New therapist

[Guest guest]

I am going back into therapy after a few months off and relocating. Of course I

have normal KO issues to deal with (what an oxymoron " normal KO issues " ), but I

also have an eating disorder. I'm not sure how much to outright tell the

therapist in our first session.

I will basically be interviewing her to determine if she can help with my unique

issues: I will ask about her experience with adult survivors of child abuse and

neglect, about her knowledge of personality disorders, and her experience

working with people with eating disorders. I feel like I should explain to her

what I have learned so far in my therapeutic journey--BPD mother, myself with

childhood trauma and possibly PTSD, and the eating disorder.

I also think I should explain to her right off the bat that I'm a little

frustrated at having to start all over with a therapist, because my old

therapist really seemed to understand my issues and was really committed to

helping me as a unique individual. He really understood the underlying abuse and

neglect that my problems were springing from, but also understood my need to

focus on how to deal with them and not dwell on them.

Has anyone had to switch therapists before? How did you make the transition?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It's great that you are getting back in therapy, it's hard to trust a new

therapist. I have changed therapist several times and it's always hard. I am

currently transitioning to a new therapist myself. I moved but have been

reluctant to build a new relationship, so I am keeping my old therapist via

phone sessions until I feel I am settled with my new one.

I have trust issues because I had some bad therapists as a teenager who

reinforced my parents view of me as the scapegoat and continued to invalidate me

and not take me seriously. It's hard to know at first if they 'get it' and your

unique issues and if they are going to give you sound advise, and it's just what

you said, you want someone who is committed to helping you, someone who sees you

as a person, not just a patient. Some therapists, I call them 'bon bon'

therapists, (had one when I was 16 who sat and ate bon bons while I talked and

never said anything) are good for nothing. But I just think, I have to try and I

can always walk away and try someone new.

I think it's okay not to tell her everything right away, and it's also okay to

be honest about how you feel and what you need from therapy. But if after awhile

you still don't feel like you can tell her everything, move on. Because therapy

is best when you can open up completely. Trust your gut.

So far I'm not sure about my new therapist, I see her look at me and say 'hmmmm'

and I wonder if she just thinks of me as a crazy person, but those are my issue.

I always give it a couple of months. But that's just me.

It's hard to trust, good luck. And just remember, you can always find someone

different if it's not a good fit.

>

> I am going back into therapy after a few months off and relocating. Of course

I have normal KO issues to deal with (what an oxymoron " normal KO issues " ), but

I also have an eating disorder. I'm not sure how much to outright tell the

therapist in our first session.

>

> I will basically be interviewing her to determine if she can help with my

unique issues: I will ask about her experience with adult survivors of child

abuse and neglect, about her knowledge of personality disorders, and her

experience working with people with eating disorders. I feel like I should

explain to her what I have learned so far in my therapeutic journey--BPD mother,

myself with childhood trauma and possibly PTSD, and the eating disorder.

>

> I also think I should explain to her right off the bat that I'm a little

frustrated at having to start all over with a therapist, because my old

therapist really seemed to understand my issues and was really committed to

helping me as a unique individual. He really understood the underlying abuse and

neglect that my problems were springing from, but also understood my need to

focus on how to deal with them and not dwell on them.

>

> Has anyone had to switch therapists before? How did you make the transition?

>

> Thanks,

>

>