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Do therapists work?



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I'm considering going to see the therapist that did my eval. I know I have underling issues that need to be worked out but do they really help you figure it all out?

I am hoping to hear from people who have both had success and possibly didn't. I want the entire picture.

I'm not asking anyone to give me details they don't want to share. Just if it worked!!

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I had two colleagues that went to therapy and for one of them the sessions helped.

She told me that it's up to the person, if they want it to work it will. You have to be open with yourself and the therapist. She has been in therapy for about a year and she says it has helped her with the issues she had.

For the 2nd person, he did not go in with an open mind and only went to 5 session and really didn't feel like it worked for him. He felt strange telling someone who he didn't know his problems.

So it's really up to the person. Are you ready and willing to have help, then yes it should work.

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I dealt with 2 years of major depression and generalized anxiety. After 9 months of trying to find a medication that would work it was suggested that maybe counseling would be something to add in. At this point I had taken FMLA from work because I was seriously going to get fired or go to jail (I worked in a care taking setting and under any other circumstance I am one of the calmest people you'll know) anywho I went to counseling once a week and I had great success. It is really nice to get an outside perspective. I wish you luck! It's something I'm working towards doing again.

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Do therapists work?

I heard the expression..............

1/2 the world sees a therapist

the other 1/2 should :o;)

I started therapy about 5 years ago

i was at my lowest with problems/depression et al

many of my 'issues" stemmed from my feelings, lack of self-confidence et al concerning my being overweight :angry:

"Debbie" helped me tremendously as i was thinking/preparing for WLS

i continue to see her

its good for me to open up to someone other than my DH

for me.............

its been very helpful, and i still enjoy going

now i am perfect :lol:

good luck

kathy

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As a therapist, I think it definitely works.. Therapy is kinda like the sleeve.. A tool!! We can't, unfortunately, wave a magic wand and fix everything.. But if you're willing to put the work in, IMHO it's very effective. Sometimes like exercise, you have to find what therapy works for you, it's not a one 'size' fits all... But then we all know one size just NEVER fits all :) Good Luck!!

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Yep!

With the right therapist it can and does help!

I've been through several therapists in the past.

I must admit some of them where a waste of time. I wasn't ready for change with one, and another cried when I told my truths (trust me you don't want a therapist that empathizes so much she cries :P)

It takes work, in therapy of course, but also the leg work into finding the right one. I'd say don't just go and stay with the first one if it doesn't feel right. :)

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Yep!

With the right therapist it can and does help!

I've been through several therapists in the past.

I must admit some of them where a waste of time. I wasn't ready for change with one, and another cried when I told my truths (trust me you don't want a therapist that empathizes so much she cries :P)

It takes work, in therapy of course, but also the leg work into finding the right one. I'd say don't just go and stay with the first one if it doesn't feel right. :)

100% correct, if you don't feel comfortable and don't feel like you are making strides - make a change!

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I have used therapy to deal with some long standing issues multiple times, and was successful each time. For some people emotional issues are like an onion, lots of layers, and you might be only willing or able to deal with a couple of layers, but it is huge forward progress. Then you can take a break, and return when you are ready to deal with more layers of the onion. I live in a rural area and there isn't a support group for bariatric patients. I started seeing a therapist after my surgery knowing that dealing with the stressors of life without being able to use food to sooth and numb me was going to be a challenge. It has been very helpful to have someone to talk about the role food played in my life and how I need to cope / change without abusing food. As people above me have stated, if you aren't wiling to look at your issues and get some honest feedback, then therapy won't work, but if you can feel comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts, and are open to honest feedback and change then it can be one of the best things you do for yourself! Good luck!

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Okay they work! But how? Is it really all about talking it out?

How do they work? Good question... I have no f**king idea! :P

Hehehe..

But it's about talking yes, but mostly about learning about yourself and why you do the things you do and feel the way you do. And working with your stressors to find a better way to cope.

There were things I didn't like about myself (personality flaws?) reactions to things where hurting me and others so I've worked on being less self destructive.

Now am I perfect and fixed? NO!

But I'm better at recognizing behaviors and patterns that don't work well for me and changing them before it all falls apart :)

I will say one of the best things my therapist taught me (don't laugh, I still can get a temper :P) is to "breathe" yes, simple in and out deep breathing to bring myself into the moment. Deep breath in...

Release... I am now present, I am here..

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Okay they work! But how? Is it really all about talking it out?

It's about a different perspective. It's about processing through your problems and learning new coping skills. What's nice is you go in and can identify.... Oh every Weekend I over eat.... Why?.... Well the stress of the weekend... What's the stress?.... My husband is working all weekend and I am overwhelmed by the kids and my house is a mess and it's easier to order pizza. OK what can you do to control this? You can't force your husband to stay home.... So this week lets try you prepping meals with your husband Friday night, maybe you make a big turkey Friday night and use it as leftovers. Than you and your husband do a quick pick up Saturday and once a month you get a babysitter on Saturday.

My problems were things I couldn't control. My plate was overflowing... I felt like I was drowning. It was identifying oh... I can ask for help. I can ask my mom to pick up Caleb, I can ask my dad to help him with homework, I can not make my sister in law not be a negative person...

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How do they work? Good question... I have no f**king idea! :P

Hehehe..

But it's about talking yes' date=' but mostly about learning about yourself and why you do the things you do and feel the way you do. And working with your stressors to find a better way to cope.

There were things I didn't like about myself (personality flaws?) reactions to things where hurting me and others so I've worked on being less self destructive.

Now am I perfect and fixed? NO!

But I'm better at recognizing behaviors and patterns that don't work well for me and changing them before it all falls apart :)

I will say one of the best things my therapist taught me (don't laugh, I still can get a temper :P) is to "breathe" yes, simple in and out deep breathing to bring myself into the moment. Deep breath in...

Release... I am now present, I am here..

[/quote']

Lol so talking to myself doesn't count ????

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Lol so talking to myself doesn't count dde09

Only if you charge yourself $160 for every 55 minutes of it :P

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Only if you charge yourself 160 for every 55 minutes of it :P

Hehe my insurance covers 100% of mental health...how can I pretend to be a therapist and charge myself?

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Nothing works unless you do. Finding the proper therapist is key. You MUST trust them or its all for nought. I have been to several, but could not get comfortable until I found someone whom I trusted enough to confess my behavior to! LOVE her and I get better at getting better every session!!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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