatments.

- a therapist who disclosed their own trauma to me and kept comparing me to their children.

Green flags:

- listens to your needs

- supports your preferred treatment plan

- keeps it professional and research based

- is logical and compassionate but does not take on your issues

Hi @Trickster

I think it's good to question where we're at with other people at times. It doesn't make either one of us 'bad', but the fit might not be conducive to really breakthrough positive results.

Personally, feeling comfortable to be myself with the therapist, and feel that I can trust them to be professional and not jump to conclusions about me, or that there is a clear scope of practice is really important.

Best experience I had with a therapist was when they cried in empathy for me as I was disclosing a past trauma. Worst experience was with the same therapist when I stood in the carpark with them while they had a smoke during our session, lol.

How's it going with therapy @Trickster ?

How are you feeling about things?

Hi @swift1 @Former-Member @8ppleTree !

For me @Trickster , I find that if after a while, things just don't seem to move, and I'm not getting anything from the sessions, then it's time to move on.

I see someone now, and each session is like gold.

I also see someone else, and after a year of monthly support, I still don't feel like I'm getting anywhere so I've stopped as of a few weeks ago.

Hey @Trickster ,

How is everything going? With therapy? With life?

I was passing through and thinking of you.

@tymenext session is in August the system is struggle here more than it used to it makes it harder to understand your therapist because for me at least with non-traumatic brain injury I cannot remember things as detailed especially conversations.