I am so sorry you feel violated, please don't. Hopefully at some point it was helpful to have someone to speak with. b1ckr is right, you should talk to her and find out more about her position.
have you had a chance to talk to her about what you are feeling and about your therapy?
Thank you. Yes, I admit that being able to talk to someone so… on my side and without judgment, someone to rant and rail to without fear of our relationship and what exposure of how I really am would do… was liberating. I feel that over the last year and a half I’ve seen her I have improved a lot. I don’t honestly know if I would be where I am today without it.
No I haven’t had a chance. My next appointment is coming up but I have been dreading it because I don’t know how to talk to her and funds are really tight. I am also dreading spending more money I don’t have on something that 1. I’m no longer benefiting very much from 2. I’m not receiving the service I thought I was paying for 3. figuring out what service I am receiving. I don’t know how to talk to her about this. Every time I’ve tried she acts really upset or angry. Maybe I approach it wrong.
Anyway, thank you for your comment, it made me remember that she has done so much for me. I’d forgotten and that was not right of me.
I would suggest clarifying with your case manager about what she can and can't provide in the way of help. I know that the person who was my case manager for IOP is a LCSW. In the talk groups she and the other case managers would facilitate the group and would not give advice. The person who manages my case and coordinates my care is MFT and is my main therapist.
With your ability to pay limited you might try doing DBT instead of seeing the case manager if you can. I have only done 2 modules of DBT and may need to repeate the one on distress tolerance but I can already tell it is helping me.
As far as I can tell and from what she has discussed with me, case management and pills are my only option for the area I live in that doesn’t cost a couple hundred dollars a pop out of pocket without good insurance (which I don’t have access too). My option still costs quite a bit for me though. How do you start DBT? I’ve seen some self DBT online… but I hear it is best done in groups?
You could also see if NAMI is active in your area. In my DBT classes we don't get to really get into discussing individual stuff so the group aspect is not making much difference, but some DBT groups do. Some of the lessons are available on video so you might see if your local library has them. You can get the diary card format online and customize it. They really give me a good check on the flow of my reality and perceived reality.
I know that there is a DBT group but I am dreading getting the phone call back because I’m pretty sure that it will be too expensive. Thank you for the tip about the diary cards, they look really helpful!
Unfortunately no. She is only able to talk to me during paid sessions or to set up an appointment. No email, no phone number outside of the front appointment desk. lol my care is very minimal. Thank you though, if I could that would be a great idea
I'm not sure where you live, but the therapists I've had have been good. My first psychiatrist was perfect! He gave me advice, medication, returned my phone calls quickly (I had a rough patch), dismissed a fee for missing an appointment, etc.. He moved to an area where he could charge more. I was crushed. My current psychiatrist is descent. He's more clinical, but still gives me good advice (more sleep, more exercise, etc.). My psychologist is only okay. I have to pry for good advice, but it is there, and he is nice. Sometimes I think that he gives the advice, but I look past it (I tend to fixate on one thing at a time). I noticed that he gave me very good advice on something two years ago that I didn't really remember until reading on this site.
The psychiatrist I had in high school was the most caring individual I've ever known. I wasn't diagnosed with anything specific yet, but my mom had good insurance and my parents were going through divorce.
Long story short: we deserve the best care possible and should be entitled to choose it. Find out ALL your options; it may mean some legwork on your part, but you'll be happier.
I’m so glad to hear that you have had some really positive experience with your therapists and psychiatrists. Also sorry to hear that they have had to move. I know how important it is so have that connection and how devastating it can be to suddenly be without it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it really helps give me an idea of things I should be doing and looking for.
DBT in my personal and professional opinion is best done individually and it can be very intense. Only a therapist who is trained/certified in DBT can do DBT. I have continued to do the DBT by myself but I had to have the foundation of it done via a therapist years ago.
I know there are lots of good websites that explain DBT and can give you some ground work for it, but truly it is best to be done with a therapist just because it can open up wounds and then you can be kind of ill equipped to handle it alone.
Yeah, hopefully when I get up the courage to talk to her again she will actually be able and willing to point me in a good direction. So far it feels like she can’t or wont when I try to ask her about things I can do. She said that some people even see a therapist 1-2 times a week it can be so intense! I looked up some websites before but it feels so scary and overwhelming by myself. I suppose that if I really want a recovery there is no excuse but there it is.