Psychologist have their own language that they use to communicate with each other and without a great deal of study leave their client kind of in the dark as to what is going on. https://www.blueknot.org.au/Workers-Practitioners/For-Health-Professionals/Resources-for-Health-Professionals/Best-Practice-Guidelines 11. Ensure the therapeutic model/approach promotes integration of functioning, and contains the `core elements’ consistent with research findings in the neurobiology…
Shame came up fairly early in my counseling. I was given a book about shame and tried to explain that there was shame and toxic shame only there isn’t a different name for toxic shame so there is shame that is good for you and shame that is bad for you but no wait maybe…
I am moving slowly through this list of best practices from the perspective of the therapist. I’m trying to add in my perspective as a client. Hopefully, it comes off as helpful and not confusing. I know that with the hundreds of conversations I had with my counselor there were several times that he understood…
Does not fit all. I studied PTSD for over 15 years now. I am noticing a growing trend towards one therapy should work for everyone. Hogwash. If I went to an eye doctor he would not give me the same prescription as the person before me. The one thing really awesome about my first counselor…
Too often another stumbling block to healing is the mind-set, “Fix me, please.” Too many clients walk into a counseling room expecting/pleading for the counselor to fix them. My counselor did not let me keep that delusion for very long. He informed me under no uncertain terms that I had a lot of work to…
I was once asked by a counselor what aspects of my life were impacted by PTSD. Simple answer, “All of it.” There is not one part of my life left untouched by PTSD, or some people are calling multiple event trauma Complex PTSD. I struggled with understanding how deeply I am affected. I was raised…
I entered counseling with the idea of getting marriage counseling. After years of raising kids I felt like there was this stranger in my house that I was married to. I was in for a real shock when after 2 months the counselor explained that my reactions to the homework assignments were not what he…
This question worked great for me. My therapist used it at the beginning of every session for 7 years. However, my sister was less than impressed by the same question. It sounded too much like our mother stating, “You’re doing the doing do it your way,” unfortunately we learned painfully in spite of the words…
I am always looking for more and better ways to cope with symptoms of PTSD/CPTSD. (Reminder, I was diagnosed with PTSD before Complex PTSD became an accepted term so I usually refer to PTSD.) I follow two PTSD groups on Facebook. I don’t remember which one shared this but it was an interesting list of…
Sometimes when I talk about having PTSD the response I get is “You’re too normal.” First off, normal is a setting on a drier. Yes, I am high functioning because I worked hard at it. People seeing me now don’t know about the 3 years in bed, the 7 years towards recovery layered on with…
