![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 6 to 30 of 30. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dinah on March 21, 2007, at 16:51:01
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » Dinah, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 16:45:05
My understanding is that supportive therapy concentrates on propping up the client's existing defense mechanisms rather than challenging them to replace them with healthier ones.
So he doesn't challenge me or confront me as much as he would in more exploratory therapy. He does manage to work in CBT as long as he makes it palatable to me first. :)
Posted by bil on March 21, 2007, at 18:26:45
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
I'm in Do-it-Yourself therapy! (which is unfortunately a bit hit or miss... studying various shamanic techniques at the moment.)
My last T was psychodynamic... she kept expecting me to 'do' transference, and kept asking "and how do you see, (or feel) about me/our relationship in this context?"
I don't think she had been practising long- couldn't drop the Freudian rubbish.
If I could afford it, I would like to try psychosythesis therapy- I think its more well-rounded.
bil
Posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 19:24:20
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by Dinah on March 21, 2007, at 16:51:01
that sounds cool. I am glad you feel it works well for you. :)
From what you describe I think I will need something more exploratory maybe. I have some very healthy strong processes, aaaannnndddd then there are some pretty flimsy mechanisms. No one has ever helped me process any of the stuff from when I was a teen, etc...
Posted by annierose on March 21, 2007, at 19:49:16
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
Psychodynamic - 3x per week - leaning towards analysis.
Love the connection I feel with my therapist (most of the time) and hate it when it goes off course. I've been with her for 3 years. I still have issues that need addressing - it's so darn hard to look at all that bad stuff - and I tend to get defensive. So her role is also to be supportive as well.
I think she has helped me become a much better mother.
Posted by Poet on March 21, 2007, at 23:29:26
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
Hi Gazo,
Welcome to babble!
My T is very eclectic, she combines psychodynamic therapy with energy work: Reiki and others. It's not traditional, but it works for me and is why I chose to see her. I've been in therapy for four years and don't see an end in sight because there is so much more to work on. Sigh. Big Sigh.
Poet
Posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 5:16:26
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
My T is mostly a cognitive therapist, but he uses all the models of therapy too when it will fit the client, so I guess he is a jack of all trades! lol
He specializes in the treatment of trama and is trained in the use of EMDR, which he has done for over 10 years with some great successes.
He also works a lot with teenagers and children.
He is a school psychologist for one of our local private elementary-middle schools.He has been practicing for over 20 years and also supervises the beginning T's at our local college sometimes.
He does a lot of volunteer work for the prevention of child abuse. He is a gem for sure, was nominated as a "hero" in our city. LOL.
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 8:32:00
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
Thank guys! The differences and similarities are very interesting. I will respond to individuals a little later as I am trying to hurry out the door! ACK!
I just have a quick question for the people who have CBT T's... generally from what i read it may work well for me BUT i am concerned... would a CBT T be right for also dealing with a sexual assault? or working on traumatic events from my younger years considering I already know what those are? I am worried he would not want to work on those or make me terminate therapy before i am ready.
would love feedback... thanx
Posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 9:48:43
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps, posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 8:32:00
Hi Gaze,
My T used cognitive therapy for my past early trauma to desensitize the memories using EMDR. I have been in therapy for over 2 years and normally people with just a single issue can quit therapy maybe in a short time, but my T said I had more "fires" to put out and it would take longer. He told me he would work with me for as long as it takes to help me as long as therapy is being helpful. But my T is in a private practice and he has control over this where maybe a center has to follow srict guidelines on the amount of time.
My T uses CBT and we dove into my past, we had no choice in order to EMDR. I think every T does things different, so I would ask your T about it because if he is CBT, it doesn't mean he won't work on the past. Good Luck!
Posted by Dinah on March 22, 2007, at 9:51:17
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps, posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 8:32:00
A CBT therapist would probably take a here and now approach to trauma, if I understand it correctly. They would address the ways it's affecting your thoughts and behaviors today.
But only the CBT purists would stick completely to the CBT model if they think you need something else in any given area. Many of them introduce other elements into therapy.
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:06:53
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps » gazo, posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 9:48:43
wow, that is very reassuring. I have major issues around worrying aboutasking too much of him, along with fear of trust and abandonment issues.. haha, i'm a mess.:S
thanks.. but what is EDMR?
