Starting Therapy in 3 weeks and have questions

[chem_in_6]

So-

I’ll be starting therapy again through my college the week of August 26. I’m thinking that this will be a good way to bring up the dissociation and switching. Since the therapy is provided by the university, it’s free, which is nice.

I’ve got some concerns with this, though.
1. I have a lot of trauma issues intertwined with the dissociation
2. Would the therapist be bound to tell the school that I was having dissociative episodes?
3. I’m scared that I won’t be taken seriously
4. What would happen if I had an episode during therapy? I'm scared the therapist would send me to the ER

any input is appreciated
-chem (with input from Oldest and Zip)

[Tangled Web]

Hi chem. I would definitely ask those questions to the therapist you were seeing. They are valid questions. What is your major in college?
I know that when I was in college I never told anyone about this or about any mental health issues I had in the past. I live in Canada and if you are in the health care profession, which I am and have a license to practice, you have to report any diagnosis to the licensing board. I don't know what country you live in and how it works there.
TW

[chem_in_6]

Hi TW-

I'm finishing my BS (BSc) in Chemistry (Environmental Chemistry Emphasis) and Mathematics Minor at a small school in California, USA this coming fall semester.

I'll definitely ask the questions during my first therapy session so I know going into the rest of them.

-chem

[The People]

(08-08-2013, 10:06 PM)chem_in_6 Wrote: So-

I’ll be starting therapy again through my college the week of August 26. I’m thinking that this will be a good way to bring up the dissociation and switching. Since the therapy is provided by the university, it’s free, which is nice.

I’ve got some concerns with this, though.
1. I have a lot of trauma issues intertwined with the dissociation
2. Would the therapist be bound to tell the school that I was having dissociative episodes?
3. I’m scared that I won’t be taken seriously
4. What would happen if I had an episode during therapy? I'm scared the therapist would send me to the ER

any input is appreciated
-chem (with input from Oldest and Zip)

IMO the best place to have an episode is during therapy. As well, just because your T works for the school does not mean that she shares anything with the school without your permission. I would hold off on that.

While I have had an occasional flashback at work I was able to contain it. Switching did happen but never in such an obvious way that it would be an issue. Two would come out at 2 jobs but only to talk to a working dog at one place and office pets at the other. And while she usually doesn't care who hears her when we are out and about she knew to be careful at these places.

There was only one time when we had a bust up during a class and it was as a result of something a guest speaker said. It was positively shocking and shockingly positive. It broke a dam and we spent break time crying in the bathroom. That instructor knew about us before we started the class (another long story) but not exactly why we lost it. We couldn't discuss it while sitting in class but we did explain it later.

See what happens. If you carry a backpack maybe you could have some safe things inside it like a special stone or something else that is personal that you can use for grounding. My advice is to share selectively because not everyone will understand. I wish you well and I envy you as I would love to go back to school.

[Cammy]

Disclosure is always a delicate matter. Not all therapists understand or even believe in DID. I would sound this person out a bit before revealing too much. Once the cat is out of the bag, you can't take it back. Be cautious, but be open to slowly building trust as the therapist earns your trust. Igraine.

[chem_in_6]

I was planning to disclose the feelings I get before, during, and after dissociation and the flashbacks, but feel them out before disclosing the other members in "the crew" as I'm much too afraid to dive right into full disclosure with the therapist.

I am not sure I want to disclose anything to anyone but my therapist, and maybe one or two professors.

I like the idea of keeping safe things in my backpack. that way I can feel safe and the others can feel safer too

-chem

[mosaic]

another thing you might want to check on ... if it is provided by the university, it is probably therapy done by graduate students in the psych. program... and it's likely you won't have the opportunity to form a lasting relationship with the t as they won't be around for a long time. you might want to see if that is the situation - so you can factor it in to what and how much to disclose.

[chem_in_6]

hi mosaic-

we looked into the therapy a bit, and it is done by graduate psychology students. there is one guy in the program who wants to specialise in trauma and dissociation. our host, chem, met with him yesterday for a few minutes, and she seemed to like him and the treatment modalities he uses. she disclosed some of the traumas to him and mentioned the dissociative symptoms we're having. He's very kind, and was proud of chem for wanting to be upfront about the trauma from the get-go of therapy instead of waiting to disclose it until the sessions were halfway over. we're very frustrated with the way the other parts of the assessment went, as the lady was an a** to chem and made her cry.

-Zip and Oldest (chem doesn't want to talk right now)

[Blue]

Hi Zip and Oldest. Just so you know, your T shouldn't be able to disclose anythin to anyone due to confidentiality rules. What you say in that room should stay in that room. (Unless they feel yous are a danger to yourselves or others in some way).
Glad your Chem got on with graduate psychology student. Hope it all works out for yous all.
Blue.

[chem_in_6]

so, today is the first session, and we're all TERRIFIED. we don't want to go. but if we don't go, we lose our chance at getting help

Mella is scared our t-doc will yell and get mad/mean like chem's dad was so good at doing. she's so sad and scared right now it's frightening the teens

-chem, Oldest, and Zip

[nats]

(08-27-2013, 12:51 PM)chem_in_6 Wrote: so, today is the first session, and we're all TERRIFIED..

how did it go if you want to talk about it? guess this was awhile ago now..

[chem_in_6]

we have had 3 sessions so far. we like our t-doc, he's fantastic

he gave us a link to e-mail to ask about the possibility of finding lower cost therapy and low cost medication (for anxiety).

we'll respond better tomorrow. had a rough week and don't feel good at all

[Blue]

Yo chem_in_6. So how ya doin today? Better we hope.
Blue.

[nats]

really glad to hear you like your T chem_in_6, that makes a big difference. sorry to read on another thread that you guys are struggling. agreeing with what Blue said, memories are part of the process but they don't own you.

[chem_in_6]

we feel a bit less bad than we did earlier.

our t-doc is very validating of our issues. he's been accepting that we struggle when out in the "Real World" and that we struggle internally. he's been giving chem homework that we're supposed to help her finish. things like basic system mapping, safety plans, figuring out who to tell about the dissociation so they aren't alarmed if we step out of a lecture hall or lab so that we can calm down and get bearings.

processing language is still difficult, so we'll be back later to work on this more