Current Events > How many of you here go to therapy?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Those who do: how do you feel about it?

Those who dont: do you feel like you would benefit from it?

She has a huge rack and phat ass.

I got to therapy every week.

Can't miss that body baby.

Bunp

CE is my therapy

You guys make me feel a lot better about myself

I get meds. Not sure that qualifies as going to therapy tbh.

Don't go, but I absolutely need to. Problem is I can't afford to go, so just deal with my anger issues by bottling them up. No outlet, no meds.

I went to therapy for about five years. I thought it was mostly helpful while it was going. It was cool just talking to somebody else besides my family and small circle of one friend every week or once every two weeks. Sometimes it did feel like a chore tho.

I did for about 6 months. He was probably the absolute worst match I could've gotten. He made things so much worse. It was because of the things he said to me that I nearly killed myself. Instead of going through with it I decided to talk it out with him at our next session, and he shrugged it off and said that he sees why I'd want to do it and it was never addressed again. I dropped him a few weeks later after he started saying I wasn't worth his time...

I was really hesitant to try again after that, but honestly, I think I need it. Pretty badly.

i should but i don't know where to start, it might cost a lot too

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Idk, he claimed to be proud when he got reported for stuff like that. Said when he gets reported it's proof he's making people uncomfortable, which means he's doing his job right. I'll settle to just never see him again, besides, he may not even be alive any more. That was like 7 years ago or so and he was in his 70's back iirc.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

He really was. I can share some of the things he told me. We actually talked more about him and his life than we ever did mine. It's after 2an though, and I'm about to get some sleep. Might share some of the stuff tomorrow instead.

Ive done therapy in the past, I just do meds now, I think both can be beneficial and life changing especially when combined if needed

If I was rich I'd try it.

Who can afford it?

KogaSteelfang posted...

Idk, he claimed to be proud when he got reported for stuff like that. Said when he gets reported it's proof he's making people uncomfortable, which means he's doing his job right. I'll settle to just never see him again, besides, he may not even be alive any more. That was like 7 years ago or so and he was in his 70's back iirc.

What the actual fuck?

Never. Not sure what Id really get out of it anyway. I grew up in an era where it was basically stigmatised as well so I have a natural aversion to it

why would i pay someone to listen to me. i'm not that desperate for attention.

I tried it when I was on the verge of suicide several years ago. The one on one felt super disingenuous and the only group session that I went to kept getting taken over by some old lady who would take every single opportunity to make sure we all remembered that she was suicidal. To the point where I was convinced that she was just a lonely old lady who used the group to get attention. It didn't matter who was being spoken to or who was speaking. They allowed her to constantly interrupt with her "jokes" about how depressed she was or how she was jusy going to end it when she left, etc. Nobody was getting anything out of the group except her getting the attention she was craving.

I guess that's what I get for being poor and having to rely on free county services. It took over a month and three different interviews before I even got to actually see anyone and it all ended up being a waste of my time. Maybe if I had money and access to better therapists it might have provided some help for me.

It was all a bunch of bullshit so I stopped going and pulled myself out of it.

TentacleDemon posted...

I tried it when I was on the verge of suicide several years ago. The one on one felt super disingenuous and the only group session that I went to kept getting taken over by some old lady who would take every single opportunity to make sure we all remembered that she was suicidal. To the point where I was convinced that she was just a lonely old lady who used the group to get attention. It didn't matter who was being spoken to or who was speaking. They allowed her to constantly interrupt with her "jokes" about how depressed she was or how she was jusy going to end it when she left, etc. Nobody was getting anything out of the group except her getting the attention she was craving.

I guess that's what I get for being poor and having to rely on free county services. It took over a month and three different interviews before I even got to actually see anyone and it all ended up being a waste of my time. Maybe if I had money and access to better therapists it might have provided some help for me.

It was all a bunch of bullshit so I stopped going and pulled myself out of it.

That's rough. Are you doing OK now man?

I've tried it a few times but I find a lot of therapists start too superficial and it drives me away. Also stuff like betterhelp or online stuff, not all of them are really equipped to deal with serious issues.

Also the best therapists are like 200 a session, and I can't make much progress seeing them once a month...

Personally, I would do it if a couple of factors were resolved:

1) Its not covered by insurance. If it is, only a specific amount of sessions. Same with EAP. America doesnt give a shit about mental health, and I cant afford to pay for the frequency I would actually benefit from.

