What can I expect from Therapy?

Post Reply New Topic

Hi Rocket, just some general comments. I have read most everything in this thread and find it interesting. I was on another thread of yours last April and found that interesting, also. Here is one message you wrote describing your general situation and how you felt about your life at that time: Basically you said you were unhappy over the years and trying to understand yourself better (and presumably be happier, though you didn't say this). http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp5356819.html#5356819

Re the process of therapy I would tend to go by the general rule, if it works, don't try to fix it, and it does sound like things are working for you in some ways, but not in every way--there is this general malaise, plus it seem from reading this earlier message that you do have some kind of an inner question which you are trying to define and pinpoint by these external goals. Imo the real way you will connect to yourself and solving your internal problem/question is probably more from the angle of tuning into the deeper question. And if you have a question such as how you can be happy that is different than having other specialized questions,because different kinds of questions can touch different parts of the brain, and probably one line of questioning can be used to avoid looking and questioning in other directions, though that is your prerogative..

Along this angle, when a person sees a therapist, it is probably essential for the process to be generative in the way each person, both the client and the therapist, is engaged, and this makes it a real relationship and give integrity to the process. From this angle I can see why this particular therapist would want to approach in your particular situation from the area of relationships in order to engage with you and be interested enough in the process to participate herself. It sounds to me as if she may be attuned to your inner self and a deeper question that may be under these others questions and which this other line of questioning may possibly be masking.. From what you have said, she sounds quite good to me, actually. This aside, in order to be effective and for it to be a good fit, you need to be engaged, also, so there is a kind of middle ground to be reached.

Personally I am not too much into therapy, though I have a wonderful therapist who gives me a very reduced rate but only see him a few times a year if something comes up,.and there was a gap of several years before six years ago, but he will always be there for me. If I had more money I would probably go in a bit more frequently. I met him when I went through a very horrible experience eleven years ago. I will maybe write about my relationship with this therapist some time.

My psychiatrist still distinguishes Asperger's from other disorders on the autism spectrum. I don't know about other mental health professionals. I have a feeling that the new diagnostic criteria have not gained widespread use. The DSM-V hasn't been out long enough.