~*~I'm Thinking Again~*~

I'm thinking again and that always means trouble, not necessarily negative.  Sometimes, I'm very constructive when I'm thinking.  When I'm thinking I often find myself wandering across the internet into the abyss. 

Since I've been retired,  I have become my favorite patient.  I do everything I tell me to.  Therapy instills in us that we are not alone in the universe.  Frequently our therapists seem to have more quirks than we the patients.  I tend to do therapy on every therapist I talked to.  Works for me.  Although my university classes taught me a great deal about the world,  I think more than anything else they taught me that learning new things makes me happy and it even makes me brighter. 

As a person, I believe that we really need to love one another and to be loved and appreciated.   As a therapist, I believe that  most people already have the cure for what ails them.   So I guide them and educate them.  I guess that means my approach to therapy would be an educational approach. 

Mostly, I can be eclectic in my style of therapy.  Throw in some Rogers, some Skinner, some........well maybe that's it.  Accepting the patient as a person helps the patient and therapist establish rapport.   For addictions, behavioral therapy works very well.  Cognitive therapy helps a great deal when when treating cognitive distortions.  The patient learns to recognize, analyze, and correct their cognitive distortions.   During therapy sessions,  listening is very important, but  the patient needs to know that the therapist listens as part of their assessment and is very interesting in what the patient shares in sessions. 

Once patient and therapist have established rapport,  assessment of the patient's problem continues.  Once we build the treatment plan around the patient's goals for therapy.  "What does the patient want from therapy?"  With realistic goals, we build the course of treatment.  Another important question for therapy,  "What assets does the patient bring with them into treatment?"  Once these questions are answered either directly or indirectly, it's time to decide if the patient and therapist understand one another.  With my approach to therapy, homework becomes a part of the patient's life.  During the course of treatment the patient learns to recognize and correct their cognitive distortions, build and maintain their self-esteem,  and locate materials for further learning.  

Warning:  Some treatment centers, allegedly require that the therapist use a common style of therapy with all patients.   Makes no sense to me either. 

Certain disorders respond well to individual therapy and other disorders respond well to group therapy.  If you're therapist cries, laughs, or talks to invisible friends;  you may want to keep looking for a qualified, ethical, well-informed professional to meet your needs in a therapist.  People frequently over generalize when it comes to therapist;  if the patient doesn't feel good about their first visits with a therapist they may suffer in silence and never return.  If you, the patient, do not feel okay with your therapist please keep looking.   We're therapists to help others, but we're not one size fits all.   If you feel discouraged by your first visit, remember that all people are unique even therapists.  A good rule of thumb, Ive the therapist 10 or 12 weeks.  Then reassess your professional relationship. 

Professional ethics dictate certain behaviors are inappropriate in therapy.  I recommend not developing  personal relationships with patients.  Report any lewd, illegal, or immoral behavior by a therapist, to their bosses and/ or board  therapist is licensed by.

Fact or Fiction? "Therapists are more screwed up than their patients." Allegedly, it's not unusual for a therapist to need/have had therapists of their own.  I'd recommend a regular appointment even if it's only to vent (A checkup from the neck up.)  Although I say give your new therapist a chance,  I also say that if your intuition tells you the professional is inept, shady,  dangerous, or  unrealistic you can always try another therapist.  Remember that all of us are just people.  We all have assets and flaws.  Give us a chance.

I'm so sleepy, I'm becoming goofy.  Goodnight friends.

Love,
Rosie (Rox)