Do you go to therapy?

[Buttonsy]

I've recently been considering therapy, at this point I pretty much know I want it, it's mostly about figuring out the best way to go about it as a low income person. I was curious, does anyone here have therapy experiences?

 

[Fey]

Experiences are super varied from person to person, but here?s some advice I can pass along:

1. Knowing what your expectations are can make all the difference
It took me years and countless sessions to finally realize that talk therapy just wasn?t doing anything for me. I felt comfortable talking, but never like it actually helped me make any progress or feel better. What I really needed was a more direct, goal-oriented approach?a coach rather than just a listener.

2. Don?t settle for a provider?keep searching until you find the right one
Never feel bad for leaving a provider, even if you do it multiple times. It?s your time, money, and most importantly, your wellbeing. Some people?s approach didn?t work for me, others just rubbed me the wrong way. Listen to your instincts if you?re not comfortable with the person and leave.

Everyone is different, and admitting that you want some help is always the first step. You don?t have to have it figured out beyond ?I want to feel better? from the start, but try checking in with your needs along the way to make sure you?re going in the right direction.
Good luck ♥

 

[cornimer]

I go to therapy and I like it. The first therapist I went to was not a good fit, so I didn't go back but the second one I got is perfect for me. I think the process can help if you are open to it helping and willing to put in the mental work. If you (not that you specifically would do this, just anyone in general) go in with the expectation that the therapist will magically tell you exactly how to cure your problems, you will be disappointed. But if you constantly practice doing the things they suggest, I think it can help. It also is nice to have someone to talk to all your troubles about without worrying about burdening them or making them uncomfortable.

 

[ali.di.magix]

I've been once in the past. While I did find it a good experience to let go of any troubles I had, I didn't really enjoy the experience overall. I don't think therapy or counselling is the right course for me since it takes me a long time to figure out my feelings and how to convey them to other people, but that's just me personally.

 

[Soigne]

i really wish i could afford regular therapy

 

[CambriaSpeedRacer]

Unless you count my anxiety chatbot and 7cups as therapy, no. My doctor did propose it, but we've not really considered it.

 

[Sylvia]

no. i don't really want to air out and remember my past either.

 

[Buttonsy]

I've been once in the past. While I did find it a good experience to let go of any troubles I had, I didn't really enjoy the experience overall. I don't think therapy or counselling is the right course for me since it takes me a long time to figure out my feelings and how to convey them to other people, but that's just me personally.

Ahh, I understand that. I have a somewhat similar dilemma, I tend to take a while to turn my thoughts into words and I'm hoping that won't interfere too heavily with my therapy journey. Have you found something else that helps? I was thinking of trying journaling since you can go slower with it.

Unless you count my anxiety chatbot and 7cups as therapy, no. My doctor did propose it, but we've not really considered it.

Do you find that those apps help? A big part of the reason it's taking me a while to get into therapy besides my financial status is social anxiety, so having some kind of AI chatbot might actually make things easier for me.

 

[Bizhiins]

I went to therapy when I was a kid, and I just started going again a couple months ago.
Honestly: I think if you found the right therapist, it could be amazing. It?s nice to be able to talk about hard things in your life with someone who isn?t really involved. Also, mine isn?t expensive.
However, I find that it really isn?t doing anything for me. I actually think my friends are better than the therapist. They tend to have better advice for me.
Some therapists have really good techniques for certain things, the one I?m with has techniques for anxiety that stems from childhood trauma. I find it helps me think of different techniques to deal with it in healthy ways; however I?m a pretty introverted person and I?m really cautious about what I share with them!

 

[visibleghost]

i've been in therapy for like 5 years but recently stopped because i'm doing much better now, so i will contact him if i need to i guess. therapy is cool, how well it works depends on a lot of factors but yeah. i wouldn't say therapy has made me much better but it has helped to some degree, and regularly seeing a psychologist has certainly helped with keeping me alive so there's that at least.

