Person Centred Therapy

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Hi,

I've battled with mental health difficulties for nearly 14 (I'm 26 now).

I haven't made much progress with the therapy I've been offered. I've had psychodynamic therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, specialist supportive clinical management and cognitive behavioural therapy. They mentioned EMDR but after assessment they didn't think I was well enough. I haven't made any progress and still suffer with PTSD, depression and an eating disorder. I was admitted to hospital for anorexia on numerous occasions when I was younger and all they did was feed me. I found I coped better when I didn't eat as it numbed everything. I wish I didn't have to eat again but couldn't put my parents through that again.

The PTSD is bad at the moment and I'm battling through a lot of flashbacks, nightmares and body memories.

Someone mentioned person-centred therapy. I was wondering if anyone has any information on this?

I wish someone could take away part of my head and put it back together without the bad things that have happened.

[Eir]

There's a good article on Wikipedia about it. From what I gathering a talk-therapy where the therapist offers no judgement, and is empathetic and compassionate. Their offering of unconditional acceptance builds self esteem, and helps the person to understand how negative things are affecting them.

[sherlock holmes]

From what I remember when I was studying, person centred therapy is pretty much what it says- person centred. The person having the therapy leads the session really and can talk about whatever they feel like and I think the therapist is more neutral. It's all based upon the therapist being non-judgemental and unconditionally accepting the client regardless of what they say. And the therapist is very empathetic.

[Uglyducklin]

Hi Hun I'm low on words but hugs .

[Isoverity]

Lots of studies show all the "therapy" can make things worse. You can't grow beyond traumas etc if you're focusing on them and picking at them all the time. The trick is to defocus and not refocus

[sherlock holmes]

I'm not sure that's really helpful Jack. Many people need therapy to recover. It's a blanket statement to say it's not helpful because it focuses on trauma- lots of people need to talk about it in order to heal. And plus not all of being in therapy is about focussing on trauma.

[Uglyducklin]

Well said Sherlock Holmes .

[Isoverity]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock holmes

I'm not sure that's really helpful Jack. Many people need therapy to recover. It's a blanket statement to say it's not helpful because it focuses on trauma- lots of people need to talk about it in order to heal. And plus not all of being in therapy is about focussing on trauma.

But its true that talk therapy is in crisis (hence the overuse of drugs) and that PTSD trauma therapy in particular can make things worse.


If people are in "therapy" for years (as OP sounded to be) then its time to examine why its not working

"When it's bad to talk"

"As evidence grows that anti-depressant drugs are ineffective, more of us are likely to turn to psychotherapy. But, as Kate Hilpern reports, counselling can mean being traumatised again"

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/he...verstated.html