Hmm, I'm not certain but I think therapy becomes successful with your continual input and work on it.

I've questioned this before but I've concluded that for trauma patients, therapy is good, even though for some of us, it may bring out the most intense emotions.

It's to do with a willingness to face the strength of what your feeling. If you feel what you feel and not at least try to make active amends during the process, it might seem or feel like there are more problems.

Idk in my experience I've got LOTS more clarity on myself. Why I suffer this way, why that. It's not without intermittent confusion and not without the fear. A good therapist will tread lightly with this and make sure not to plunge the patient too deep into his or her vulnerabilities before they can actually handle it...I assume this could be quite dangerous to the mental health and have some quite bad consequences.

I agree with Forgetmenot, at least for me and my journey. I have absolutely felt worse at times during the T process, but overall, I am gaining more clarity about myself and experiencing emotions that I've never allowed myself. Additionally, I'm realizing triggers and my default/coping mechanisms. Maybe it depends on the therapist...mine has facilitated my journey in a very slow and cautious way because that's where I've been at.

yeah, i agree with you guys too. sometimes i get into a space where i think its all not worth it.
i even had one very well respected T tell me once that if i take care of myself, day in and day out i will get stronger and stronger. that's without therapy.
so i find myself wondering what is therapy adding that i otherwise wouldnt get?
its something thats hard to prove but it does seem to help me achieve things inside myself that i otherwise had not been able to.

In my experience what helps is the unbiased, open, compassionate care of another human being where I can be free to explore what I need to feel and in a safe environment.

All the 'neurosis' comes out and then the hard stuff needs to start being worked through which is probably where we find it hard because if were used to a particular way of perceiving the world, we could excuse ourselves from the work we need to do because we might be none the wiser to how we feel. I think this is probably where a lot of us question whether it's worth it...especially if the issues one might have runs deep. You ask 'How long more do I have to do this?' and your therapist says 'You need to work through it' and you pause and sigh and say 'is this really worth it, all this struggle. I was okay before' or so you thought..

I think that's how therapy mainly helps most people.

Forgetmenot,
I like how you explained that...I'm gonna remember that for myself.

DaRock,
Good Luck and keep working at it! Last week I thought I was hard headed but this week it's like I was different or she was different...I guess a good T changes things up according to what we say or something. I don't want to think about it myself but just trying to remain happy.
I hope it starts to come together for you if even only little bits of peace now and then.
Take care,
Hopeful

quote:

i find myself wondering what is therapy adding that i otherwise wouldnt get?
its something thats hard to prove but it does seem to help me achieve things inside myself that i otherwise had not been able to.

For me, it's having to face the fears and shame and allow myself to be vulnerable - both to me and T. I actually have to use my voice to speak all of that which has bottled up for a long time. My T doesn't add much in the way of opinions or advice. she simply listens and facilitates with probing questions when I hit a silent point or I can't find words.

I bought a book about therapy not working:
Shouldn't I Be Feeling Better by Now
Clients Views of Therapy
edited by Yvonee Bates

I had two therapists seriously damage me so I was interested in the real life stories in this book.