 

[Emolga59]

I've never had therapy

 

[Laconic]

Yep ! I've gone through dozens of different therapists, and done all different therapy approaches. Not sure exactly what type you're considering for yourself, but I've personally liked solo cognitive therapy. Group therapy of any kind was always terrible for me, and I don't think I've ever had a therapist I "clicked" with.

Which leads to a good point of being okay with ditching therapists and finding new ones, don't give up on the idea of therapy altogether just because one therapist wasn't working, didn't get you/click right, etc, etc. And do consider that there's multiple different types of therapy practices, so don't give up if you don't like particular ones!

For low income, I'm guessing you don't have anything covered by insurance? I had friends who were far below the poverty line and still were able to find therapists who did special plans particularly for those types of people. Might be extra work, but going to therapy is worth it !

ALSO, don't settle for just a psychiatrist---medication can help, sure, but therapy--challenging your thoughts and behaviors and working on ways to change them is SO important !!

And this is coming from someone who's been in and out of therapy for 12 years !

 

[Midoriya]

When I was younger I went to therapy for my Aspergers. However, I don’t need therapy anymore. I have a psychiatrist and medicine that helps me function better. I’m actually going to be getting off of my medicine completely next year, so I won’t even need a psychiatrist anymore once that happens.

I can’t say much about good therapists as the one I went to was pretty helpful (and I also don’t really have high standards for therapists). I would just say to find one that relates to you the most and can help you.

 

[Oldcatlady]

I?ve been there twice, once to help with my phobia and another time because of personal issues. I didn?t think it went well during my first appointment because I had the misconception that there?s a magical cure that the therapist knows about that can help me and I didn?t put in enough work. But now that I?m learning more about mental health through my practicum, I realize that my therapist did a good job trying to help me with coping strategies and it was all on me for not putting in the work necessary

 

[Cheybunny]

yes bc im so freaking depressed. i have bipolar 2 w/ mixed rapid cycling episodes. it. is. nuts. the therapy helps but the meds help more.

 

[SherlockLina]

Ehhh.... I never really went. I never like to dig up my past that much....

 

[RedTropicalPeachyFish]

If appointments with phychiatrst counts, then yes I used to do when I was younger. All I knew there is that it's just yourself who can save you. And that there's a chemistry with councilors too, which you need luck to find the one who's for you.
Now my ex absolutely needs therapy. And I believe yet it wouldn't help him in any way. Or maybe I'm just wrong.

 

[Buttonsy]

Yep ! I've gone through dozens of different therapists, and done all different therapy approaches. Not sure exactly what type you're considering for yourself, but I've personally liked solo cognitive therapy. Group therapy of any kind was always terrible for me, and I don't think I've ever had a therapist I "clicked" with.

Which leads to a good point of being okay with ditching therapists and finding new ones, don't give up on the idea of therapy altogether just because one therapist wasn't working, didn't get you/click right, etc, etc. And do consider that there's multiple different types of therapy practices, so don't give up if you don't like particular ones!

For low income, I'm guessing you don't have anything covered by insurance? I had friends who were far below the poverty line and still were able to find therapists who did special plans particularly for those types of people. Might be extra work, but going to therapy is worth it !

ALSO, don't settle for just a psychiatrist---medication can help, sure, but therapy--challenging your thoughts and behaviors and working on ways to change them is SO important !!

And this is coming from someone who's been in and out of therapy for 12 years !

I do have some therapy options that are covered, I'm Canadian and we have a few low-income mental health options, it's just that they're all varying degrees of quality and I'm trying to figure out what the best one to try is. I also have social anxiety and that hasn't quite helped me make progress either.

 

[Alyx]

I've been to many different therapists and not one has clicked for me. I'm concerned I may never find the right one.

 

[Lynnea]

I used to. For a couple months during sixth grade and a couple months during ninth. I got the help I needed, though, and don't have to go back anymore. I think It's good for people to try therapy. Even if you're not sure you have a "real" problem.