In this blog article, I’d like to hear your opinion.
Mostly, I’d like you to hear your opinion! Your opinion about YOUR perfect treatment plan is very important. Have you thought about what you might like or need?
If you think about it now, you might be able to express that better to your therapist or to the various mental health professionals in your area.
It’s very clear that the mental health professionals out in the world do not agree on treatment goals for Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID / MPD). For that matter, the mental health professionals of the world do not even agree that Dissociative Identity Disorder is a real and legitimate diagnosis, let alone agree on how to best work with trauma survivors with dissociative issues.
The disparity of perspectives and lack of education, training, and knowledge about dissociative disorders means that therapists take all kinds of different tactics in their approaches.
Obviously, some of these approaches are more effective than others.
After reading the hundreds of comments on the different articles on this blog, it is very clear that many dissociative survivors are not feeling completely satisfied with their healing process.
There are various limitations and obstacles in the way of having optimum treatment.
Many of you have written about some wonderful therapeutic experiences, but plenty of frustrations have also been included.
Please note: I am not asking about your therapist’s personal faults! Please don’t use this blog as a way to bash your therapist.
I’m actually asking the opposite.
Dream big for a minute.
If there were no limitations preventing you from having the perfect treatment plan for DID, what would that include?
In my opinion, those of you that have DID or live with someone with DID are the experts here.
You are much more knowledgeable about DID than the mental health professionals are and you know what genuinely works for you and what doesn’t.
So, in order to get an better understanding of what works best for the treatment of DID, I’d like to hear from a bunch of you.
You are the true experts here on what works.
You all know what you need to get through your healing. You know what helps and what doesn’t help at all (even if the mental health professionals insist on doing it that way).
Obviously what works best for one person may be a very different list of options than what works best for someone else, which is completely okay.
Everyone’s opinion is welcome and no one will be more right than anyone else.
Your comments would be appreciated, and your ideas as a collective group will be important.
The comments you write could send a message to the trauma therapists of the world and hopefully help them to hear what actually works, from your perspective.
If you could design your perfect treatment plan for DID, what would that look like?
- How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
- How long would your sessions be?
- What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
- What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
- Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
- What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
- Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
- Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
- What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
- Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Any other thoughts, comments, or ideas are welcome!
Post your comments below.
And of course, I wish you the best in your healing journey.
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2018 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
We wish we cud see her evrey few days. Pr even evrey day.
We wish we cud be in the same town as her and not far away
We wish there did be enoff time to talk
And not have long long lists of wating pepol
And we culd get ice crem!
And eat pizza.
And we culd go for walks at the park and see the fish and the frogs
And go on the swings
And then we culd go back to a cozey offise and sit on a cozey coutch and talk
And it wuod be privite and no inerupshons and it wuod be safe there with a lockt door
And we wuld have lots of mony to pay her lots more
And it wuod feel safe
And go for walks and have avenshers
If we cryd she wuld be there when we need her
And we cuod feel betr
And if we neded to talk to her she cuod talk and not be bizzy
And we wuld draw her picshers
We wuod bring her cookies and brownes.
And her wuod smile when her saw us and be happy we be there
We woud feel so spoild
It wud be nise if it didnt just be a dream
Evre day evre day evre day with are t
And her wud like clos by us not so far awae and we can see her efre day in persin
And go to the park and the zoo and IS CREM!!
And meny meny hugs
And go walk
And colr and draw and pant and is skat and pla gams
But rely it dont matr all wat we do as long as we see her evre day in persin we jus want to see her
How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
One time a week with DID Therapist and one time a week with General Therapists – spaced sufficiently apart to provide a safety net.
How long would your sessions be?
45 minutes to an hour. I could not take any longer. So I think the answer is it depends… on the person.
What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Education of DID – I find this is bringing some “normality” to self. Allowing others to speak.
What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
I don’t know what is available yet.
Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Definitely inside with sound proof walls. I hate sitting in a waiting room and hearing someone else’s session. Makes me not want to talk.
What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Morning – I have more energy
Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
A good PCP. A Good clinical Social worker.
Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
No GT… I have enough of that going on.
What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Compassion and respect. I have DID and am not Crazy or Stupid. Be aware if someone talks that the host may not be aware of what happened and if you tell the host, it could have undesirable consequences-
Like Flash backs, nightmares…etc
Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
IDK. I don’t know who all is here yet.
How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist? 2x/week
How long would your sessions be? 2 hours, too many want to say something and there is always a fight to get to talk. Someone always leaves feeling left out.
What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
More time=more resolution
What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Writing/drawing/music
Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Would LOVE to walk outside instead of just sitting there.
What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night? Evening
Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team? No one yet. Too many disagreements already.
Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan? NO WAY…have enough to listen to.
What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Inquiry, not common techniques, a group is too smart.
Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions? Anyone with reason.
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist? Two times a week.
•How long would your sessions be? Two-three hours
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions? She`d see through the prison of silence we`ve locked ourselves in / we would let her.
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include? We`d actually look at the images/writings drawn/written. Now, we put them in an envelope and give them to therapist, and cant/wont talk to her about them.
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else? Would love to take my therapist for a therapy session on horse-back.;-)
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night? It doesn’t matter.
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team? The Dr who diagnosed our DID.
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan? No. We already have dysfunctional group therapy.
•What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use? Am not sure, since all parts have differing needs / understanding.
•Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions? Ideally, we all would. At present, none of us are. We *I think* seamlessly switch so T doesn’t see because we`re so ashamed / fearful of our multiplicity,
Would like to write more on the other points you raised here, but am not able right now. Can I do that another day (assuming I remember)?
Reblogged this on Discussing Dissociation and commented:
Hello Everyone,
I’ve been continuing to add links to the List of All Articles page, and while doing so, I came across this article written in 2010. It has 50 wonderful comments from the readers of this blog (wow! that’s excellent!). and I decided to bring this topic back up to view.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the comments presented? Do you have your own comment to add? What would the perfect treatment plan look like for you? I look forward to hearing your good ideas.
Warmly,
Kathy
i suddenly have I’m Dreaming of a white Christmas playing in my head.
ok now if wishes and dreams came true:
If you could design your perfect treatment plan for DID, what would that look like?
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
it kinda varies for us but if there were no restriction cause of money, obligations, distance, and T had endless time:
2x a week
•How long would your sessions be?
It is really hard to do stuff in the 50 minute time slot. The 90 minute time slot can be hard too, but i think the few that we did get to do worked much better for us and we could figure a way to make them work. doing the biweekly thing.
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
first we would have a bonfire and burn the one mindedness stuff.
Being able to go into a T’s office and just be ourselfs and actually have the T recongnize who was there would be awesome. getting to go in and do talk therapy, go for a walk, watch the clouds, paint or color a picture, use music, or get the toys out, or letting the little ones make a fort to help them feel safer from the monsters for a while. We would have a magic sign above us that told the T how far to push us and there would be a red flashing thing that went off right before the T said something that was not going to be helpful. Like right when it was still a thought in their mind.
We would be pushed more when it comes to trying new things, and if we are really really resistant to it, we would take time to figure out what was makeing us resistant to it before giving up on the technique.
we would be pushed less on growing up and fitting societys standards.
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
cryns dlls
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
dms b inna cav wifs sprkl lits
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night? nite cus ther b mnstrs ina drk.
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team? thr b nufs wif all of us
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan? no no pepls
hd
Sam,
Making a connection with someone, I find, is harder than it sounds, even within a therapeutic relationship. I know I can’t have a therapist 24/7 ( that’s not what I said) and I know than 50 mins once a week is standard practise and that many therapists don’t allow contact outside of that time. I was just dreaming of what would be more ‘ideal’.
I just feel like I am drowning and I am trying to think of ways to keep afloat. I think this sort of stuff is heavy and i don’t know anyone who would want to or be able to be a support person. I don’t want a husband but I do have a cat who is very understanding.
I really struggle with keeping close friendships. I did try a while ago to explain to someone that I was in therapy and why but I haven’t heard from them again – I think it was too much.
Thanks for your reply (:
Hey Vickilost,
as a husband who is deeply involved in the healing process, and by my wife’s own confession, the most healing instrument in her and the little girl’s lives, it’s so important that you do make a connection with someone. But even though I think Kathy seems an ideal therapist as far as therapists go, no therapist can ever do what someone with d.i.d. really needs, and that is be there for them 24/7, at least in the beginning, and offer each insider the unconditional love, saftey and acceptance each of them so desperately craves.
Is it possible for you to connect with anyone among your family, relatives or friends (or possibly a church member) who could offer a lot of support in the beginning and who would be a safe person?