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:15:26
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps » gazo, posted by Dinah on March 22, 2007, at 9:51:17
Thank you for responding. :)
> A CBT therapist would probably take a here and now approach to trauma, if I understand it correctly. They would address the ways it's affecting your thoughts and behaviors today.
That is cool with me. I know what the big events are,so I don't need to examine to discover them, at least I don't think so.. lol! I do need to express what the events were and to discuss what that resulted in. Does that make sense? Will that fit into their "model."
> But only the CBT purists would stick completely to the CBT model if they think you need something else in any given area. Many of them introduce other elements into therapy.That sounds perfect! I really hope he is that way. I am so afraid to even ask because if he can't or won't address certain things then I am afraid he will tell me he can't work with me. :(
Posted by Dinah on March 22, 2007, at 12:21:47
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps, posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:15:26
Better to find out early if he isn't right for you.
It hurts a lot more later.
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:26:56
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by annierose on March 21, 2007, at 19:49:16
i have wondered if psychodynamic would be right for me... but there is no way I could afford it really. As it is I will be seeing this guy every second week. :(
the connection you have sounds wonderful. You guys have really boosted my hopes for this new T.
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:29:54
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by Poet on March 21, 2007, at 23:29:26
i hear ya.. I don't know what this new T is going to say about what he expects as far as duration goes. I don't think he understands yet just how big a mess I am...lol.
what happens in reiki?
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:32:45
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 5:16:26
A hero eh? :D That sounds very cool. If he were my T I think I would have to rzz him about that. he sounds absolutely wonderful.
Posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 12:34:20
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps » Happyflower, posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:06:53
Hi gazo,
The best thing is just to ask him about this stuff since every therapist is different no matter what they specialize in. (in training you have to learn most of the ways) CBT is the most used today and is very effective but not for everyone of course.
As far as childhood traumas, a congitive therpist talk about the past because many of your thoughts are because of the past. Many critics of the CBT say that you only work on the surface stuff for short term therapy. Well a lot of times that is all you need if it something minor. But for tramatic things, especially from the past, they do work with you the past. Some of the best cognitive therapy is done with desenalization of the tramatic events. Most cognitive T's are not short term athough they do that too because some problems don't need years to work out. A lot of people are forced to doing short term either because of insurance benefits or lack of funds. But for the stuff you are talking about, I am sure most T's would work with you through all of your stuff. Now many will not do forever therapy because some feel it is very unethical to continue to see a client who is okay mostly (everyone has problems). I know not everyone
agrees with me on this, but it is my views. Besides I think it would suck to be in therapy forever, and I have one of the worst child abuse experiences that my T's has ever seen, and this is an area he specializes in. Even though I will be sad to leave therapy, I am kinda happy about it tooso I can move on with my life and take what I learned from my T and improve my life.
So I guess the best thing to do is to find the right fit for what you think you need and the best way to do that is to ask your T "how " he does therapy.
As far as what EMDR is, check out EMDR.com, which can explain it better than me. It doesn't work with everyone, but it changes my life, and I am so happy I did it.
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 13:02:12
In reply to Re: what type of therapy?Quickie for the CBT peeps » gazo, posted by Happyflower on March 22, 2007, at 12:34:20
that helps.. thanks :) I am going to write him a letter and drop it off before session. I am unlikely to be able to ask in person.
That edmr stuff sounds very interesting. I am very happy it works well for you. :) I always say that if it works then it's a good thing.
Posted by Poet on March 22, 2007, at 15:48:53
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » Poet, posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 12:29:54
Hi Gazo,
When my T runs energy work on me, she sits behind me and just lightly touches my shoulders. I usually feel warmth throughout my body and I have my eyes closed, but see colors. Afterwards I feel emotionally and physically lighter.
Poet
Posted by gazo on March 22, 2007, at 16:34:57
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by Poet on March 22, 2007, at 15:48:53
that sounds cool... I was just reading about eclectic stuff and it sounds great. I am kind weird about touch. :/ My issue.
Posted by Honore on March 23, 2007, at 3:28:30
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by annierose on March 21, 2007, at 19:49:16
My T is an analyst (interpersonal, which is a type of psychodynamic psychoanalsysis, different in approach from more Freudian=deprived psychoanalysis-- although they are evolving much closer now).
