hwc, saffie, 12bar, gregr1111, Interesting feedback and ringing endorsements. I have an initial consult Monday with an IC trained in CBT who is both very nearby and highly recommended by two friends. Am looking forward to it.
hwc,
Originally Posted By: happywithchange
I'm still as a happy as a clam. (are clams really that happy?)
Shortened over the years from "Happy as a clam at high tide," i.e., completely safe from predators (Half the time. The other half? Not so much). /
Gardener
"My soul, be satisfied with flowers, With fruit, with weeds even; but gather them In the one garden you may call your own." Cyrano deBergerac
The people who do well with CBT are strong and capable of challenging deeply held ideas about themselves. Based on the posts of yours that i have read, you are strong enough and then some so I think you will do great with it!
Good luck and let us know how your initial consult goes
I've finally decided to leave my IC after admitting that I've been paying for a decent, gentle, validating listener who has offered me no advice, no challenges, no tools/skills, no new approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has piqued my interest.
I'd appreciate hearing from any who have experienced it. Advice, how to select/what to ask, what to expect, success, etc. Thanks.
lol gardner I just changed counselors myself. The previous one was pretty much the same way. Nothing that I can really use to help me get better. Just alot of sofa/couch time
waw 36 (spiritual covenant and common law marriage)me 32 together 13 mos. Bomb dropped march 2nd 2010
children SD (8) S (10) S (3) need help from anyone with my sitch
CBT is very hard work but I actually have grown to really enjoy it. I first started when my lupus/panic disorder spun out of control and I am so thankful I found the dr. I did. He does not take any BS and has a wait list a mile long so if you don't want to do the work he won't see you. He is a really nice dr. though and takes a four pronged approach (this is specifically for panic so it might be different for different issues) of counseling, medication (if necessary), family support and a spiritual approach (whatever belief you have).
He mostly works with people that have panic disorders or some kind or post traumatic stress.
I think you will be very pleased. For me, it felt like I was doing something tangible and that alone was comforting.
CBT is very hard work but I actually have grown to really enjoy it. I first started when my lupus/panic disorder spun out of control and I am so thankful I found the dr. I did. He does not take any BS and has a wait list a mile long so if you don't want to do the work he won't see you. He is a really nice dr. though and takes a four pronged approach (this is specifically for panic so it might be different for different issues) of counseling, medication (if necessary), family support and a spiritual approach (whatever belief you have).
He mostly works with people that have panic disorders or some kind or post traumatic stress.
I think you will be very pleased. For me, it felt like I was doing something tangible and that alone was comforting.
this is something i'd really like to look into. I didn't know that! i THINK IT WOULD HELP with my own emotional and psychological issues.
waw 36 (spiritual covenant and common law marriage)me 32 together 13 mos. Bomb dropped march 2nd 2010
children SD (8) S (10) S (3) need help from anyone with my sitch
For me, it felt like I was doing something tangible and that alone was comforting.
I second that.
Before finding CBT I had C with someone who just wanted to rake over the past the whole time. I really didn't want to keep going over my family of orientation, (FOO), issues and I didn't want to keep chatting about the PTS I was suffering from or the transitional crisis that I was going through - I wanted coping methods - and that was eventually what I got through CBT.
CBT got me off of the whole cocktail of drugs I was on, AD's, beta blockers,valium etc., (zombie land). I can now emotionally cope without them. OK, I did need them for a while, but after a certain amount of time I needed to come off them and learn how to face my demons and cope with them myself.
I have this ability to cover up what really is bothering me in therapy and laugh things off, and it was my CBT therapist who was the first person who really managed to cut through all the cr*p I used to try and divert my previous C/Ts' with.
Saffie me 46 H 46 M in 1986 D20,D18,S16,D13 H's A 01/05 to 07/06 H recommitted to M 07/06 renewed vows 09/06 Going from strength to strength
"I've been paying for a decent, gentle, validating listener who has offered me no advice, no challenges, no tools/skills, no new approaches."
Sounds that a great person to help you get things off your chest but little else. Had the same thing - sat there, did loads of talking (after being prodded - nothing to do with cattle mind you), and made the next appointment.
The only thing it did for me was to clear out the poop associated with my attitudes. Bit like a mirror thrown/forced my way. VERY hard at the time and useful but eventually the big question - what to do next?
I was lucky (as you are) to have this wealth of knowledge and experience here on the board but it's hard finding the germs of truth amongst this trove.
I was lucky - or my sitch just worked its way towards the desired goal (only 6 bloody months of it!)
You have my admiration in buckets for the effort you're putting into this.
I wish you well with the change of guide - you deserve better.
/ 