Coherence Therapy??

[topsy_]

Hi

My psychologist would like to do Coherence Therapy with me. I'm not super clear on what it entails but apparently I'll be "back there" (in the years of every type of abuse). Somehow being right back in those awful times is supposed to enable new neural pathways to be formed. For example, I've always believed that all the abuse was my fault & that it happened because I'm bad. I think the aim is to challenge & alter those beliefs that were formed when I was so young.

The thing is the psych warned me it will be really rough. And there are no guarantees I'll feel any better in the long run. I find it incredibly difficult to go back "there". I've spent my life avoiding doing that.

So my question is does anyone know anything about this therapy?

I would be more inclined to try it if I were younger, say 30 - 40, because there would still be enough life left to live to make it worth it. However at 60 that's not the case. The abuse, PTSD & depression have all influenced my previous years so much that I don't want to fill my remaining years with more angst.

I'm not sure I'm being entirely logical & I do know the thought of this therapy fills me with terror. And, not feeling very brave, I'd rather avoid that.

So if anyone has any thoughts, experience or advice I would be very grateful.

Thank you, Lyn.

[white knight]

Hi,

I haven't heard of this therapy. But at 60yo with bipolar2 and depression and with limited psychological guidence I have had to rely on other means.

Like aging. Some of us can allow our past troubled that haunt us, to drift away with time. Some can't do this. As time goes by their demons might magnify.

I've also found that focussing on other things really helps. Keeping busy...hobbies, sports, passions. They all help. Troubles manifest with an idle mind.

But of course its all subjective. You may well need such treatment as hope if finding peace.

If you are really concerned I'd seek a second opinion. Easier said than done as you'd need to go through it all again.

Perhaps you could delay this decision? Until you are ready. In a few months you might know if you can get through with or without it.

Good luck. It isn't easy.

Tony WK

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Lyn (yellownanna)

I'm sorry I haven't heard of this therapy either. A recent search saw that only 3 practitioners in Australia are trained in coherence therapy so I can imagine it would be difficult to find reviews and stories on it.

If you would like to see more I encourage you to try this website - http://www.coherencetherapy.org/

It looks as though there are a few case studies on it which might help give you an idea of what it entails. The only other thing I can suggest is being open and asking lots of questions about it before you are ready to commit to it. As you would already know everyone's experience with therapy is going to be a little different. I know prior to myself starting a new therapy I spent a few sessions just asking questions about it, watching videos online just to try and get a better idea of what it might look like and feel like. It also might help to know or reassure yourself that if you decide to go against this therapy that that is also okay - it's your choice and you can always revisit the therapy later. It's a big decision so allow yourself the time and care that you need to decide.

Hope this helps-

[Simondo]

hello

the advice from romantic_thi3f seems sound, do check it out and get a feel for any new approach, read up wherever you can, check out the videos. I am one of the 3 trained coherence therapists and agree that you should take care starting any therapy generally - and especially one that might be outlined as 'really rough. And there are no guarantees'.

Personally I would not describe the coherence therapy this way, and would hope to never practice it where it could be described so. It should be focused on entering the world of the person, and seeking the meanings given and felt-sense of what is troubling. Only then is it possible to see the meanings challenged & to alter those beliefs that were formed from earlier times. Gentle but activated, and well held is best.

Finally, there are lots of effective therapies making use of the 'memory reconsolidation' that Coherence Therapy is well known for (EMDR, IFS, Progressive Counting, CBT, Radical Exposure Tapping, AEDP, IPNB, and a range of somatic psychotherapies are some others). Google these for more, and see the clips on youtube for more on Coherence Therapy and others.

Don't feel pressured into a novel approach - a trusting relationship with the therapist is one reliable indicator of likely good outcomes according to the 'common factors' research.

best wishes

Simon

[Dr_Kim]

Hi yellownanna, this is a tough one and I support your bravery in tackling this difficult dilemma.

I certainly understand on an neurophyschological theoretical level why this therapy should work but I hesitate to encourage you to embark on anything that you are not comfortable with. It seems you have a good relationship with your psychologist & I admire their honesty in not promising the world to you and for being open about maybe causing more distress . I agree its a risk. However, its also true that often therapy isn’t always fun or comfortable and it is sometimes the job of the therapist to shine a light into resistant places.

I wonder if you might want to think about a more gentler therapy option for PTSD and past trauma if you don’t feel up to Coherence Therapy. Do some investigating about EMDR. It looks really kooky but all the evidence that i have seen published show that it actually works! Maybe even discuss this with your therapist. There is an EMDR association in Australia so I suggest you could find a practitioner through them.

Check their experience though as it is a new field and you would want someone who has clocked up a few hours in it !!!