Posted by pedr on January 29, 2002, at 12:16:42
In reply to benefits of therapy? (longish), posted by m3 on January 28, 2002, at 18:56:52
> This is something I've always been curious about: can anyone offer concrete
> examples of how therapy has helped them? I know it's hard
> to sum up meaningfully, but I dunno, something like, before
> therapy I would do x, and now I can recognize other options
> and usually choose to do y.
>
> I know that clinical studies show therapy is pretty consistently
> effective for many/most people with depression and
> some other diagnoses. My scientific/knowledge-seeking/informed-patient
> side is impatient with the subjective part of it and wants
> to know how it works.
>
> I guess a related question is, how is a "newcomer"
> (someone who's getting psych. symptoms for the first time)
> supposed to pick a doctor? It seems odd to me that we're just
> supposed to go by whether we feel a rapport with them, when
> 1) they (i.e. mental health professionals) presumably have strong and
> differing views of what's the best way to treat people, and
> 2) most of us know nothing, at least up front, about the different
> options.
>
> I guess what I'm getting at is, an educated mental health professional
> who was getting symptoms would presumably make a choice of shrink
> based on methodology, but your average patient can't. Seems strange
> to me...anyone else feel the same?m3,
I was referred to a CBT therapist through my GP so that is where I started. As the waiting list was 1.5 years [bloody NHS] so I went private. It helped a tiny bit - about 3%. I then took Cognitive Analytical Therapy [CAT] for a good 25 sessions or so. This also helped a tiny bit. I was gutted as my expectations had been so much higher and I was still in so much pain and distress.I then saw a psychiatrist privately at the Priory [famous expensive clinic] and he recommended I do Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy [REBT - used be called RT or RET]. I'm getting to grips with it now and it the most powerful model I've tried. Don't get me wrong - most days I'd rather not be around due to depression and anxiety, it is not a panacea. But, I am [touch wood] noticeably more resilient than before I started REBT. And it gives me hope which is important.
You might want to check it out at http://www.rebt.org/
HTH and best wishes,
pete.
poster:pedr
thread:17403
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020125/msgs/17459.html