Cognitive behaviour therapy

[akita]

The psychologist I have been seeing since 2008 uses CBT on me and lately I have been thinking that it's not working because it's to change unhelpful or unhealthy thinking habits, feelings and behaviours and that in my opinion hasn't happened. He also does other therapies like Interpersonal psychotherapy, Psychodynamic and Solution Focused/Brief Therapy. I'm going to let him know on Friday when I see him and ask if he can try one of the other therapies he does and see if that works. Has anyone else had CBT before and has it worked on you? Or what else have you tried that has worked?

[one_step_closer]

I'm sorry that you haven't found CBT effective. I found it quite helpful actually although I don't use the skills I learnt any more. There is an extension of CBT called shema therapy which you might find helpful if you think you need to focus a bit on your past. I hope you find something that helps you. Take care.

[GoodEnoughSoon]

I've been doing CBT for my eating disorder and I've given up now after 9 months because I felt it didn't help me at all. My thinking hasn't changed since the first day I started it. However, I think it can be really good but you have to really want to get better and you have to work hard at it. I'd talk to him about it and see what else you can do. CBT isn't for everyone :)

[akita]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustByChance

My thinking hasn't changed since the first day I started it.

Yeah that's what happened with me, actually I think my thinking has gotten worse which is why I asked about it here and will ask him too.

[slacker]

if its ok to ask, what are you getting CBT for and what isn't it effective with? this can help clarify what kind of therapy may be more appropriate (but would need verification by a practitioner face to face)

[akita]

I started having it to deal with my depression and a few other problems I was/am having. I'm finding it's not effective because nothing has changed, the thoughts and feelings patterns I had when I first started CBT 2 years ago are still very much there.

[slacker]

i've come across several that have had years, some have had decades, of therapy without change. its not always the case and for many, CBT can make a huge difference

sometimes its the therapy itself, sometimes its the practitioner, sometimes its both (and sometimes its bad timing on the part of the person seeking that internal shift but something's holding them back, i.e. google 'secondary gain' in therapeutic terms)

luckily oz has some really good mental health practitioners. it may be worthwhile looking further afield (my bias is EMDR and body therapy but that's not the answer to everything)

[akita]

I wanted to do EMDR but he isn't trained in it.

[slacker]

many EMDR practitioners offer a sliding scale and they're not always hideously expensive. if you want help to find one i'm willing

[akita]

Thanks for the offer, I'll pm you where I live.