tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post804354403035290153..comments2024-03-23T08:25:22.526-04:00Comments on ED Bites: Tip Day: Picking out a therapistCarrie Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-43093374547296777472010-12-03T17:56:55.462-05:002010-12-03T17:56:55.462-05:00I totally agree on recommendations. But I like to ...I totally agree on recommendations. But I like to get them from a therapist I already like. Right now, I am going to have to change therapists because mine is too expensive and also going on maternity leave. It sucks so much, I have been through so many for many reasons - bad ones, changing insurance, me moving locations, therapist moves, etc. <br /><br />My number one thing is if they are familiar with DBT and use it. DBT has changed my life and matches how I think so much. It's hard for me to explain right away how I think but that is a good indicator. I am trying to work on formulating describing how I think as I see this new person. I hate when I get annoyed about that. <br /><br />I also think: always love yourself enough to find someone else if that person isn't working for you for whatever reason. <br /><br />Good post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-19699606069605941572010-12-03T14:13:31.440-05:002010-12-03T14:13:31.440-05:00I am in the UK and have been through PCAMHS, CAMHS...I am in the UK and have been through PCAMHS, CAMHS and am now with a totally different service which focuses on therapy for youths however all is covered under the NHS :). <br /><br />I have been in treatment for one and a half years however I recently started with a new therapist and I'm finding it difficult. She seems to think exactly like I don't. She's always talking about my past, childhood, family etc. Very Freudian and psychodynamic - I always say "it's simpler than that, I don't think it's that complicated" she replies "Maybe you want it to be simpler, you've simplified everything in your mind". It drives me insane!<br /><br />I asked to try CBT. She said I was running away from my true problems. We're getting nowhere. What should I do? I've thought of contacting the service from above to see if they can change me but I'm afraid she'll put her foot down and return to the whole "you need to address the real issue" which she is convinced is probably my parents and attachment to my mother or something else. <br /><br />Please help me Carrie, thanks xxxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-31398197512484808312010-12-02T16:25:30.248-05:002010-12-02T16:25:30.248-05:00I was thinking about requesting a post on this exa...I was thinking about requesting a post on this exact topic, since I'm about to start looking for a therapist for the first time. Thanks so much for sharing these excellent points and thank you to the other commenters for their added insight!Julianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-56136030352131351182010-12-02T14:36:40.888-05:002010-12-02T14:36:40.888-05:00Jen,
Absolutely, you can add this to your blog. ...Jen,<br /><br />Absolutely, you can add this to your blog. No need to ask. ;)Carrie Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-27350481949699793972010-12-02T14:36:18.949-05:002010-12-02T14:36:18.949-05:00Anon #2:
That is a wonderful question! I will ad...Anon #2:<br /><br />That is a wonderful question! I will add that to my repertoire.Carrie Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-81577391924094648912010-12-02T14:27:30.125-05:002010-12-02T14:27:30.125-05:00Anon #1:
As for what causes eating disorders, I c...Anon #1:<br /><br />As for what causes eating disorders, I can give you a very long answer to that. I have some posts I've done in the past and I will try to dig them up. The breakpoint for me would be if they didn't mention biology/neuroscience/genetics.Carrie Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-28018282297300408112010-12-02T11:57:02.932-05:002010-12-02T11:57:02.932-05:00I have had 11 therapists so you beat me! :)
My nu...I have had 11 therapists so you beat me! :)<br /><br />My number one question I ask to weed them out is:<br /><br />"Do you believe that people can actually recover from eating disorders?"<br /><br />If the answer is no, I don't waste my time with them. I also run for the hills! :) People recover from eating disorders all the time and go on to live fulfilling lives. If they don't think people can truly recover its because they have never seen it happen. Back away slowly...<br /><br />I'm recovered and happily enjoying life as its meant to be lived.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-38892327007776988182010-12-02T10:25:55.245-05:002010-12-02T10:25:55.245-05:00I have a really really difficult time dealing with...I have a really really difficult time dealing with bounadries and attachment issues with my therapist. I can't imagine leaving her. I think that the fact that you have to strength to find another therapist and how you're going about it is great. You're very strong and brave- I think your tips are all great. I was told that finding the right therapist is like finding a husband. NOT easy. :-)<br /><br /><3<br />-LisaLisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205933300947954793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-8627231954906955872010-12-02T10:07:27.918-05:002010-12-02T10:07:27.918-05:00Not only is this a terrific post, but the comments...Not only is this a terrific post, but the comments help to broaden the discussion. I'd like to post this in my "of note" section for parents. Is that okay?Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-82679570981199559902010-12-02T09:55:23.122-05:002010-12-02T09:55:23.122-05:00These are really wise tips. I think at the heart o...These are really wise tips. I think at the heart of this post is the fact that consumers of mental health services need to be proactive and, yes, choosy, when selecting a provider. I think that many clients don't feel they have the right or the voice to ask tough questions of their (potential) therapist or feel that they cannot leave once a relationship is formed. I think that not only is important to communicate your wants and needs at the start of therapy, but continuously throughout. I'm also glad that you brought up asking about professional affiliations. While I've encountered many, many therapists who say they work with eating disorders, often it's not a specialty and they haven't worked with severe or chronic cases. While an affiliation doesn't guarantee that, it usually at least means they are invested in staying current in the field. <br /><br />I posted a reader poll yesterday that you might find interesting about "What if your therapist had (in the past) an eating disorder?" : http://www.nourishing-the-soul.com/2010/12/therapist-eating-disorder/Ashley @ Nourishing the Soulhttp://www.nourishing-the-soul.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-10125450907010842292010-12-02T05:10:51.280-05:002010-12-02T05:10:51.280-05:00Anonymous -- there isn't a single answer and t...Anonymous -- there isn't a single answer and the "answer" is individual to every person. Many contributing factor include: abuse (mental/physical/sexual), amount of family/friend support, other psychiatric illnesses (e.g. depression), chronic physical illnesses, bereavement, personality types, low self-esteem, genetic predisposition etc. That is not to say that everyone who has experiences one of the above gets an ED. If the medically profession knew the answer so many of us would be cured so much sooner! I think you need to look to find someone who does NOT have a straight forward answer, or knows how complex ED causes can be.<br /><br /><br /><br />Cathy, you made a very important point. Unfortunately when I got ill with anorexia there weren't ANY ED units for children in my whole county! At times they were considering sending me to a general mental health ward and tried their very hardest to keep me out of there (because everyone just eats to get out). In the end I was treated by CAMHS (child general services, but who deal with many ED cases). I had no say or choice in who was my therapist and got what I was given, which was CBT and a tiny bit of DBT training my T went on. <br /><br />I'm being treated by adult services at the minute. In total I've been in treatment for 2 years or so by switching from one healthy professional to another, which is probably more than most. My OP adult services will treat me for a total of 20 sessions, so I meet her about once a month. <br /><br />In fact, the reason why I got so ill before I got proper help was because when I got referred to a pseudo-professional (PCAMHS) for SI they dropped my case after seeing me twice because I went on holiday for 3 weeks! And wrote to my mum everything they said even though there was no reason to breach confidentiality. No help was offered to me when I was suicidal, so I tried to get way below the "anorexic BMI" before getting help because the NHS made me feel undeserving of help and I wanted them to hear me. Sometimes it is tragic how the NHS works but I am happy that I am able to get some help for which I would otherwise no be able to pay for.kushikahttp://againstanorexia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-83602907445859813602010-12-02T04:19:10.111-05:002010-12-02T04:19:10.111-05:00I guess the main thing I would say here is that we...I guess the main thing I would say here is that we have a totally different healthcare system and health culture in the UK. We are not 'big on therapy'. Few people have therapists. <br /><br />If we have an ED the first port of call is GP. GP refers us to specialist ED therapist/psychiatrist if we meet specific criteria. If we are sufficiently sick - either physically or mentally we get NHS funding to go into an EDU - where we are rapidly re-fed and therapy focuses mainly on CBT, DBT and 'body image' (yuck - regarding the latter... says she as a non-fat-phobic former anorexic...).<br /><br />It has only struck me recently what a very different system we have in the UK vs. the USA. I still have (sporadic) therapy, but only because I have co-morbid issues that fed into my AN. We just don't 'do' therapy in a big way like you do in the USA, unless we pay privately. Therapy isn't routinely offered through the NHS.Cathy (UK)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-33683519867547643682010-12-02T03:17:54.867-05:002010-12-02T03:17:54.867-05:00Hi Carrie! I am also looking for a therapist and I...Hi Carrie! I am also looking for a therapist and I liked your idea of asking what causes an eating disorder, but I realize that I don't know what a good answer would be. In fact, I am not sure either what causes an eating disorder. Could you tell me or maybe even write a post about it? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-9002543495367369382010-12-02T03:02:54.474-05:002010-12-02T03:02:54.474-05:00Boundaries is a biggie for me- for a therapist, di...Boundaries is a biggie for me- for a therapist, dietitian, doctor, whatever. If they are lackadaisical about their own professional boundaries (hesitant to discuss, waves away your questions about needing to sign things for privacy reasons, oh-we-don't-need-to-worry-about-that kind of an attitude) then they will probably have no respect for your personal boundaries either. This goes along with tip #7- definitely ask questions about how they would handle your family calling them, other members of your treatment team calling them, if they discuss their client cases with colleagues and/or a supervisor, how they would react if they ran into you in public. They ought to have well-constructed answers to these things on the tip of their tongue. Perhaps one might answer differently than another, and you'll have to decide which answers you can tolerate. But if they're wishy-washy or indecisive, that might not be a safe place to dump and process your most intimate issues- it's no fun to be shocked by a sudden display of poor boundaries later on.hmnoreply@blogger.com