I still do believe a therapist plays a key role directly with the patient, especially as my wife and the little girls have rarely shared the past abuse with me, but no therapist has 24/7 availability even for those who are part of in-hospital programs.
Sam
To any readers out there who might get this,
I have been thinking about how I can ‘do’ therapy better – or whether I need to change therapist. I feel like I am doing therapy on my own, I feel like I have crisis’ on my own, struggle with my family on my own. I don’t know how to help my therapist help me. She seems far away in her own world.
I see my therapist once a week for 50 mins. I take a while to settle into a session and talking is difficult for many on the inside – and outside! My therapist has an answer phone where you can leave a message ( which I think you only use if you want to cancel an appointment?) and she has a standard reply for emails – ‘ thankyou for letting me know we can discuss this in our next session’. When she is on vacation – its tough and I think I just shut off and lose my connection with her, taking a while to get any sort of connection back.
I thought about paying for an extra appointment – but thats almost half of my weekly income and I am already working two jobs. I did attend a support group but it has finished and I have been searching for another one but haven’t found one yet. Groups are not really ideal as I find it difficult to contribute and I am easily triggered and lose time there. I live alone and my therapist is my only support person. In a crisis i have rung a crisis line and often dont feel understood. Lately I have been struggling with over whelming stuff at night and haven’t been feeling safe so I have been going to the hospital accident and emergency and sitting there – because its always open and it feels safer than anywhere else.
I am at cross roads in my therapy, I don’t trust myself or my therapist to do the big stuff because I feel like I will be left dealing with it alone. I know I need more support but I don’t know how to get it or whether i can afford it. I know things are not always safe for me. I am very careful not to over step boundaries – I don’t call, I don’t email anymore, and i dont ask for extra appointments.
My ideal treatment plan right now would be therapy 1 and1/2 hours per week with a second appt just to check in either phone/email/ group or in person. To have something set up for a crisis – knowing its ok to call someone. Having a plan for when things don’t feel safe. Having a replacement for when my therapist is away for a long holiday.
I am wondering if there is a therapist that I can find that can support me better – or whether most therapists are just like this. I get the feeling that my therapuetic relationship is just a reflection of my innability to connect with people. I am wondering if this is what therapy is supposed to feel like. I have heard in group that other clients feel attached to their therapist, like they have a team. I am wondering if this exists for me?
Thanks, I just needed to have this out somewhere, this might not be the right place but its the only one I know of right now.
vickilost
We’ve (well probably just me) been reading this blog for a while and eventually made an account so we can reply.
I’ve found the replies to this entry interesting, and although I’m a bit late on the bandwagon I think I will try to reply.
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
well, in a perfect world… 3 times a week.
* How long would your sessions be?
2-3 hours (variable, depending on how things are)
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Pretty much the same stuff we do now, which is flexible and very unstructured… so maybe a little more structure.
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Play therapy, availability of art supplies… both things we already do.
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
At my flat, as they currently are, we struggle to go out.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Ideally each of the 3 sessions would be at a different time, this would enable us to address issues that tie in with certain times of the day, plus certain ‘insiders’ are more likely to come out or move forward at particular times of the day. So one morning session, one afternoon session and one evening session.
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Care workers to provide us with practical support and a Psychiatrist and care co-ordinator who believe in DID!! Oh and a ‘back up’ therapist for when my therapist goes on holiday (which seems to happen a lot)
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
Not at this moment in time, but it’s something I would consider if I got to a ‘better place’. I feel it would be too triggering and overwhelming right now.
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Person centred, humanistic, possibly EMDR if we were more stable.
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Anyone who wants to! As long as I (the host) get some time too.
Just to finish my current therapy provision is a 3 hour session once a week with a person centred/humanistic counsellor, who is experienced in dealing with trauma issues. She didn’t have any experience or training in DID or dissociative disorders prior to working with us, but I don’t necessarily think that is a bad thing. I live in the UK and technically should be provided with help on the NHS but unfortunately the NHS in my locality do not believe in DID so I had to seek private therapy.
I look forward to you all stopping by! 🙂 Thanks Kathy!
Oh Winter’s Keeper…please stop by my blog anytime. Would love to hear from you! 🙂 http://carosels.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the new link to your blog, Nansie. This one works! 😀
Everyone — have a peek at Nansie’s blog. It’s a good one. 😀
That’s awesome Winter’s Keeper..I look forward to what you have to say. I am very interested in hearing more about your journey.
Hi Nansie!
I’m glad that I can give you some hope. The journey is long and difficult, but you can make it.
I don’t have a blog. I don’t think I could keep up with one…I don’t multi-task well anymore, LOL. I do stop by Kathy’s fairly often to see what the community is up to. I like to be able to offer some type of encouragement to others because I remember how alone I felt sometimes. Besides, I still have my difficult patches and it’s nice to have a community to visit in good times and bad.
Best wishes on your journey,
Winter’s Keeper
Winter’s Keeper, So far I find your story inspirational. Sounds like your example offers confirmation of hope to us all! Do you have a blog? Thanks for sharing that example and story. I found it comforting.
Nansie
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your kind words. It means a lot that you think that I can be helpful to others…that is something I really want to do. And truly, if I can do it, anyone with an unwillingness to give up can do it as well. In the beginning of my treatment I was one of “those” patients that therapists cringe to see coming. BPD, DID and programming all combined to create quite a mine field situation. I fought, I raged, I threatened, I clung, I begged, I ran, for a long, long time. I made the majority of DID patients look like a walk in the park. The one thing I did not do, and the therapist I ended up with did not do, was give up. In the end that was probably the single most important thing.
Here’s an example of my dear therapist’s unorthodoxy:
I used to have a terrible time when he went on vacation, and he liked very much to travel extensively. I tended to drive the covering therapists nuts with my frantic and sometimes dangerously self destructive behavior, and quite often ended up in the hospital. The solution to that, was to have me pet sit for him while he was away. He knew I loved animals and that I wouldn’t dream of leaving them without care by ending up in the hospital or worse. It kept me sane in more than one way. One, I had a responsibility to the animals…and they weren’t just anyone’s animals, they belonged to my therapist…so I was very careful to keep myself in one piece so that I could attend to my duties. Two, I got to go to his house every day, thereby reassuring myself that he did exist and would be coming back to this very concrete location. Three, it made me feel like I could do something real for him, and it kept me from being completely without power in the relationship by preventing my total dependence on him. Ultimately, it led to my part time job at a kennel that was the gateway back into the “real world” of work and responsibility. That job led to my return to my original scientific profession by restoring my confidence in my ability to function.
This is just one example of many novel approaches that this therapist stumbled onto in my treatment. I am sure that many of his colleagues thought he had lost his mind, and was “over involved” with me. However, here I am over ten years later off of disability, working in a professional capacity, living independently and supporting myself. It did not lead me to hang on to my role as a patient. Conversely, it nudged me toward independence.
Hope this helps clarify a little.
All the Best to You,
Winter’s Keeper
Blimey Winter’s Keeper, that was such a great tale that we responded and the net ate it, so we are trying again.
It so wonderful you found someone able to put aside tradition and find what you needed for help. We think that is agro that therapists have decided that being to personally helpful will make us all forever leached and needy or we are all just randy from just being around them. Why do they all think we are so daft instead of just truly wanting to get better and have help to deal with the shite that has destroyed our lives. We bet they would be surprised how few of us are really enamored by them or just want to cling to them for the rest of our lives but they been to feared of the chances to even try to help if it leaps that predetermined safety line.
The other thing we have noticed is that they seem to think that we should talk about a problem and be all ok after that. If we aren’t all better nippy then we are beyond help or faking to get attention. It just foul how somewhere and somehow it been decided really giving other hurt folks the time and attention needed to really heal is a bad thing instead of benefiting.
Such great news you found a bloke believing in you and willing to stretch beyond them rules and help you no matter what his mates thought of it. Sure wishing all therapists could read your message and find willingness to help their hurting friends out there so they can find relief like you did.
Thank you for sharing your story mate and hoping you continue to have a smashing better life.
perfect timing! I’m working out my own “at home treatment plan” in lieu of going residential. I’ve really appreciated everyone’s comments.
* two hours a session, two times a week. we’ve been doing this for over a year.
* sessions include:
talking about recent events, how we feel about that, how to frame them productively, action steps to take
alters coming out and bringing up their perspectives and needs
alters coming out and telling memories
quite often I bring a big pad of paper and someone draws what they cannot say or the drawings are used as a springboard for telling
*besides the drawings, I also bring in my art, both “therapy related” and not, to share and discuss
I am adding a second T one hour a week to do expressive therapy, i.e. do homework
*our sessions have been in her office. we occasionally go outside to the parking lot to throw things.
I would like it if her office was bigger and CHILDPROOF! too many pretty things to break.
however, I love the large water feature that creates soothing sound and negative ions.
She has a wonderful large floppy stuffed dog and a toy chest. the littles have been able to ask for the markers, but haven’t had the nerve to ask to play with the dolls or play a game, yet.
I consider my craft room to be an adjunct space.
*timing: my T is 45 mins away, so traffic is an issue, and I try to combine trips. afternoons seem to work out best.
*I am expanding my treatment team. I have a pretty good pdoc, who first recognized that I might have DID and sent me to get more help than he could provide. My T is going to be on leave for a while, so I have added a second T who will hopefully work for me to see while she is gone. the second T has expertise in different areas. they are in the same office suite, so it will be very easy for them to communicate with each other.
I am also adding a massage therapist with experience in working with folks with trauma/abuse issues.
I consider my DH to be on the team, and always really appreciate Sam Ruck’s perspective.
My parents are also part of my team. (they were not my abusers). in fact, my littles have started to correspond with my mom, under our T’s supervision.
I feel EXTREMELY fortunate for all of this support. I am essentially spending my inheritance in order to fund it, and I’ll need to be able to work again in a couple of months, so this is a temporary arrangement. But I am going to try and take advantage of it.
right now we are in the process of developing safety contracts with everybody, inside and out, so that everyone knows what will be helpful.
*I have wanted group therapy because I wanted to be around other people who experience this. but I have heard many people say it was really difficult, so I’m not sure it would work, but I’d like to try it.
* I don’t know what to call the approaches my T uses. She says she is eclectic. I think I am her first DID patient. she has obviously done her homework. she treats each alter as a person, and has encouraged internal communication and cooperation. she never pressures us to integrate, and has said that may not be completely possible. but endorses co-presence and sharing experientially. she is extremely gentle and kind. she treats us as partners. she validates our feelings, perceptions, a lot, but then offers a broader view.
*EVERYBODY is allowed to speak. when somebody (adult) is out and intends to show up at the session, they usually give her a heads up with a message on her phone that they will be there. (we HATE the “who am I talking to?” question, even though we understand it’s a necessity, so this heads that off. although she could probably tell by how we got dressed.)
She will often invite us to “check in” inside and see if anybody has anything they want to say. she doesn’t have a problem with anybody coming out, though sometimes I have fear and shame about it.
a final comment: I wish that T’s would do exactly what you are doing, and ask. I have heard of so many… can’t think of a way to put this delicately… asinine demands on the patient. like the therapist doesn’t trust the patient’s process or intent or something. like the therapist has “superior knowledge.” unless one has DID, I don’t see how one can assume that they can make the judgment about what is working or not. that has to come from the patient, and so there HAS to be a partnership.
plus that will empower us to reclaim our power, which is the root of the problem in the first place.
abuse is NOT an individual problem. it is a global one. as the AIDS activists pointed out, Silence = Death. we are not the problem. our perps should be paying for our treatment. other crime victims get restitution. why not us? it is not our fault that it takes so long to undo the damage. we need real, concrete, practical, and financial support, as well as the emotional support needed in healing. Our SO’s need this too.
babies with birth defects get marches. why not those who were abused as babies and children?
sorry to rant about this, but it has really been up for me this week–I guess I need to get my own blog!!!
Great question Kathy!
I’m looking back on my therapy and it was so all-over-the-place it’s kind of funny now. There were quite a few years of bouncing in and out of the hospital and from one therapist to another as they fired me or I fired them as the diagnosis was being confirmed. I finally landed in the care of a somewhat unorthodox (won’t go into that much here, but somewhat blurry boundaries…nothing gross or anything…just a little bit more (non-physical) involvement than is typically accepted as standard for therapists), but extremely competent therapist.
My treatment over twelve years under this therapist included:
Some month long hospital stays on a women’s issues unit
Two years of day hospital
Two years of three times weekly short 20 minute sessions
A four month stay at a trauma treatment unit in another state
A part time job and twice weekly visits
A full time job and less frequent visits
We were down to quarterly visits when he died suddenly several years ago. That was very difficult, but I surprised myself by how well I handled it.
I went a few years without therapy, but started to unravel a bit around year three. At that point I went back into therapy, but specifically chose not to delve back into any of my old issues. Something told me that what I needed at that point was just a supportive, practical ally to help me keep the gains I had made, continue to use the skills I had learned, and stay on a forward-looking path. There were rough spots over three years, as we focused on my lingering anxiety and panic, which had become more intense since I had stopped using dissociation to deal with stress. Things ultimately got on an even keel and now I am cutting down my sessions to every other week.
You can tell from this account that I am no longer anywhere near my twenties 😉 but…I was quite young when things fell apart, so I’m not yet ancient!
It was a hodgepodge, but in the end it has worked for me. I am living proof that treatment doesn’t have to be perfect to acheive it’s goal. I am grateful to every last treatment professional that I encountered on the way for what they taught me. I am forever indebted to them.
Thanks as always for your thought-provoking posts 🙂
All the best to you,
Winter’s Keeper
Hi Winter’s Keeper —
And thanks again for your as always thought-provoking comments! Of course you know, I’m going to want to know a little more about what you’re talking about. You seem so very grounded in your working through the healing process, and your attitude is so positive, even with the bumps in the road. If you don’t mind…. I’d like to hear more!
You wrote: “I finally landed in the care of a somewhat unorthodox (won’t go into that much here, but somewhat blurry boundaries…nothing gross or anything…just a little bit more (non-physical) involvement than is typically accepted as standard for therapists), but extremely competent therapist.”
Without saying more than you are actual comfortable saying, can you give a few more examples of what you are referring to?
I tend to agree that in many situations, unorthodox and/or atypical options are necessary for the successful treatment of dissociative disorders. Things that may appear very “odd” in “normal therapy” can be extremely helpful in DID therapy, keeping in mind the safe touch / personal safety is critical at all times. With that in mind, I’m interested to hear what kinds of unorthodox approaches worked for you.
Thanks for your inspirational words – to me, you are a strong voice of hope for so many other survivors, and your input is highly valued.
Warmly,
Kathy
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
as of right now i see my therapist 2 to 3 times a week depending on my need. i think that is enough. i wish i could see my art therapist atleast twice a week.
* How long would your sessions be?
more than 45 minutes. but not to long as sometimes i don’t want to talk at all. maybe an hour and fifteen minutes.
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
we would talk, and maybe go for a walk or play board games or something. it wouldn’t always be so stiff and serious, and i wouldn’t always feel put on the spot.
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
i see an art therapist already, but i have to pay out of pocket and sometimes i can’t afford to go, so i wish she took my insurance and my insurance would actually cover it.
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Sometimes i wish my sessions would happen at my house so i wouldn’t have to get out of my pj’s. sometimes i’m so depressed i don’t want to leave my room, besides everything i need is in my room. especially for art therapy, i hate using the supplies that everyone else uses because i don’t like germs, and they are often worn out, i know all my supplies are clean and work.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
if i could have therapy at like 11pm, or 12am that would be awesome. it’s when i’m most awake, and ready to share and talk. i’m not a morning or a day person, i’m a night owl, and it’s when i feel actually the most vulnerable and willing to open up.
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
i like my therapist. and my art therapist. and i have my mom. i don’t know to many other people who i’d want on my team.
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
no
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
whatever approach that works. i’m not a tough love kind of person. i need lots of encouragement and gentleness, even sometimes affection such as hugs and hand holding and patting.
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
everyone should have a chance to speak and be heard.
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
I think that all depends on what is going on. Stress does funny things to me. I see that it also effects others with DID as well. I suppose right now, my ideal is being met 2 times a week.
•How long would your sessions be?
50 minutes is way to short for me. I would like at least an hour and a half.
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
I would like to get more into guided imagry.. or other ways to help connect with my insiders.
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
I do a lot of writing already. I am not really that creative other areas.
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
An office is fine but, I would really like to be able to bring my dogs. They make great grounding tools.
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Morning or afternoon
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Psych doc
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
I wish there were groups in my area.
•What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Different approaches to fit who is present. Play therapy for littles. Talk therapy or DBT for others. I think every insider has their own set of issues.
•Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
I am a big one on allowing anyone in my system to go to therapy. It was a prerequisit when I was interviewing therapists. If they aren’t going to talk to them.. what’s the point in going?
I would also like to add.. It seems like the therapists I run into don’t get that first and foremost… I am human. I have feelings. I get a lot of “No. I won’t do this or that.”
My biggest thing right now is a therapists notes. While I understand it is the therapists “property” .. I feel that those are my/our memories they are writing down. I would never EVER want to see them destroyed.
