Is Therapy Right for You?
Only you know if therapy is right for you. I was in therapy from 1992 to March 2004.
I believe if you are suicidal you should be in therapy It is the safety of keeping things in check.
Mental Health Therapist
A typical therapy session is 50 minutes long with 10 minutes for the therapist to write notes. If you see a psychiatrist for medicine management that appointment is 15 minutes long.
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When you have your first appointment with a psychiatrist it can last anywhere between one to two hours.
They ask you many questions and discuss in depth with you the issues you are having and background questions.
The kind of therapy that would best for me was talking about the issues one-on-one.
We would sit and talk about something I brought up or something I said would trigger a discussion and the session would take shape from there.
I had one therapist that liked to "map" the issue. You would write down the issue and analyze it, while writing down the answers. I did not care for this type of therapy, so after a few sessions I found another therapist.
You can also try group therapy with a support group. I did try this, but it was more upsetting to me then helpful. Many people do find this helpful to share their experiences.
One survivor support group met at the mental health hospital. This was more of a controlled group and I felt safer.
Choosing a Therapist
Since the healthcare system runs by insurance coverage, you can start your search by calling the number for Mental Health Services, which is usually located on the back of your insurance card. When we moved from our home state I continued to speak with my psychiatrist located there.
But in January 2004, when I had my last hospitalization I had to find a new therapist in my new home state. My insurance company was a big help. I told them I wanted a woman that was a psychologist in my city and they gave me a list. If none of them worked for me I called back for more names.
Trusting the Therapist
You need to find a therapist you can build a relationship with. You need to be able to trust your therapist and in return you need to earn the trust of your therapist.
I told my psychiatrist about my suicidal feelings and thoughts. I would even share with him my suicide plan, but we had an agreement; before I could act on my plan I had to speak directly with him. I couldn't leave a message or text him. That is the kind of relationship you should have with your therapist or doctor.
After my last suicide attempt in January 2004, while in the hospital I realized I really didn't want to die. The feelings of suicide just went away. Therapy had become something that made me very sad.
After each session, instead of feeling better I felt worse. I had learned to depend on my support person-my husband and since I was no longer suicidal I felt therapy was hurting me, not helping me.
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In March 2004, is when I made my decision to stop therapy It was scary, but I had a good support team in place now.
It was the best decision I ever made.
Just as there is a time to begin therapy, there comes a point when you have "talked" about it enough.
Now this is not to say I do not have "moments" or crisis times do not come up.
But instead of turning to someone who just wants to peel the layers of an onion back, I chose to share the crisis moment with my support team my husband and my family doctor, who also manages my mental health medicines.
The key is no matter which road you choose therapy or a support team-only you know what you need. You may be like me and do both, but I wish I had stopped therapy sooner. But only I knew when the time was right.