I see him more as a therapist than an analyst-- but you could also say it's analysis. Mostly because that's what he "does'--
It's more intensive ( in numbers of time a week and in emotional investment in the process and in him) and long term.
I don't necessarily recommend it unless you really need it== which I do-- because it's very time-consuming and emotionally draining. But T can become a separate seeming "source" of emotional problems-- in some way that's how it helps, but repeating and concentrating some other emotional issues in terms of the therapy relationship, and then finding ways of working them through differently and better than you have in your RL.
I would agree that you have to give yourself permission to be a little obsessed and sad over the ending of the therapy. No good new T would look at your feelings as other than an important development in your emotional life, that you need help processing.
But it is good to test a new T before putting everything out there-- you don't know who s/he is-- and whether you have the sort of connection that can contain the feelings.
Honore
Posted by gazo on March 23, 2007, at 9:12:17
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by Honore on March 23, 2007, at 3:28:30
how many times a week do you go? i could never afford that myself. my BF and i have a joint insurance plan on which he is the primary card holder... in order to use the insurance I would have to have his sig on the forms and then he would know i was in therapy. i don't feel safe about that. :(
i really wish i could do something intense for the beginning anyway... like 2x a week would be great.
i am finding the differences in types of therapy here with everyone very interesting.. it makes me hopeful.
thanks for responding :):)
Posted by peddidle on March 24, 2007, at 13:47:49
In reply to what type of therapy are you all in?, posted by gazo on March 21, 2007, at 11:57:42
I haven't had a chance to go through all the replies yet, so I hope I'm not randomly jumping in here.
Maybe you guys could help me figure out what kind of therapy I'm in.
I had been thinking that it was eclectic, because my T is really good about (and has said she's perfectly capable of, and doesn't mind) changing her usual ways to suit what I need. But recently, I've been thinking that it's mostly cognitive therapy.
She asks a lot of open-ended questions, but I don't talk a lot, so those don't usually work. To get me to talk, she has to ask yes/no, or single word answer questions. A lot of times, she won't switch to those types of questions, and she'll just wait in silence for me to regain eye-contact with her.
Sometimes she also changes the subject to something completely irrelevant that we both like to talk about, like celebrity gossip. I'm sure she does this just to get me to talk.
Often, she'll give me "homework." Usually just "I want you to think about this..." type of stuff, but once or twice she actually wanted me to make lists of things.
I've also thought that maybe she's Adlerian, because I always feel like I'm talking to a friend, rather than a doctor.
So....what type of therapy is this?
Posted by peddidle on March 24, 2007, at 14:17:41
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by peddidle on March 24, 2007, at 13:47:49
I almost forgot...one of her favorite catch-phrases is "we're all prisoners of our own minds." I don't know if that makes a difference as far as what kind of therapy I'm in, but I figured it couldn't hurt to throw it in there. :)
Posted by gazo on March 24, 2007, at 15:52:44
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » peddidle, posted by peddidle on March 24, 2007, at 14:17:41
hmm.. well, god knows i'm no expert but i have been reading and reading and reading about all types. I am guessing she is using a blend but based more in cognitive... they seem to be the guys/gals who give homework.
you don't talk much? There seems to be a split among people i ask... half who don't talk much and half who are dying to get it all out. I'm the latter.. i don't know how 50 minutes is supposed to help.
i found this site:
http://psychcentral.com/therapy.htmit has some down to earth descriptions of different types. They admit that most therapists use more than one type depending on what a client needs. Maybe your T is still trying to figure out which path to take with you... depending on what she knows about your issues.
Posted by Honore on March 25, 2007, at 22:02:30
In reply to Re: what type of therapy are you all in? » gazo, posted by peddidle on March 24, 2007, at 13:47:49
It might be hard to know what type of therapy she does, because she might be trying to help you through a time when you have trouble opening up and talking.
She could just be trying various things to establish enough trust so that you don't feel so blocked or unsafe.
If that's so, I wouldn't say you could call it one thing or another, but it sounds as if she isn't into any rigid school of therapy that precludes her from interacting in a less narrowly constrained way when the situation or person seems to call for it.
Honore
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.