Psych/therapist

[lostandalone3]

Hi

Am just interested to know how long you guys have been seeing your psychiatrist and/or therapists for?

And do you think the length of time thing helps?

I have been under my current psych for 7 years and I think that it def helps, I just know of so many people who have to switch dr.s or therapists and wonder if it made a difference

[88shelz]

my doctors are always switching and i dont find that helpful at all
just when you think you are getting somewhere its time to start all over again

[ghosts in the machine]

Switching therapists regularly interrupts the process of forming a counselling relationship and can undermine future therapists' work to establish a relationship with the client.

I had three different Ts and one psychiatrist in the three years I was under CAMHS, and then T who I saw for a couple of years first at school and then in her private practice. Currently I'm going through the NHS adult services - seen three psychiatrists and waiting for further assessments. I'm hoping that once they've got everything sorted I won't be bounced about so much because the stability and consistency are really important in being able to trust a T and get the best out of therapy.

[Stellata]

8 years.
[I'm in private psychotherapy.]
I'm in the 'home stretch' now.

[Mrs Sam]

I've been seeing my current therapist 6/7 years (i think its been a while anyway). I couldnt have made the progress i had if the person i was seeing kept changing as a lot of the stuff we talk about comes from her picking up on my behaviours rather than what i actually say. She's only learnt these from working with me a long time. We also have our own rules regarding confidentiality. I know what things i can say without her telling my dr (even though she sometimes could) but usually that trust comes with some sort of promise or agreement from me which i try to stick to.

As for psychs. Over the past few years i've seen them a couple of times but its never become a long term thing. I saw one guy and then noone for a couple of years then more recently i've seen a couple of different psychs within about 4 months. I also saw the crisis team psych once too but that was a while ago. I dont know if it would be better to stick with one because i've never been in that situation but i presume it would.

[secret squirrel]

I have been under my current psych for 10 years. Previoulsy, I was bounced from one to another. Each time, it felt like I had to start again and it wasn't possible to build up trust as I don't trust people easily. Also, I would sometimes get attached and then they would leave and it would feel like such a loss to me. So I really appreciate my psych as he knows me well and we have good rapport and trust. I feel like he sees the whole of me, rather than a diagnosis and a collection of symptoms.

I also had a the same therapist for 8 years, which again, I really appreciated.
Sadly, in the NHS at least, it doesn';t happen enough.

[byemebyeme]

I'm oh so new to therapy world. I've been hiding my need for help for a looooooong time.
I've been seeing my therapist for maybe 2.5 months. I still can't say much of anything to him. It's not that I don't trust him, I'm just really scared. I don't like how I sound when I say things that are on my mind (if that makes any sense). Things make more sense when I say them in my head, then when I have to explain them, it's all over the place. What I want to say doesn't really come out right.
I think my Dad is hoping/wanting to get me to a psychiatrist soon...I don't really know.

[time to change]

my cpn has just left after 18 months, and i'm finding it really hard to adjust to my new one. they say that a change of therapist every couple of years for you is good, because they have new ideas etc. but i would have preferred to stick with my old one, she knew me inside out, knew when i was lying, knew when i wasn't well, and was always there for me. so yes i do think it makes a difference, but thats my opinion...
wishes
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