My therapist really hurt me
Hey all. So, I’ll cut to the chase.
A couple of weeks ago, my therapist and I did 3 intensive trauma processing sessions. Each of them were 2.5 hours in length and they took place on 3 consecutive days. Because of the “overage” in hours, I am down from 2 regular sessions a week to only 1 since those extended sessions and for the remainder of the summer. This is just not working for me as I am now experiencing flooding and am in a bit of a crisis. I reached out to her to tell her I think this was a bit counterintuitive on our parts so she offered to see me twice next week. We had our session yesterday and it was extremely difficult, just like these last 2 weeks have been. Because the session was difficult, we neglected to speak about next week’s 2 sessions so I emailed her afterwards. She told me she could do two 1 hour sessions on Tuesday and Thursday or I could keep my regular 1.5 hour session on Wednesday. I asked if I could do my regular session on Wednesday and pick up even half an hour on Thursday. She agreed to this and told me she’d get back to me with a solid time for Thursday. I woke this morning to an email from her saying “I am sorry but I am going to have to take back my agreement to back to back sessions next week on Wednesday and then Thursday.” I think I know why. I think I’m too much for her right now. I think those intensive sessions were a mistake ONLY because the support afterwards has been gravely lacking. I trusted her to take care of me after those sessions and she’s not able to provide that for me.
i don’t know what to do. I’m hurt. I feel alone. I feel so abandoned. I don’t know how to go about mending this rupture with her. What do I say back? Should I be honest about how that made me feel or do I just accept it and be complacent? Any feedback here would be appreciated. I’m feeling very lost and alone right now. Thanks for reading.
@ivorySpring8863 So sorry to hear this.
Maybe try to find another therapist.
Hmm. I expected a more empathetic, helpful and supportive response from a listener. Finding another therapist isn’t a possibility. Anyone who is going through intense trauma processing can tell you that you can’t just leave the therapist working through it with you. It is incredibly destabilizing and, in many ways, dangerous. But, thanks anyways.
Hi I am very new to this place and am just going through some of the recent posts on here. I wish I had something useful to say to you but I guess I wanted to say I’ve never been brave enough to go through intensive therapy…it’s always seemed hard to trust drs…I don’t wanna pry but I’m curious of your experience on the process or any advice you might have and just to tell you for what it’s worth that I admire you for going through it…even though you are experiencing this setback. I wish you luck on your healing journey❤️🩹
@ivorySpring8863 Hello, Ivoryspring.
After reading your post, I find that you describe the recent events with great clarity. You seem very aware of what you need in this time, namely to feel that your therapist is there for you. I find you express this very well in your post.
From personal experience with therapy, I believe it is most fruitfull to express concerns and needs when they arise. This particular situation left you with worry and concern for your future sessions. I believe any respectable therapist is to embrace such concerns from their client. It is what I would expect from my own therapist.
If you find it challenging to do so in session, I find your post very presise and to the point. Perhaps it could be shared as a printed letter, or email, to your therapist? How ever your choose to adress this, I read your concerns as truly valid. I would easily have found myself reacting in quite a similar manner.
Best wishes to you.