I wish therapists would be more open to hugs.. at least for me… because I am learning that there are good hugs… and sometimes … just someone who cares enough to do that shows a lot.
Thanks for letting me type.
my turn (jodie)
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
Five. We’re greedy.
•How long would your sessions be?
2-3 hours
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
everybody gets their turn
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
playing for the kids, art, going for walks, time to work through stuff, go take Jadie horseback riding that would be good for her
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
inside our therapist’s office where it feels safe, with the door locked for me personally. but i know the kids like to go outside. it’d be nice if there was a park nearby they could go to
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
late at night when the kids get really freaked out about bed time, and when we have the worst flash backs, so T could help with that
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
our pastor and an art therapist and Caroline’s massage lady. maybe our old nutritionist who can teach us how to eat right, and our T could explain DID to her, because she didn’t quite get it when our old T tried to explain
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
no way. we tried that twice, and it was a disaster
•What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Not integration!I like it when she talks to everybody like we’re real and like we’re not just imaginary parts of some other person… old T just kind of humoured us when she talked to us but really wanted to be talking to the “real Pilgrim”.
•Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
all the kids would get to talk, especially the littlest ones who have to stay hidden. I vote that Missy and the Bully stay OUT and don’t get to talk… they already talk enough inside as it is.
something we would really like is besides therapy with our therapist to work one on one with an aikido sensei who has experience working with survivors. we found one online and he is far far away many states away from us. we would really like to find something like that near us at some point. feel like working with movement learning self defense could be very healing. he isn’t a therapist he doesn’t do therapy but what he does is very therapeutic we got his book he wrote for survivors. definitely a goal is to at some point try and find something like that where we live that we can do.
have to say that we can relate to the time in session and how insurance and finances can affect that. we would really like to have the 1.5 or 2 hour sessions (we couldn’t handle anything more than that, but for the sense of allowing everyone to process however that needs to take place with grounding at the end it would be nice to have that extra time.
our insurance absolutely does not allow it. no more than one hour per session per day by only one therapist for that one client. hmmmm. can i put parts as dependents on my insurance and have them go to therapy 😉 lol. if only it were that easy or could happen, then i would take them off on taxes as well.
oh well,
but yeah and i don’t have the finances to pay out of pocket for therapy in anyway and just making it month to month is a major struggle without paying out of pocket for therapy.
so we have to stick with those 50 minute/1 hour sessions. our sessions say 50 minutes but out therapist does usually use 1 hour as a rule of thumb and there is a little give and take there when there can be. though she is busy and she does have other clients and when that hour is up, she does generally have to put an end to things. though i do feel that if there was an emergency she would put the extra time in if necessary. i have seen her do it with other clients and i have no doubt in my mind that she would do the same in our case.
anyway, just wanted to share from that perspective of knowing and not having the ability to pay out of pocket and having to follow the insurance guidelines that are dictated. it’s really frustrating because more and more therapists who work with DID are not even accepting insurance because insurance is becoming so so difficult to work with in approving sessions because there isn’t this quick fix and it 10 sessions you have been healed and it’s money out of their pocket. So make it difficult for the therapists and then they don’t want to deal with it, but then there are those of us who can’t afford the therapy that we need. it’s really frustrating. wish we could afford more support, but that isn’t our reality and we have to deal with that so we supplement as best we can with people in our lives in a way that does not overwhelm one particular individual. it’s very very very difficult to manage, but we do try.
thanks for the topic and also interested in what you have to say with regards to night times as they are very difficult times for many of our others inside and myself as well.
oompaa
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
2 times a week. In an emergency maybe up to 3 times, but no more than that. 2 times provides a stable schedule for us. We are regularly addressing issues through out the week as well as bringing up processing work internally. Anything more, to us, becomes obsessive and attached. We need to be looking at and working on developing supports outside of therapy even though it is an EXTREMELY HARD process for us.
* How long would your sessions be?
2 hours at the absolute most. Can see how the 50 minute sessions can feel to quick and not much of a chance to get it all out and get regrounded, but more than 2 hours just seems to be far too long for us in one on one therapy. online chat type situations have been different for us because there is this delaty and slower movement that takes place rather than one on one individual face to face. After 2 hours we are worn slam out. We couldn’t go any further with our therapist that long nor would we want to.
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Ability to let others come out and share and be who they are and allow them to experience some things on a safe level. Most of our littles don’t even understand or feel safe knowing what actual safe play is and that they are allowed to have that. Huge challenge. A simple finger touch or finger hold can be a huge challenge but can be very impactful, but mostly talking and processing. We need to process and reprocess until we can get fully past it.
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Not necessarily directly in therapy but as homework to be able to do digital colleges and videos to represent certain issues going on internally.
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Mostly inside, but it would be nice to get out for a walk from time to time. That’s it though.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Afternoon. We are not morning people and can’t think early in the morning and evenings are okay if we are the last session cause if something does happen or if there is a problem we don’t feel locked in to having to rush out and the ability to adjust the time a bit if some grounding needs to take place. Not to take that to the extreme and certainly to only be slightly over time, but still have that flexibility.
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Church support, husband, psychiatrist (have a good one who supports DID), friends.
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
We believe that group therapy is good in learning new approaches and the connection of knowing you are not alone as well as just getting out into the community and out of the house.
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
Variety of approaches, but really liking the relational/relationship type approach our therapist is taking right now and wanting to be engaged one on one with me and others who are present interacting and expressing emotions in the moment face to face by both her and us. May not be an actual therapy model, but the concept and techniques is working for us.
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Everyone should be given the opportunity to speak when needed but also understand that I being the main person who is out and doing most things need to be the one to relay information sometimes from someone internally to our therapist. Sometimes it is just more important that I be out front and relay information so that I am receiving that information and can respond in my own way as well. Very important and in the process of healing I feel we need to all learn to share, accept, communicate in the whole system what has happened and to grow and develop based on learning those things.
Just our thoughts.
oompaa
I don’t think once a week is enough and 50 minutes per session is too short too. It sometimes takes me/us all that time to settle and then it is over . Also when we all want to talk it is like having only 50 mins for a group session – ridiculous.
I want my therapist to show my guys (my alters) the same respect she shows me. she doesn’t talk to them properly. She always wants to remind me it is me not them and then we all get upset and find that hard.
I wish she had some soft things like a blanket or some cuddly toys for us to hold. sometimes we are scared and shivery and that would help.
We like colouring in and it would be nice to have some colours.
Also sometimes it might be nice to have a hug or a cuddle. We are getting better now and notice that it has been a long time (maybe never) that I was touched and it felt safe. It would help me to feel that I was not so toxic that even my therapist couldn’t touch me.
On my team I guess my psychiatrist – for meds and my nurse at my GP surgery who I see every week for support. Also that is the place I go when I need to compose myself after a hard session. they let me just find a room and sleep until I am ok to go home. Everyone with DID needs safe places I think.
Mostly I am good now but I remember when I was really unwell I would have loved to have some support from someone who really understood. Although everyone I see is really kind I can’t help feeling that none of them – not even my therapist really believes in my guys. I sometimes feel I am being humoured so the main requirement for all of us is someone specialised in DID.
HI Kathy, I’ve been reading forever but finally decided to actually sign up and comment on this one.
*2 times per week would be best for me I think.
*I would have always thought 2 hours atleast, however having just gone back to therapy last week (or actually more like 2 weeks ago! ) {EDIT I REALLY DONT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT TIME DO I, it was only last week evidently} i was exhausted after half an hour!
*i don’t really understand the question about kinds of things.
my mind is blank for the minute
*creative – colleges, photography, colouring, clay, colouring neat patterns / scribbling
*i would actually like sessions walking around outside, maybe a park or somewhere, we have a river in our town with an embankment, i wonder if our T would let us walk there sometimes. I’m very isolated, I work from home online, and I don’t make enough of an effort to go outside and get fresh air, exercise and daylight. it would also help those of us who can’t look at people when they are talking
mabye for part of the session, like ten minutes, or for one session amonth or something.
*i don’t do mornings in an ideal world I’d like to be able to have a session at my house when its 11.30pm and the kids are freaking out and none of us want to go to bed. i know i know thats not practical but there ya go you said you wanted it.
Evening would probably be best for me, but maybe morning would be good… oh i dunno sorry!
*my GP would be a valuable asset
*group?group?group? oh gosh no. i tried that it was not pretty
*the being a human being approach. the believing in DID approach!
*everyone. we all have equal rights no matter how embarassing (or weird) they are.
sorry for brief answers my wrist is giving me jip.
Hi gatewayswords –
Thanks for your comment, and thanks for “reading forever”, lol. It’s always nice to meet some of the “reading forever” people that I haven’t met yet, so hello to you. 🙂 Welcome, welcome, and thanks for your comments.
