Posted by Daisym on January 27, 2007, at 18:20:16
In reply to Re: Do I need therapy? » Dis Traught, posted by sunnydays on January 27, 2007, at 17:44:45
People go into therapy for all kinds of reasons. I think whether you qualify or not is strictly an insurance term - will they pay for it? Otherwise it is typically a choice, something you do for yourself with certain goals in mind.
It does sound like you've had quite a number of hard things happen to you. The question is, are they effecting your life, health, happiness and relationships, now? If you've been able to make sense out of your past experiences and these events reside as part of a coherent, although sad, narrative of your life, you don't necessarily need therapy. If you find your past intruding on your present functioning and happiness, therapy might help you sort through things and change things for the better. I worry often that people think that therapy is a magic bullet -- they'll go in, tell their stories and have that "ah ha!" moment that sheds a light on everything and instantly you feel better. Or, that the therapist will tell you to do X, Y and Z and it will all get better.
The truth is that therapy is a lot of hard work. It is hard to make personal changes, and it is often painful to revisit old traumas in order to understand them better. You have to commit to it and be willing to push yourself to open up and be honest. The job of the therapist is to help you help yourself. Therapy is a safe, carved out space to do the work.
I read somewhere recently that you should look upon therapy like you would a college education. It is a costly investment in your future - both in terms of time and dollars. It takes focus, you need guidance and there is a significant requirement of "outside" thinking/working time needed in order to succeed (homework). But in the end, the "degree" you get should serve you for your whole life. And this is what we are talking about -- your life. So get the best education you can!
Good luck and welcome to Babble.
poster:Daisym
thread:727211
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20070119/msgs/727250.html