2) Therapists are often times not even available. So youre forced to pick ones who may not be a good match for you. I personally have had no success seeing older white women as a younger black guy, but thats all who is available in my area. The people of color and men are usually booked.

3) Sessions are only an hour. When I talk to my friends about deep stuff, we talk for hours. Having only an hour feels like I can barely discuss anything important, and having to waste my first few sessions building context is a bit impersonal.

4) Its still therapy. I cant shake the feeling that its just their job, and it makes it hard to trust them tbh.

Ironically, my very first therapist was amazing. But I only got to see him because I was friends with his friend and I was referred at a huge discount. He had his own practice in his own house. He even had an Ein dog that I enjoyed seeing. Which I think helped me trust him faster tbh. But once I had to pay full price, I couldnt afford him.

Personally, I just rely on self therapy at this point.

Never been to therapy in my life

discodancer77 posted...

Those who dont: do you feel like you would benefit from it?

No because I don't have any issues that I need to have therapy for

I mean, I think it could be beneficial, but I have to pay for all of my transition care on my own, so it doesnt currently fit into my budget since that ends up adding up so quickly. Id never go to the one I used to work at though, as despite it being the largest and most highly rated provider in the state, so many of their clinicians are completely disinterested in their profession.

darkmaian23 posted...

That's rough. Are you doing OK now man?

That was almost 10 years ago at this point. I still have times where I think "Fuck... Can I please just not wake up tomorrow?" But most days are good and I'm taking better care of myself. I got myself out of the house, got a job, a car, became mostly self reliant. met a few women and made some friends since then. All of those steps put me in a place where those sort of thoughts are temporary and I no longer actively plan my own demise.

So yeah, mostly good now.

Yup. I usually go once a month. It helps me. Plus my therapist looks like Elaine from Seinfeld and I always had a huge crush on her growing up.

I go every other week. It definitely helps me be cognizant of what I want to work on in terms of how I feel and how I interact with other people. It took a bit of digging to find someone I felt comfortable enough with. It is worth it if you think you need help making a change in your life or even just keeping it steady. Also if you can afford it

spungemunky posted...

Yup. I usually go once a month. It helps me. Plus my therapist looks like Elaine from Seinfeld and I always had a huge crush on her growing up.

aye

@MrCokeacola

So its not covered by extended health insurance? Unlike dental and physio? That sucks. Anyways Im starting soon, hopefully its a help.

i need therapy or i will fall apart basically.

I go to therapy once a week, and Ive been seeing my therapist since February of 2021. Hes helped me deal with so much shit. Im thinking were definitely getting towards the point where discussing termination should happen though. Im doing a million times better.

I've seen a number. Frequently fired as a client due to lack of progress re: ideation and other symptoms.

I don't. I don't really have money for it. The university half an hour from here apparently has some free services I may try. I think have someone to talk about the things that have caused me issues in my life and how to better my life would help.

Been in therapy a number of times throughout my life. Last one 2 years ago made me borderline paranoid and distrustful. One after that was great though, sweetest therapist. Wish I could've spent more time with her. I still think therapy is great but YMMV and therapists can differ so much it can take effort finding someone who suits you.

Due to an issue that I had with a therapist when I was in high school I do not now, nor will I ever go back to therapy.

Alright, I said I'd tell more about my therapist.

He said he used to work with the police in CA. That he was the guy they'd call when someone was going to jump off a building and they needed someone to talk them down. He told me that he loved getting those calls. That on his way he'd stop and get coffee and take the scenic route getting there. He said if they were set on jumping, nothing he said would stop them, and if they weren't going to then they'd still be there when he arrived. That there was no reason for him to not enjoy the trip out to where they needed him.

He was also going to divorce his wife as soon as he stopped doing therapy. Because he wanted to sell his house, buy an RV and roam the country. She wanted to keep the house, and do a couple of trips each year. So as soon as he stopped working, he divorcing her, kicking her out to sell the house, and getting his RV.

He also very strongly implied that he had slept with his son's wife. Mentioned it several times over the time I was seeing him. He never outright stated it, and I never directly asked, so I hope he just phrased it wrong.