And you’ve been brave enough to make a good point. Believe me, there are lots of dissociative survivors who are struggling and upset late into the evening. Late at night, before bedtime, is a very very busy and difficult time for a lot of DID’ers, and having sessions during times when things are so intense for your insiders could certainly be helpful (in my opinion). hmmmm…. I might have to make a separate post about that topic… I’ll give that a little thought.
Anyway – thanks so much for your comment – and please keep reading. 🙂
Warmly,
Kathy
Hey Kathy,
Can you explain reasons a T maynot be comfortable with longer sessions? I am just curious…I know they all are different. Also I know your all trained in how to get in, work on it and then get the client grounded again before they leave. Can you explain some of this process too? I am just curious about things at the T end? Thanks!!
Like everyone else, I think one of the keys is longer sessions — and for me, I would have preferred 2 hours every other week, in order to fully disseminate/process/settle information and be clear on the next step prior to the next session.
I also think some form of safe in-person networking would be very helpful. Many DIDers, it seems, do not have friends, family, or partners whom they can trust with their healing process — and it’s not reasonable to expect a therapist to be available 24/7. It would be great if there were a way to organize DIDers who are advanced in their healing journey as guides/crisis resources for those who are in more fragile places. I think group therapy for DIDers is a potential minefield, due to the likelihood of triggering, but it seems to me that a peer support system would work.
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
At least once or twice a week – maybe up to three times when doing a lot of heavy memory work or if we’re in a crisis.
* How long would your sessions be?
Two hours? Maybe three hours if things were very intense during the session. Enough time for everyone to have said things they wanted to say and for some containment at the end of the session so we don’t go out with our head in a mess.
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Lots of talking. A space or a corner where we could go curl up in if things felt too scary to say. Maybe some toys for the littles to play with while talking?
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
I don’t know. I don’t like people watching me when I draw – get too self comcious. If the others do… well then whatever helps them.
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Mostly in an office, but sometimes some of us get itchy feet and want to go outside… so maybe somewhere that we could do that occasionally? It’s not all the time, it’s just that sometimes being outside is easier to talk about stuff.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Afternoon or evening – that’s when we’re most awake and then if there’s a crisis there’s nothing we need to do except go home and crash for the night.
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
My GP, because he’s awesome and I have to see him about other (physical) medical problems, so it would probably help his understanding of us. A competant pychiatrist who understands dissociation and doesn’t push meds on me/us. Potentially someone who could do some form of bodywork with us – we definitely have issues with touch that need addressing and I guess this could help.
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
It’d be kinda cool if the group work was good, but I think I/we would get scared with others knowing what’s happened to us.
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Ideally everyone who wanted to talk. If we had the long sessions then there’d be more time for us to be awkward, quiet, speak up about stuff, talk about shit.. whatever we needed.
Hey Everyone –
These are really good answers — thank you. I certainly appreciate hearing your thoughts.
One thing that sticks out blaringly obvious to me is that so many of you are saying that the 50 minute hour is simply not sufficient or effective for working with dissociative disorders. I completely agree! It may seem “weird” or “excessive” in comparison to other therapies, but if you ask me, dissociative trauma survivors genuinely need extra time to work on their issues, and to let insiders talk, and then to get re-grounded and be ok enough to walk back out of the session.
I also see that you all want – need – should have a lot of creative options, and that it is important for your therapists to be able to work with you on that level. Genuine healing is necessary on a lot of layers and emotions, and creative options really help to reach those deeper places that “normal settings” just don’t go.
Makes sense to me.
Kathy
Hey Kathy..I have been reading these posts too. One thing jumps out at me that has gotten me thinking. Maybe sessions for folks with DID should be 1.5 hours instead of an hour…or possibly 2 hours. It seems that I am not the only one who has a hard time getting stuff out and then stabilizing again in 1 hour’s time. It does take a little while to get acclimated at therapy and get to a place where a part could come out and then it’s time to wind down. I’m going to talk to my T about this and see what he says. But then…knowing I am in the position for more stuff to come out is scarey too. Plus I don’t know how we’d set this up financially. All things to talk about with him. Has all of these responses brought about any changes for you and your agency?
Hi Nansie –
I have a private practice and I am of the opinion that my dissociative clients really do know what works best for them in terms of length of their sessions. Some folks want / need shorter sessions, and some want / need longer sessions. And that may change over time for various reasons. I know that many therapists are not comfortable with “allowing” clients to have longer sessions, but in my personal opinion, that is not always effective or helpful. Unfortunately, sometimes it is how it is, (especially if insurance or a lack of financial resources dictates things, for example), but I do not think that a cookie-cutter approach works for DID.
In my opinion, each situation is unique, each dissociative person is unique, and their treatment plan should reflect that uniqueness.
Kathy
Oh I like this question!
I would meet with my therapist x1 a week. Maybe the session could be longer so we could have at least once a week that feels like we have enough time to get to talk it takes a long time to settle into a session and takes a long time to get words out. Like 1.20 minutes? I would like to have time for art and writing and play but maybe these could get scheduled in as an extra appointment? No one has yet tried this in a session no one is brave enough yet.
I would go to my group once a week but people wouldn’t keep leaving and new people coming and the boundaries would be clearer and there would be enough time and space for us to talk there. Group members would also be interviewed so that there’s a better fit. I guess I would want a therapy group rather than a support group but the facilitators both specialize in dissociation so part of me wants to stay.
I would have a support person. I don’t know who that would be I don’t know anyone who would want to be that person right now I don’t have husbands or kids or anyone that close.
This is just a fantasy really and couldn’t really work in real life – but I would like a place I could go when I feel unsafe – Like a inpatient place or hospital place. I would like to go there when things get too confusing or when the body is getting too messed up. I just would like to have a place to go that I could sleep and have some time out and not get hurt. But when I was ready to go I could go and if I just turned up in the middle of the night that would be ok.
In my team I’d have Kathy for on the computer, my therapist and group facilitators. I don’t know if I would want them to know each other because I keep everything separate. I don’t know how a team would work sounds a but scary?
How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
Two times a week
How long would your sessions be?
Depending on the day,subject, alter etc. With my therapist now I can chose either 45 mins or a 90 min session.
What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Various expressive and talk therapy
What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Legos
Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
I wish I could have sessions outside but the privacy issues seem to over take this idea personally.
What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Late night like after midnight.
Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Exercise therapist
Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
I do not think that group therapy would help me but maybe for others.
What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
My therapist never pushes me at first I didn’t understand why because at times I wanted to be. But then I learned now to gauge when what and how long I focused a particular subject.
Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions? Any one who wants times can speak as long as they are safe a follow the rules and the law.
wow — thank you everyone — so many great ideas!!!
😀
As a husband:
1) I wish a husband’s role in the therapy process would be recognized so that he could be utilized better. I realize my girls need to feel safe sharing with their facilitator, but somehow a husband needs included in the loop just a little. Practically speaking I am my girls’ main therapist even if it’s just by interacting with them and filling them with love, safety and a sense of belonging in my family 24/7. Not sure how that would work without my girls feeling like they have no privacy though…
2) Since a therapist cannot be there 24/7, it is in the DID person’s best interest to try to find 2 or more (it is more than any one person can do) safe friends, co-workers or family members that CAN be there 24/7 especially in the beginning when self-injury is so problematic. A therapist needs to encourage establishing these safe relationships and then teach these safe people how to deal with the things they will face during the healing process.
3) Since a husband can make or break the healing process (or at minimum greatly hinder it), his well being and stability needs to be addressed as soon as possible at the beginning of the process. On the weeks when I was struggling, all the girls accomplished at their counseling session was simply dealing with my rantings the previous week. On the weeks when I was especially supportive, they were able to deal with the real issues and make a lot of progress.
4) Therapists need to deal with littles on their level. They are children, essentially, and I get feedback that too many professionals are more worried about being “scientifically correct” than they are about meeting the needs of the insiders who have been traumatized. And a humble suggestion: do away with terminology that is dehumanizing: alters, parts, system, etc (at least when addressing the insiders). Every girl in my wife’s network has been ADAMANT that she is a real girl with real needs, and each wants to know if I love her for herself and not because she is “part” of Karen. Over and over and over they want me to reaffirm this. (And for the record because I know there are concerns about this, at least in our situation, the MORE I focus on meeting the individual needs of each girl, the LESS they feel the need to remain separate.)
5) Amy the 7-year old said she likes being in her facilitator’s house better than she would an office. And she also has shared that if her facilitator didn’t treat her like a friend and both of them share some things outside of trauma issues, she would not feel like revealing her secrets to that person.
I also do not like group therapy
My sessions last for 45 minutes
I talk… but when I can’t I would love to express myself with drawings and things like poetry, or draw like cartoons as if I am telling a story (fictional stories and fairy tales…..)like putting the pieces of puzzle together and get to the final picture that is trying to say something that i am very afraid of talking about.
I like comforting items in my therapist’s office. like the picture of his family in his office or a poster of a holiday place. I seem to stare at it for comfort alot when I am in trouble and imagine myself being there.
I like how my therapist does not force himself and his ideas onto me.
he reminds me of sunshine rays on my face. nice and warm.
I see him every three weeks, but i wish i could see him more often (like every two weeks when i am well and every week when things go pear shaped.
I see my therapist as my reality check. his responses to the things i say, tells me that an abusive event was not right (for years i thought what i went through is like normal. i realized i was not right when my real childhood time came to an end and all my friends moved to adulthood and started having families of their own.
it felt like a page in the book of my life that i am not able to flip… and move on to the next page.
my first theray session, i stared at the carpet and counted the dots on the pattern (in my head)… had no idea what i am gonna say.
i love talking about things that make me happy in my sessions
it scares me when all of the sudden i go quiet and start staring at the comforting items in his office and he asks me about it. i am terrified to speak if something horrible is going on in my mind.
sometimes… way after the session is over, i still find myself that i am having an internal conversation with my therapist. and try to make sense of things. i trust him and that happened over a very long time. i had to know if he is on my side and after so many sad events that were going on in my real life, i did see him to be on my side. so i trusted him.
hope this helps
I loved this post.
Thank you
How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
Because DID is so unpredictable, my sessions began as once a week. As I began to get into the thick of it and alters began taking over in the session, the sessions became as often as I needed them: once a week or several times a day.
How long would your sessions be?
My sessions started with an hour. Again, when things got bad I often had 2-3 hours sessions and a few times, I spent 4 hours there.
What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Since I only know what has worked for me I don’t know what else to have happen. What my T did was do a QEEG, then we went to using Light/Sound Stimulation therapy. Once that was working for when I wasn’t in session and bought a set of my own, we began neuro-therapy. Neuro-therapy jumpstarted my healing by gently moving my brain waves into normalcy, instead of having one jumping all over or one way too high or too low. I totally believe in Neuro-therapy because even when my heart was in a healing mood, my mind wouldn’t cooperate until my brain waves were in sync.
What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
I did some drawings. The drawings didn’t help me so much as my T. He saw things in the drawings that I would not have thot important. Another thing my T uses occasionally is a process much like hypnotizing, but I’m not hypnotized. It’s hard to explain.
Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
My T’s office is comfy but small. I would like a larger place, with a large picture window with a view of soothing things like trees, bushes, flowers, etc – no people, cars, etc.
What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
We found that early afternoon works for me unless I would have to go anywhere except home – I have to be able to go home afterwords to process and rejuveniate.
Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
I wanted my husband there, but that turned out to be a disaster. The huz left me within a month after the first visit. I don’t want anyone there now because when a little is out, I’m embarrassed afterwards – unless he doesn’t tell me a little was out.
Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
I wanted a group to be engaged with, but the only one was 65 miles away and I couldn’t afford it.
What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
My T tried several approaches – the only one that really bombed was when he told one of my alters that we should integrate. That totally backfired – for both of us. Well, and another time he tried not to encourage my alters from coming to my sessions.
Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Who ever needs to have some time with T will come forward.
My T and I have found that when he put only my appts on his “paperwork” day it worked out because of the “train wrecks” I had in the beginning where he suddenly found himself with a child and had to call and cancel other appts because he wouldn’t send a child out to my car with my car keys. (experience told him he couldn’t do that). Also, I was in college and wasn’t working, so I had a flexible schedule. My T also gave me his personal number because he realized that being available for me day and night (most days) kept me from having to come to the office so often. All the phone calls and extended sessions are a thing of the past now and what made them that way was T’s dedication to helping me. I know he answered my phone calls while on vacations, at seminars, at Dr.’s appts, etc. and I am very thankful I found him. When he tells it, tho, he says he made a choice to strap on the seat belt and go where my alters and I took him. I can’t ask for any more than that. Oh, and I am totally aware that I’ve probably paid for his car and helped to refinance his house 🙂
Gosh, so far the Pilgrim kids get the the award for being “most demanding of their therapist”… I just read this (me, Jodie) and see everyone else can get by with 2 sessions a week for a couple hours, and here we are wanting 4 hours a day everyday. GEESH. And not just talking stuff but also playing and walking and painting and while we’re at it, we might as well get our T to go hangliding, maybe sky diving… I mean why not? **** sympathies sent out to our poor therapist as the kids want to run her ragged **** Geesh.
I am ok with mostly just talking. I do like to do artwork. I am just not good at doing it on my own. We did this art therapy thing a couple years ago, and I liked it. Its sort of hard to remember, but I think the lady told me things to draw/paint or something as homework. I am sure I cooperated very little at the time as it was right after my therapist dumped me. But it was probably still good for me. I try to do artwork on my own still. Caroline can have her massages… I don’t like that kind of thing. And I am a little old to play dolls or play therapy. Oh wait, I have a hard enough time talking too. Hm. Maybe artwork is all I have left. Unless T wants to teach me to cook.
jodie
If you could design your perfect treatment plan for DID, what would that look like?
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
We see our therapist 2x per week
* How long would your sessions be?
Right now they are 50-55 minutes each time. However, there are times I wish we could stay longer cuz then I think some of my parts would come out. With the time limit they get nervous… then it’s too late.
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
Right now, we just talk. It’s good but I think maybe if I weren’t being “watched” I would be a lil more free to speak so maybe drawing or coloring or something that I could do with my hands that he could also concentrate on instead of looking directly at me all the time.
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Art therapy, maybe some music therapy.
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
Only in the office. He has this thing on his desk that I concentrate on when I get scared. I have to have that thing there.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
We can only go after work and since the time change we see him in the dark and that scares a lot of the lil ones. So basically, we see him in the evening but it seems like NIGHT! Evening works well cuz then we go home and rest.
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Art therapist, my great psychiatrist (he doesn’t push meds!) and maybe a group therapist
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
We have done one group and it was AWESOME! We wish we could do that again!!! I have never been able to find a group dealing with our issues since moving to this god forsaken city!
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
He came into this with NO background. He was a student when we started with him. He is amazing though! He learns and has learned the lingo so we don’t always have to teach him. He really did his homework. He works a lot with our dreams. He writes them all out. So, instead of making him write them out we now email them to him. Makes it faster and easier. 🙂 I don’t want him to change his approach necessarily. Well, maybe one thing! I wish he’d ANSWER our email! He only talks about it in therapy. That is the only thing we hate!!!!
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
I wish they’d come out and talk with him. They go and then get scared and vanish! Anyone is welcome and he even “invites” them to come see him!
I know I’m missing something… oh well, I can come back!
soulful
Welcome back to blogging KB!
If wishes could come true, oh boy if only! 😉
#of sessions:
When in crisis or working on an intense issue 3-5 times a week.
Regular session once a week then down to every other week.
Amount of session time;
90 minutes work really well, they fit the 3 parts model enough space. Get comfy, work, debrief.
Time of day for sessions:
We like mid day when Therapist is wide awake and not tired from day of listening.
Of course this can depend on the therapist as well.
A time of the day when there isn’t back to back clients in case that “can of worms” gets opened.
What would happen in session:
Work!
I’m not going to therapy to chitchat, I want a therapist who knows how to guide, push a bit when needed and when to pull it back.
Willingness to be where I am, where our system is, not working on some preplan that has nothing to do with where we’re at.
Most of all a willingness to try new approaches.
Creatives things in session:
More then just talking!
Writing, play, guided imagery or trance work.
Possibly homework if it fits where we’re at in therapy.
Our T once brought in a Rabbi to help littles who were in need of spiritual guidance.
Where would session be?
In a safe office.
Always good when it’s kid friendly.
We have taken a walk outside the office, that was useful at the time, but not an every session thing.
Who else on your treatment team:
A good meds doc is always handy. One that believes and understands DID.
I would love to have a group that was for DID clients with RA issues.
Possibly art therapy and body work thru touch.
Someone who would be a support, someone who would just be there to listen when the panic, flashbacks are too hard and especially when the need to be dead comes calling.
What kind of approaches would you want your T to use?
Things they felt comfortable with, otherwise it could end in a hot mess!
Who in your system can be in session?
We believe everyone should have a chance to be involved. Even those who might not be considered safe right off. Some of the best work ever done in therapy has been with those in our system who were scary to us and our therapist.
Kids treated as kids, not adults.
Boundaries, there has to be sane boundaries!
