COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

How is your therapist doing?

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Many clients (and people in general) become curious about the therapists they are talking to especially as the therapeutic relationship builds.  Indeed sometimes a client may bump into their therapist outside the therapy room, out shopping, with their family etc.

All sorts of questions seem to emerge – has my therapist children?  what issues have they experienced themselves?  What brought them to this vocation? How much money are they making from this?

While in many modalities  limited self disclosure does occur within the therapeutic relationship the process is obviously not focused on the therapist.

This article explores the issue from the perspective of a practitioner in private practice in Ireland and highlights issues many therapists will relate to.  Might have some answers for those curious too!

 

Parenting – child development & learning about success & failure

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The below article from therapist & author Stella O’Malley explores the topic of achievement in children,  and the interaction of their resilience, mental health & exam pressure.

An interesting point is made on fostering a “growth” as opposed to a “fixed” mindset in young people – based on the work of Sanford professor of psychology Carol Dweck.

Talk Therapy Dublin meets clients presenting in their late teens and 20’s struggling with the results of this experience, often with significant depression, anxiety & substance abuse issues.

We also have regular experience of adult clients struggling to do right by their children but this very struggle being the source of issues. One common example is an over the top extra curricular activity schedule from a young age leaving little time for exploratory play, trial & error and indeed family time.  Another common theme is how “failure” is presented & handled within a family.

  • Is it an opportunity to learn & for support?
  •  Should it be avoided at all costs??
  • If a child shows an interest in music, should they immediately be enrolled in formal lessons multiple times a week?
  • What is like for working parents to have to bring children to multiple extra curricular events every week/weekend.
  • Is there much family time after parents work, school, homework & activities?

https://www.independent.ie/life/irish-psychotherapist-stella-omalley-success-isnt-everything-kids-need-to-learn-from-failure-too-36609373.html

Coming off medication – can counselling help?

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The below article by Ceire Sadlier describes her experience involving both Doctors and Counsellors as she gradually decided to come off medication for anxiety & depression.

She describes something that many clients can feel namely the pressure to “come off” medication which can be unhelpful and in some cases dangerous if not managed correctly.

The article also describes an initial negative (and expensive) experience when looking for counselling support.  This is something many clients describe which underlines the need for clients to research their therapists and to look around until they find one which fits and where a therapeutic relationship can develop.

What may work for one client in terms of a therapist may not necessarily work for another.  Therapists have been trained in different modalities and also often have specific specialties and post qualification training in specific areas.  All questions to ask about when making contact.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/it-is-three-months-since-i-took-the-last-anti-depressant-1.3275077