The one time we were discussing my abuse, and we got into the time my dad attempted to kill me. It was really hard to talk about irl, but I figured if I was in therapy that I needed to be honest about it. He asked if he could bring my dad in on one of our sessions and confront him over it. I refused, I told him if that happened that it would absolutely get me beaten again, probably force me to be homeless, if not straight up murdered. So, what does he do? He follows me to my car after we're done, because he knew my parents didn't trust me to drive myself. He confronted dad in the parking lot telling him that I needed him to join our next session. Thankfully he didn't bring up anything dangerous for me. But dad was grilling me over it the whole ride home. I managed to cover it so it didn't become a problem... But I think he was trying to cause problems for me. Or get me killed.

The thing he said that made me decide end things back then. When he asked what I wanted out of life, I told him I wanted to be a husband and father. He told me that's a bad choice. That I wouldn't be a good father, and would only end up ruining my children's lives like my father did to me. I'm absolutely NOTHING like my dad, but cut deep. Back then eventually having my own family was my only hope. It was all I had that was stopping me. He took that away.

The reason he said I wasn't worth his time. He wanted me to go on weekly hikes at the lake. That particular week was really rough on me, problems at home as usual, problems at work, still struggling with thoughts of ending things, my depression and anxiety medication was giving me side effects and I hadn't slept for close to a week, and it had been rainy. So, I didn't go for a hike that week. When he asked about it, I was honest, and he got really angry at me. Told me that if I can't even do something as simple as go for a walk that I'm not worth helping. Threatened to drop me as a client. I mean, I had gone weekly for 2 months already. I just skipped the one due to rather extreme circumstances.

Also, during each of our sessions he'd make phone calls to his other clients, and openly discuss the issues they were dealing with too. I thought that was confidential. My very first session with him, to get over my crippling social anxiety... He decided we should role play. He had this elaborate scenario and I was supposed to play a character. I totally choked, which of course I would. This is my first time meeting this dude and he throws role play at me?

Also, whenever is being up feeling like no one likes me, he'd say they probably don't. That people who look like me don't tend to be liked off the bat and me being closed off pushes them away. Said if I were good looking like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt it wouldn't be an issue.

Plus, he laughed at me for being a virgin. Told me I should try and have sex. Then each week he'd ask if I got laid, and when I'd say no, he'd laugh again. He was under the impression that I wasn't trying(like a lot of people here), but I showed him all my dating apps and profiles, and the matches and messages I'd sent, and told him about all the volunteer work I was doing at the time. So... How does he respond? "How big is your dick?"
>___________>

He also told me that I shouldn't be upset about my life being awful. That if anyone should be upset that it's him because he had a cancer scare the year prior. Asked if I have had cancer, and I said no, and so he told me I have no right to be upset then.

Dude was a menace.

^what a psychopath (the therapist obviously not you Koga)

nfearurspecimn posted...

^what a psychopath (the therapist obviously not you Koga)

ViewtifulJoe posted...

That therapist sounds like a fully realised Boomer.

I kept going back thinking we'd eventually touch on something helpful. But no, seriously the only things he ever suggested to improve my life was going on a hike to get out of the house(which was good, but not exactly life changing) and getting laid(which my personal interactions with others was the whole reason I needed therapy to begin with). It was just 6 months wasted and I left worse off than when I started.

I dont but I could probably benefit from it. I have some anger issues I could use some help with.

I thought about it. But then I realized I'm awesome so I didn't.

Too much effort, fuck that.

KogaSteelfang posted...
Snipped because it's long, but, yeahhhhh, unfortunately, sometimes people who have no business being therapists end up becoming therapists and do a lot of harm. Like this asshole, Jesus Christ.

The two therapists I saw in adult life were good people. The first one was a 30-something lady who was very gentle, practical, and really good at piecing me together though she also seemed to figure out she was missing an important piece that I was terrified to give her but she was also really pushy about me getting my license and that made me super anxious to see her, so I just stopped going.

Therapist #2 is the one I'm seeing now, and he's a handsome trans dude with some serious Mr. Rogers energy. probably a good thing I'm not into men, he otherwise checks a lot of my boxes. I saw him to finally deal with the missing piece: my crippling gender dysphoria. He's a very practical guy, and sometimes I feel like he goes too easy on me. His catchphrase is "Just be gentle with yourself". I even ended up saying that to another trans woman seeing him and she commented that I must have picked it up from him.

Can't believe you asked this on CE .
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