Safe, foster a feeling of safety and acceptance.
A wiliness to go the mile.
A broad base in all styles of therapy, not loyal married to only one style.
Not afraid to say they don’t know, but willing to learn.
If the therapist is on call, that they actually be on call. Not to be abused but really willing to take those few minutes when needed.
I have to say We’ve been vey luck with many of our wishes.
Ravin
Hi Kathy !
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
– 2 times per week would be great. One is not enough and three would be too much for me.
* How long would your sessions be?
– At least 1h30, ideally 2h.
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
– Talking, role-playing, relaxing, listening to music, reading, looking at photos…
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
– Drawing, writing (letters, poetry…), role-playing
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
-Safe office.
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
– Morning
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
– Psychiatrist and family doctor
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
– Yes, but only when system is stable.
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
– It depends opon the therapeutic relationsship. When safe, almost any approach. My T don’t say anything until eye-contact and then we take what comes.
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
– I’m very censuring IRL, but other parts express themselves in letters, drawings and role-playing. I’m working on allowing the other parts to be more present.
Thanks for asking 🙂
Oh wow, I see that the little ones have certainly already had their two cents in! Wow! I guess I am going to have to win the lottery soon so I can afford to get the to twenty hours of therapy a week! I only have a minute online right now but I would like to add in there that massage therapy for me would certainly fit into my treatment pan very nicely. I hold so much tension in my body. Once every couple a months visits to my massuese aren’t cutting it for me. We could add her to the treatment team. Plus any other sort of body work type stuff there might be out there in the world. And Jodie could use some art therapy. Okay, there’s my 2 cents now too 😉 caroline
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
3 times per week
•How long would your sessions be?
2 hours
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
lots of talk, talking to alters, mapping, talking about the abuse that happens I say this because if an alt shares a new memory or I have a flashback it is there and I need to talk about it….will I go into what I call “apeshit” phase yes of course, so if we are going to do memory work it needs to happen at the beginning of the session so there would be time for me to leave in some semblance of balance. Also work more on getting feelings out. I need to be pushed. I am not sure at this point what that means but I am needing to be pushed, maybe that means activated to have a feeling response whether that be anger, sadness, push me to elicit and emotional response as this is something I fight against. Other issues would also be addressed that often accompany DID like eating disorders so the DID therapist would ideally be well versed in eating disorders. I also think that the therapist needs to stick to their professional options if safety is believed to be an issue and inpatient is necessary. As I think with most of us if asked we are always “fine”. So obviously having a therapist that you trust is key.
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Just to encourage drawing or collaging at home and bringing it to therapy, I also journal on my computer and have started encorporating pictures from google images into my journal entries to help illustrate how I am feeling or other alts will use it too and it has been helpful
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
inside an office where there is complete privacy
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night? It doesn’t matter
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team? a psychiatrist that actually talked with my therapist, a pdoc that worked with me and understood DID, wasnt a drug pusher but was really there to assist me. We worked as a partnership.
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
yes I would like to try that but I think with group it would need to be about 3 hours and I would love for it to be a process group, that got into some tuff stuff but where the support from other group members and the therapist was there
•What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
talk, meditation, relaxation, NO NO NO EMDR….unless I was completely stable and at the point of absolute cooperation. Other than that I think EMDR can be very activating for me with DID. I might explore hypnosis
•Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
I would like anyone to beable to speak in session. Even if I am not the one to show up for the session, it is absolutely necessary for me to be the one that is present at the end of the session….this is what we currently strive for. This occurs 80% of the time, if I still can’t drive home then a main big is called out to drive home
If you could design your perfect treatment plan for DID, what would that look like?
•How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
4x/mo max at this time. Ideally 2x/wk, then a week off, then 2x/wk. I think this would vary ideally depending on where you are in your healing. But this would be impossible, or very difficult for therapists and their schedualling!!!
•How long would your sessions be?
Again, variable. But if I had all the money in the world, I would MUCH prefer a slightly longer session. 50 mins hardly gives me enuf time to settle in, then asst parts are there and poof, the time is gone. However, I also find it exhausting!( probably for my T too, trying to follow me is a challenge as I switch alot). So probably on average, a 75 min session would be nice.
•What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
That is a tough one. Again variable depending on who is there….When more people post, maybe I will have more ideas. I know from my readings on websites that T’s work very differently. Its also very challenging because in my case, my T is mostly the same, but the way I ‘percieve’ her changes radically, depending on what state I am in. I wish I could let my lils play with her toys she has there…
•What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
Again, that is MY problem. My T has toys, paint, sand tray etc, but we are (afraid?) or too shy?? or something to use them.
•Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
I have had sessions outside and it was WONDERFUL. Watching nature was a distraction, so it was easier to try and speak. Privacy is an issue outdoors tho. And it could possibly blur boundaries if not well managed and talked about.
•What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Hmmm, interesting. I don’t know. I just go while my kids are at school, and I have enuf time to rest after the session. I think it’s important , if you can, to have some down time after the session.
•Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
Maybe a massage therapist, cuz I get alot of body tension.
•Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
I think it might be cool. I haven’t done group in years. I did an addictions group like maybe 30 years ago!
•What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
I think my T is super careful. Initially I would do NOTHING except sit there and sorta talk, but mostly just snarl at her and warn her off alot (she has training in EMDR, somatic something, etc). But now it been almost 3 yrs maybe? and she still never seems t do anything but talk stuff. I kinda wish she’d push me some. She DOES, but maybe more, to try something different…like maybe art or something(she’s trained in that too). I know most T’s don’t like to push 1. cuz its no fun 2. cuz they don’t want to set off the client inadvertently during session, or for there to be after session ‘fallout’.
•Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
Arrgggggghhh. I wish an adult one would be there more. I am not that DD’ed, so parts are unclear, not that fully formed. But for some bizarrre reason its like pre teens that are there alot. And T always says anybody is wecome, but some parts just waste time, so I wish she’d not encourage them.(like one that just laffs at everything, or one that just says I dunno alot ETC)
I would like the real little ones to maybe come around, cuz they cause alot of turmoil and I’d like to sort that out. But I am also afraid they’d do something bad, or some are afraid T would, and as an adult, it would just be embarassing to be in a child state, and I DO NOT like to make a spectacle of myself 🙁
Well. No doubt more will come to me, but thot I’d get this started and see what others have to say 🙂
This could be very interesting!
Well my kids and co. are up (sleepover, no school today!) so goto go.
Thx
Hi Mrs.Kathy,
What we are doing in therapy now is unique and is working well for me and my system.
I’m going to therapy 2 times a week in the mornings for 2-3 hours. Once for a normal one on one session and the other is a small group session.
The group also includes a close or best friend to help expand the support system. The idea of involving a friend is to have someone other then your therapist to help you during the time that you are not in therapy! In group therapy we do all sorts of creative activities. There is no pressure for anyone to do or say anything that they are not comfortable with. I love the group therapy. Each person and part is allowed to make a suggestion to what they would like to do. It is good for working with all sorts of issues and emotions. And at the same time good for each part to do something they always wanted to do; and then feeling good about it!
I would defiantly recommend that the husband gets involved in the therapy; maybe do a few sessions as a couple. I would like my therapist to use different approaches with different parts; like doing play therapy with the littles. And having a blanket. Sometimes we like to be coverd. And a soft toy for security. Some parts talk a lot; and others like to wrtie – others like to draw..
I have a book that I use to do mapping. I also give each alter 2 pages to draw or write their story. We also do collages to get a visual image of what each part looks like and a little bit about who they are.
We also started with some inside structure to the system. Making inside rooms and separating the harmful and abusive parts to the rest. Putting them together in age groups; littles and bigs separate. Getting a “reporter” or “leader” in each group that could report to the host or counsellor to what is going on inside the system.
therpiy every day! 4 hours a day
every morning
and go see are T every day
well we got to take saturdays and sundays off for church and stuff
if this is a dream we wudnt have to go to work so we culd go in the mornings wehn were most awake and in a beter mood
we culd go for walks
and are T wuld coler and paint and make things and play playdough and play dolls with us and have a litol pepol house in her offiss and a litol pepol famley to play with we can play with togeahter
no other pepol on the team cos we dont want no other pepol in there with are T just us she be all ares privite
and we culd have home work to do somtims big stuff like grone ups do and somtims litol stuff we can do that be for kids
if we can go evrey day then maebey we all wud have time to talk enoff
and tuck and jadie want to play ball
oh and have snack evrey day to
* How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist?
– Once every two weeks except during intense times of flashbacks or feelings of instability
* How long would your sessions be?
– I wish it would be at least 2 hours
* What kinds of things would happen in your sessions?
