hey i just got referred to a therapist today, my apponitment isnt until september but i was curious if any of you see a therapist and what do all of your therapists tell you, talk to you about....are they helpful????any info would be great

I saw one recently after breaking up with my b/f of 5 years. It was amazing. To my surprise we ended up dealing with so many other issues and it really helped me heal. I highly recommend everyone going to see a therapist at some point in their life!!! There was no judgement, nothing I said I was wrong. Who wouldn't love that?!?!?!

~jess~

Spike_lover, that's great that you've got a therapist! I hope you'll find it helpful.

I'm with Jess... I think everyone should see one for a little while at least!
If nothing else (although I have made a great deal of progress with mine), it's an hour once a week when it's "all about me", and I love that. And need it.

I've been seeing a psychiatrist for about five years. He's a psychoanalyst, but despite that he's incredibly helpful. He isn't one of those therapists who silently sit there staring at you until you say something, you know?
In fact, a couple of weeks ago we were talking about something-or-other, and he said, "Well. We could spend the next seven years or so psychoanalysing this, OR I could tell you what you could do right now." In case there was any doubt, I chose the latter.
He allows for silences, but he does prompt me to find out what's going on in my life. And while he doesn't tell me what choices to make, he does make suggestions.
I think it's okay to tell your therapist what you're comfortable with in terms of getting feedback from her/him. They may not go along with it, but it's worth a try.

Best of luck, Spike_Lover.

I HIGHLY recommend therapy...I've been seeing a therapist since the beginning of March. Although she isn't an eating disorder specialist per se, she is well versed in nutrition and we've hit it off rather nicely. Chemistry with your doc is very important and thats the main reason I continue to see her, in addition to the fact that eating disorders stem from issues other than eating, which we all know.....

I wish you the best!

I have been going on and off to therapists for most of my adult life to counter the damage done by a very dysfunctinal and violent early childhood, adult drug and alcohol addiction, marital conflicts, and most lately the death of my dear husband.

I am having having a hard time losing meno-pounds(these pounds are made of the kryptonite superman had to stay away from, and weigh much more than a regular human pound and turn invade your body once you are post-menopausal.

I am currently going to start grad school this fall part-time to become a thrapoist because I have been very interested in the field all my life and truly believe that you can't just swallow anti-depressants to eleveate strain and pain, you also need a objective person to guide you through a solution.

I am a strong believer in this professional field because finding the talented and gifted individual who can help you see and hear what your life is about is a real gift.

Carol

I've been seeing a therapist once a week for a month now. We talk about my family, my marriage, my personal issues. I've seen other therapists at different times in my life. One thing I've learned is that if I'm not willing to be honest, there's no point in going. I spent my whole life skirting the issues that I was too afraid/embarrased to talk about with my therapists. Now, finally, at age 34 I'm working through them with some help. I've never felt such relief, freedom, and hope.

I think Kate & I formed FTPOA and FTPOG (future therapy patients of America/Germany) because we know we need it, but we just haven't done it yet.

At first I was scared when I thought about going into therapy, but now I look forward to it. There's a part of therapy I've heard that one needs to want to recover before they actually recover, and there's always a small part of me, as irrational as it is, that wants to hang on to my ED because it's been such a part of me for almost 8 years, that I think I may feel lost or incomplete without it. I should be saying this to a therapist I know.

Carol to 3FC and our CIC forum!!!! Please come join us in our weekly threads, and post your profile so we can get to know you better.

Oh, yes, Harpo & I are the founder of FTPOA and FTPOG! And there are a lot of people who should think of joining us....

After getting sober I spent time in a rehab center. There should be therapy, but after all, it wasnīt. It was more like a brain washing, esoteric cult, frightening the people with the mantra "If you donīt do what we tell you to do, you wonīt be sober a single day!"
Well, I havenīt listened and I am sober for more than 2 and a half years now. A lot of fellows who did listen are back in their illness again. Or dead.

Thatīs why I am a bit over- careful with the therapist- thing....
I think seeing one is a good thing, but it has to be someone who you trust- and who is trustworthy, after all.
And what is good for one person, mustnīt be good for another person. There are people who are happy with a soft and caring therapist, some need and "I kick you in the ***" person.
So if you go to a therapist and you donīt like him: go to another one.
And a therapy is a place for YOU to heal- itīs not there to pamper your therapists ego.

And if your therapist isnīt doing the old- fashioned talking/ analyzing therapy (which I would prefer) but is going some fancy, new therapy-stuff: get informed! Google it, asks on the board...

But therapy, if itīs done right, can be a very helpful tool to recovery. Just donīt forget that your therapist can show you the way- but you have to do the walking!

Kate

Harpo and Kate - you both are so right - for 4 years I tried therapy with no success, I was never completely honest with myself or the therapist.

Up until this year I cried uncontrollably through every session I ever had, I'd go to 2 or 3 and then quit cold turkey never to go back. I knew I had an ED because I did every online "test" and actually joined this forum in 02. I suppose I actually didn't "want" to let go until this year. 31 years old and finally letting go