Your experiences with Therapists

[dave]

Seeing my therapist is not stressful for me - I actually look forward to it.
The first session was a little daunting beforehand but shortly into the session I realized that I was with an ally.
I can be totally honest and this person knows the journey I am on.
I ALWAYS leave in a better frame of mind.
After 3+ years clean time in recovery I still see the therapist occasionally.
In fact - just writing this makes me yearn to book another appointment.

Don't hesitate in connecting to a good helper.
But follow your gut at well.
Years back my wife and I saw family counsellor that was of little help, but we didn't know any better.
Now I know the power of a good therapist connection.

[Deelmo]

I find a great therapist very first visit. He nailed me to wall with "it's not really an addiction, it's your pure SELFISHNESS" How true. It was my inability to deal with any emotion. Loneliness, stress, unhappy, anger, anything. I just wanted a quick fix and forget my real problem. Ignoring a problem will never make it go away. I went to a group therapy called "Restoring Integrity". This made me realize that the price I paid for the "quick fix" was my lose of my own honor, respect, and integrity. It made me a liar (silence is a lie) a cheat (porn in infidelty) and a theft (I took what should have belonged only to my wife). I think if you "interview" the therapist, let it be known what your expectations are, then you can better judge them by their answer. Interview them.

[helpmefreud]

Yes, definitely you need to find a therapist who is knowledgable. You also need to find out a therapist who will help you with what you're looking for. Do you just want to talk about your problems? Do you like talking about the past? Do you want somebody who will assign you 'homework'? There are nearly as many kinds of therapy as there are therapists. Talk to your therapist about what his or her philosophy is about addiction and see how it squares up with your own. Believe me, if your therapist thinks that your problem is something other than what you think it is, you're going to come away frustrated/angry/insulted/beaten down, and have spent a lot of money on it too.

[lamot1bj]

I'm currently seeing a therapist who has an extensive background in treating people with addictions, from drugs and alcohol, to food and sex. So far it's been a revealing experience. I've *never* been able to speak so openly about my issues before, so it's been very freeing. It's helped me understand more about my addiction and the things causing it. I find that I'm looking forward to my sessions because I know I have someone impartial who I can talk with about the things I'm feeling and going through. Even if they don't help you get totally resolved and clean, having something there to talk to about it can be a lot of help, too.