– More creative things, physical movement, talking, talking, talking
* What artistic or creative therapies would you include?
-Coloring, stream-of-consciousness writing, writing or drawing with non-dominant hand
* Would your sessions be inside of an office or anywhere else?
– In a safe office space, preferably in a completely separate building
* What time of day would your sessions occur – morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
-Morning
* Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
-A compassionate, understanding psychiatrist and I wouldn’t mind psych students
* Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
– No. I believe I would that overwhelming.
* What kinds of approaches would you want your therapist to use?
– I feel the patient should lead at first, then the therapist could gently suggest options such as EMDR, art therapy, movement therapies, as the patient feels safer
* Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
– Whomever feels the need to speak or express themselves. I try not to censor or not acknowledge parts. Each part is important.
Thank you for asking these questions!
Lisa
— How many times per week or per month would you meet with your therapist? How long would your sessions be?
5 days a week / 2-3 hrs a day
— We think we’d want to have puppies there to hold and play with and pet when we are sad or scared and have a mini zen garden thing (those tiny sanboxes) and markers and paper and silly putty (cause silly putty is good to play when when you are super scared to say stuff) We do not like sitting on couches or chairs cause we like to sit like in kindergarten “indian style” so we would want it in a room that still has blankeys and pillows and we can sit on the floor we want a counselor that is quiet and strong but does not let us just sit there we want them to talk to us and start conversations and have their idea of what they want us to talk about when we get there so they are leading us into where we need to go so we only gots to worry about how to get the scary stuff out before it eats us up cause we do not like secrets and they could know more than us about what the body person is feeling because then they could help give her assignments to make her think and work through stuffs 🙂 Our body person she gets very overwhelmed with everything inside and then to not be too overwhelmed by the outside stuff she wants her counselor to know about stuffs more than her to know whats normal and whats because she gots inside stuff she said that she likes it more when they know what questions to ask and they show her where her thinking is wrong but they let her explain why her thinking feels right then they give her lots and lots of homework to do on her own to learn how wrong her thinking really is. Cause she is learning now that lots of her thinkings is really super wrong. We want a counselor that can give us hugs and rub our back SAFE only if we ask but Tasha said “That’s innapropriate conduct sweety they wont be comfortable to do that most likely” but we would want that and they could let us bring our specia blankey cause it is super heavy and it keeps the body doing what it is suposed to do cause the ody is soemtimes not listening still.
— Besides your therapist, who else would you want to have on your treatment team?
We would want our safe people there are 3 of them 🙂 So if we gots a super scary day for appointment even if can bring 1 safe person with us for hugs and cuddles when we cry and tell the counselor the scary bad stuffs then we would feel better and not so alone and scared 🙂 But Ms. Tasha said that “Counselors usually dont agree with that sweety” But we would want that to be ok to have a normal appointment no matter what with a safe person with us then when we gets home they will know why we are so super scared and then they can help us remember we are still safe and we does not gots to find someone inside that will tell them what happened in our appointment cause we do not like repeating the scary stuff that close together.
— Would you include any kind of group therapy in your treatment plan?
No. 🙁 We do not like group cause there is too many people and we do not like talking about stuff in rooms with people in them. Only safe blanket cry qiet place. and group is not quiet theres people there and they talk and we hear the shoes and the pants when they move their legs and their pencils when they write and their breathing and cuoghing and sneezing and crying and doors open and close when they go potty during group — too many people is too much noise then we get scared and the body stops being good and then we get jerky or the body person feels like she is a robot or she gets super scared and nobody can get her calm again. groups are super scary for us and we been to lots and lots of them cause they always told body person if not go to grouops then she go back to hospital 🙁
— Who from your DID system would be allowed to speak and present up front during your sessions?
dream treatment means if everything perfect so then it be a safe good everybody trust or at least respect counselor so then everybody can talk whenever they want and even if the babies just want to play with the puppies then they can come out and play cause they just want to play then maybe the counselor can talk to the babies cause nobody talks to them much cause they is hjard to understand and they does not type well 🙁 but Mr. Jer and body person they chooses if you a safe good person or not and if you not then they not let us say hi at all but if you are then they leaves the doors open and we gets to watch and listen inside or they lets us out whenever we want 🙂 Kind of cause then sometimes we gots to only let the bigger people out cause we gots adult stuffs to do too so we gots to be big people and not can go outside just because we want to when it is not appropriate we do not like that word cause it is not fun 🙁
the little ones and Brittany
Hey Cathy! You haven’t posted for awhile? I can tell you what comes to mind for me on this subject but I’ll probably think of a bunch of other stuff after I write this. But here goes.
I would like to see more work done in hypno-therapy. This would have to be started after the client/therapist have a very trusting relationship so that total relaxation can occur. The goal of this type of therapy should be focussed on soothing the client and calming the parts. I would like to have more confidence between sessions about dealing with my parts too. As a DIDer I live with fear of myself. I wonder if at some point the parts will be more prominent and I won’t be able to handle it. I fear other people will see this as well. I fear losing time in any other forum than with my T. I have had little control over the things that happened to me and then I spent my life just trying to survive them and create some kind of life in the world. Confidence building is huge…I think this type of therapy, if designed carefully, could help all of us. Maybe it could help the parts work together as opposed to fighting with each other for time out. The childlike parts could get additional comfort and safety from the T that they desperately need. I don’t suggest this route as a way to recall the trauma. That must be done at a very slow pace and in the here and now. But I know I have so much fear attached to this. I also know that I thrive in a soothing, comforting and safe and theraputic environment. I think hypnotherapy could be a huge tool in helping me feel safe inside and then it could help me to build my own self-soothing skills. Also, I think some kind of relaxation meds could be used with the agreement of the client if they have a hard time with the process of being hypnotized. Many different approaches can be used and I think this type of therapy could really be developed to be a huge tool in the healing process.
My next thought while I was reading this is what type of therapists are you referring to? Psychoanalytical is the recommended approach for us DIDers. Atleast that’s what my research tells me. I think other types of of things can be combined with this to aid in the process too. I think it’s important to distinguish. My sister has DID as well. She dealt with a behavioral T who convinced her that she cannot go into the past trauma because it could kill her. She was taught to manage her symptoms and live her life. It’s kind of a pathetic existance for her and I think that T should have his license revoked. The only real successful relationship she has in her life is with her dogs. And, she is so afraid of what is inside her that she lives to keep it oppressed. Her and I clash terribly when we talk about stuff. She believes recalling the trauma will put her into a catatonic state per the advice of this T. This T is quite a big deal out there in the community too. Wrote a book, did alot of work with hospitals in Boston and then was recruited to do some work with Mt Sinai in California…it’s my opinion he has no business in DID!
As for the therapy sessions. I would like to see the sessions last two hours long and be twice a week. After a client discovers, accepts and begins to understand what has taken place within them a new awareness comes and it’s very scarey. For some, as healing and therapy takes place, they become more symptomatic. I know I do. I have parts that see my T as their parent and they need more time with him. These little parts are hugely needy for the comfort and safety that only a parent can give…at some point we will all transition and know our T is not our parent by while the process is going on they need more. Plus it takes time once I sit down in his office for me to get my mind to the place where we can work. Sometimes longer than others. My little parts want to reach out to him but they need some coaxing and one hour is not enough time.
I would also like to see a DID camp one day per month. Clients would go and experience different kinds of workshops where various skills can be worked on. Especially grounding skills. How to breath or work thru anxiety. Maybe some artwork. Definately self-soothing skills. Ways to cope in everyday life so we can have confidence that when we start losing time we have some skills to pull ourselves back in. Maybe a local hospital could start something like this. They could include a nature walk or bike ride. Or maybe it could even be one weekend per month. But it would need to be led and taught by only therapists with experience in this. I would love to have more skills about what to do when triggers happen. In a nutshell, many of us DIDers lack some major “normal” coping skills. Our DID was and still is our coping strategy. We need to transition in all ways as we heal…mind, body and soul. There is so much that needs to be done with this.
I would also like noted that during therapy ‘cans of worms’ get opened. Then we go home to deal with them. Even with the best therapist in the world, mine’s one of them, we have to cope. Yes we can call our T or go inpatient or take xanax but never the less the can is opened. Therapists really need to be aware of this…or maybe they already are and I am the last one to know….this happens alot to me. Sometimes these cans of worms feel like the gates of hell just opened and I am terrified. I think stuff like this slows my process. With more skills in place like some of the above mentioned stuff it might be different for me when that happens.
I hope this helps answer your questions. OH..I am open to whatever part would like to talk to my T. I am working on this in my head with them. Telling them in my mind that he is safe and if anyone of them would like to talk to him…they are welcome. They are in this too and I want them to be a part of it. They need his help too.