Therapies involving memories
- replies: 10
Sorry, I don't know where the search function is. I wanted to start this and see if anyone wants to share their experiences. I'm finding it very scary thinking about my next session on Wednesday! My psychologist and I are working on Schema Therapy an... View more
Sorry, I don't know where the search function is. I wanted to start this and see if anyone wants to share their experiences. I'm finding it very scary thinking about my next session on Wednesday! My psychologist and I are working on Schema Therapy and we've done work on 1) distress tolerance, 2) a schema logbook, and 3) imagery rescripting. The first two have been okay, though I have to admit I'm only doing my "homework" probably half to three-quarters of the time. But last week we started the imagery rescripting and that was really hard. A brief description of imagery rescripting: This technique involves picturing and describing a recent upsetting memory including the sensory information, thoughts and feelings. The patient then thinks of the earliest childhood memory associated with these same feelings then pictures and describes this older painful memory. The therapist or patient "steps in" to the memory to ensure the child version of the patient has their emotional needs met in the "rescripted" memory. For example, they may step in to argue with the punitive parent on behalf of the child-patient. They then leave the revised memory when the needs have been met and the child-patient feels safe. Continued application of this technique is designed to help the patient link current experiences and feelings with unmet childhood needs, and help them develop the "healthy adult" mode which ensures their emotional needs today can be met. I found this really difficult because, even though I'd chosen an early memory which I didn't think had any emotions attached to it (falling off my skateboard and having to wait over an hour before my mother came back), listening to my psychologist tell off my mum-memory for not being there just shattered me. I'm not sure how to put it. It felt like I'd deliberately forgotten how much I wanted things like someone to stay and watch, to be there if I fell, to smile if I did something well, and to give me encouragement if I almost did a trick (to be honest, I was just trying to stay on the board while going downhill). I always knew I wanted these things because I was really envious of my friends' great families, but never getting that from my parents just meant I tried to bury them. And having them brought up again was just too much. It wasn't even "traumatic" as far as experiences go, but the emotional pain felt so real. So I'm feeling nervous and afraid about going on Wednesday. No characters left, hope to hear from others!
