Posted by Kath on November 12, 2009, at 19:36:09
In reply to Therapy techniques, posted by goingballistic on November 12, 2009, at 2:56:37
Dear Goingballistic
I'm glad you posted. Welcome.
> My new therapist is a licensed psychologist and neuropsychologist and does not really believe in psychotherapy or medication.
~ ~ I haven't heard of neuropsychology. The doctor who runs my Group Therapy group doesn't really believe in medication for certain conditions. She actually provides information for a protocol for getting off psych meds, should her patients choose to do so.
> So she does biofeedback,
~ ~ my therapist has done a bit of this with me. I think it has potention for helping people; haven't done enough to really benefit from it.
tapping (I think it's called emotional freedom technique),
~ ~ I use EFT very often....sometimes daily or more than once in a day. When I do it, I always first decide what I'm going to 'tap' about & rate how upset I am feeling on a scale of 1 to 10. After going through the tapping cycle 2 times, I re-measure my upset rating. I usually go from say 8 to 6 or 5 the first time, then do the whole thing all over again & that usually takes me down to a 3. Usually I can handle being at a 3 but if that's not comfortable, I repeat & would probably get to a 1. I do hope you will feel free to Babblemail me. There might be a slight variation as to how you word things that might help it to be more effective. I'd be glad to give you my thoughts or suggestions if you want them.
:-)
Yes, it is called Emotional Freedom Technique. I know several people who benefit greatly from it. There's another technique called TAT. It is particularly good for sort of 'dissolving' trauma. There's a website, I think it's www.tatlife.com The thing I like about EFT & TAT is that the instructions are free, they're things anyone can learn easily & do for themself. I guess they don't work for everyone, but they do work for a lot of people.> and emphasizes "A course in miracles." I have been coming to her because I am dealing with a very stressful family situation. I am ready to move out of my mother's house and into a homeless shelter (I am financially strapped). I have been trying all of her therapeutic techniques, but they have not been very helpful to me. I am still under so much stress that it is affecting my physical health, and I had begun hallucinating.
~ ~ I'm very sorry you're having such an awful time. I admire your perseverence & openmindedness in trying all her techniques, but if they aren't helping, I think it would be in your best interests if SOMEthing changes.
> I am wondering if any of you have tried, "A Course in Miracles." What did you think of it? Do you think it has therapeutic value?
~ ~ I have heard of it & have friends who have done it, but ya know, I think it has to be the right "fit". I remember a friend saying that she's learned through the C in M that 'anger is an absence of love' & when she's encountering anger, she tries to see it in that way & remember what she's learned.
Well, from what you're describing of your family situation, I think it would take a saint or something to be able to sort of "rise above" the discord & see it from a detached, elevated place! I have no doubt that the C in M could help some people. I have the impression that it would be good for someone who wants to try to become more spiritually aware or something. From what I heard of it, it didn't feel like a good "fit" for me.
I think rather than being 'therapeutic' it seems it might be developing a certain way to see things.My experience has been that for really cut & dried, practical, useful help in dealing with difficult life situations, - I've found Social Workers quite good....maybe better than some psychologists I've worked with. But I don't know if your insurance would cover them. And as with anything else, some are good/some not.
> Also, have you tried tapping? I don't feel anything after doing it many, many, many times. I told her this, but she wants me to continue trying it.
~ ~ As I've said above, there might be a variation on it that could help. Here's one link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i33V2EcVlY&feature=channel
Here's a link describing the basic method of TAT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRXdQNA3aEk
Unfortunately, when my visits get used up, I will be left with no coverage should I decide to switch providers.
~ ~ I'm not sure what to say. It seems to me that
1) I doubt whether the Course in Miracles is a good choice for you at all right now (or maybe ever).
2) To use up all your remaining insurance covered sessions, on biofeedback - I think you would be better served by talking with someone who can give you some really practical help with dealing with your family & your current (what sounds like) crisis situation.
3) You can do a lot of work yourself with EFT and TAT. I don't think it's appropriate for you to have to pay someone for this. The same fellow who did the videos above, offers Level 1 of a "tapping course" free (it's somewhat different from basic EFT). If you try it, like it & want to purchase Levels 2 & 3, you can choose how much you pay - he offers a sliding scale pricing....I think the lowest price is $15.
www.tappingcourse.comHere's a link for a FREE online CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) course through I think it's a Scottish University. It is very similar to "Mind Over Mood" - an excellent workbook teaching CBT. I have found that doing the "Thought Records" in that book (and on the online course) can help me get my emotions down to an amazing degree.
Say that something had happened & I identified the following emotions at the following intensities:
Fear 80%
Anger 70%
Sadness 90%I've been know to get them down (by filling out a Thought Record, in which you're helped to look at different parts of your thought process & shift your way of seeing things) to
Fear 30%
Anger 35%
Sadness 40%So I find CBT quite good. Sometimes I forget to use it!!!
Here's the link for that:
http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/
I wish you all the best. I think finding a new therapist/psychologist, whatever - can be very stressful & hard to find the right 'fit'.
Once again, please feel free to babblemail me. If you don't know how to set that feature up, ask us. It's a method of you being able to send me an email through PBabble without either of us knowing the other's email address.
:-)
Take care, sincerley Kath
PS - I forgot to mention that I did take meds - was on Celexa, an SSRI for 4 years. I tend to use whatever methods/help available to me from whatever source.
My concern with the therapist you're with right now is that I think you need some really down to earth, practical help in dealing with this. The things she's suggesting seem to me more in the line of self-help in some cases, and in other cases, things which can take time to learn or to help & meanwhile you're in a crisis situation!!
(((you))) that's hugs in computer language!
poster:Kath
thread:925436
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20091022/msgs/925531.html