What is a psychologist meant to do?

[Chickenhead]

I went through a really difficult time a few years ago and after speaking with my GP was given a mental health plan for anxiety. I went to a few sessions with the psychologist attached to the practice but felt so bored. She would ask basic questions followed by how it made me feel, and that was about it. I feel I have a very complex history and she just didn't seem interested in finding out about it. I had already developed my own coping strategies, so she didn't offer any other guidance. I gave up going back.

I then found a psychologist that specialised in female autism and had several sessions with her. I went through the testing and she confirmed I met the criteria for diagnosis. We went through some coping strategies but I chose not to get an official diagnosis. The sessions were solely focused on autism.

Its now several years on and I'm becoming aware how much my history effects my every day life. I suspect I would meet the criteria for autism, depression, anxiety and ptsd, but I have no idea how I would go about finding someone who would actually talk to me at length and care to work through everything. It just seems too difficult to go through it all, and my experience is they hear some of my story, say how sorry they are and ask if I'm coping, and completely miss the fact that the situation I've just relayed is just the tip of the iceberg. And just because I'm not having panic attacks this week, it doesn't mean my life is no longer effected... It means I've become Masterful at avoiding triggers.

How are the sessions meant to work? Do they focus on what's happening here and now, or do you talk about your history and how that effects you?? I would like to actually talk to someone about all my history and how my current situation has developed as a consequence, but is that even necessary once they've come to a diagnosis? If they knew it all, they may see how unhealthy my current circumstance has become and be able to work on fixing what's broken in me so I can do better than just "coping" strategies.

[blondguy]

Hello CH

Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to post too!

Feeling bored in an appointment with a psychologist is unusual yet can happen. The psychologist usually asks questions (some can be uncomfortable) about our personal issues so they can evaluate the way we think and try to source where our pain is coming from.

Visits to a therapist can be uncomfortable as they usually bring out the pain we have/are going through. It took me 13 years to cry in front of my counselor/psychologist after having chronic anxiety. It felt awkward and upsetting yet a good psychologist will ask the right questions to find out the source of our pain

The psychologist has a box of tissues close to you for a reason CH

Depending on the severity of the anxiety...(mine was chronic) it usually takes several visits over a long period of time. I had weekly visits for seven months which did wonders for my anxiety 🙂 Monthly is okay...fortnightly is better and weekly will have the best results where reducing the severity of anxiety issues

In a nutshell....a good psychologist will ask the questions that are pertinent to our own degree of anxiety

I hope you can stick around the forums as they are a safe place to post

All the best for 2019 CH

Paul

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi there Chickenhead,

Welcome to the forum. In my experience, not all psychologists practice the same. Some are quite specific to a type of therapy practice like Cognitive Bahaviour Therapy or Schematic Therapy. Others use a mixed mode of techniques and others don’t use evidenced based practice very well at all. What is really important is that they deliver person-centred care meaning that you collaboratively decide on how sessions are run and what goals you want to achieve. A practitioner that does not set goals with you might not have the structure you are after and you might try someone else. Many people just want to unload emotion and are not as specific about what they want out of their sessions.

I commend you for being an active participant in your health care goals. I would recommend writing down exactly what you want to get out of the sessions and ask if the psychologist you are seeing has the experience to progress with you and if not, can they recommend someone with more expertise. You might find someone who uses a more psychotherapy type approach which really goes into the past.

I would recommend you keep trying until you find the right practitioner for you as sometimes this can take a while but it is worth it. I also concur with Paul in that sometimes more frequent appointments to start with can help you make some quick gains and build the foundations of a good therapeutic relationship with your psychologist.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn