Curious about what types of therapy you guys are currently doing and what has worked for you

I hope this question is okay. I know everyone is different when it comes to healing but it would just be nice to hear from others since I have nobody in my life who can relate to this stuff.

I have been in therapy for my alcoholism and CPTSD for 8ish months now. I have two different therapists for each issue and they know about each other and work with each other. Most of my time in therapy has consisted of CBT with some somatic and DBT stuff thrown in here and there. I haven't been in therapy before this so I figured I would start with CBT and go from there. I know from posts here and other things I have read, CBT is often not enough for people for CPTSD and I am starting to agree for myself personally. It is nice to talk to someone every week but I think I need to start digging even deeper if you know what I mean to actually start healing and hopefully get some more control over my deliberating anxiety which is my main symptom that affects my day to day life. For example, I still have trouble with people who raise their voices and try to be argumentative or confrontational with me or other people. I still tend to dissociate and shut down when it happens. This has caused me to have trouble keeping a long term job.

So what I was wondering for all of you in this community if you would be open to sharing what types of therapy you all been doing and maybe some examples of things you been working on?

in CPTSDby nomnombubbles

84%

3.3y

femjuniper

3.3y

EMDR is often recommended to people with CPTSD. I did my first EMDR session this week and honestly it helped me more than years of CBT ever did.

Ok-Efficiency-3694

3.3y

I'm doing teletherapy right now because of the pandemic. I was looking to make a change shortly before the pandemic happened. I have learned most therapists blend different therapeutic approaches, and whatever they use often isn't right for me. I feel CBT and DBT encourage toxic positivity, and cause me to dissociate, derealize, and depersonalize. I prefer elements of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), like the tug of war metaphor. The use of metaphors in ACT make more sense to me. ACT's understanding that language can be a barrier, a hinderance, and can cause harm in therapy appeals to me.

I don't like Freudian Psychology and I can't believe anyone still takes Sigmund Freud seriously. I think I would prefer Jungian Psychology because one of Carl Jung's books provided me with some relief. Jung's theory on the origin of mental illness makes more sense to me then Freud's theory on the origin of mental illness.

I think Systems Psychology appeals to my preference to see things from both a big picture perspect, a detail oriented perspective, and the interconnectedness of things. I think it helped me to see the importance of both individualism and how individuals collaborate and influence each other in various ways. I consider concepts like Self determination theory to be included in this. Also much better then the cynicism of the self help book, "How to Make Friends and Influence People".

Exposure Therapy has worked for me some, but also helped me recognize that some therapists are full of it when they say they know how to help people with trauma. She did not prepare me, instead just encourage me to go for it all alone, and we both learned quickly just how unqualified she really was as she was easily overwhelmed and ill equipped to help me afterwards when I needed it the most and in the end trauma triggered me instead, which was the beginning of the end of our sessions together. I got a weighed blanket last month, which is also exposing me to some trauma issues and perhaps slowly building some tolerance and calming my nervous system as I sleep.

There is an element of exploration going on for me to figure out what the right blend of approaches is right for me. I suspect elements of relationship counseling might also be good for me as the only therapist I had where I left feeling better then when I started also had her own private practice where she specializes in helped couples with their problems, and I think she used her experience in that with me.

I also need to figure what branch or branches of psychology cover attunement as that seems like something I am missing out on as it seems an important part of healthy child development, healthy relationship development, healthy sense of self, and is something that is effected by abuse and trauma, but I don't understand what it is, just that it is somehow important. One therapist who saw me for a year for PTSD tried various body based therapist, and all of them involved attunement in one way or another. I think she may not have understood the difference between PTSD and CPTSD though.

Well I guess that's enough examples from me. Hope they help.

nomnombubbles

3.3y

Thanks for the long and informative response. Gives me a lot to think about for the future and my recovery.

preparedtoB

3.3y

I started with Gestalt (I like it, but not trauma focussed enough), then EMDR (too powerful for my CPTSD/dissociation), dabbled with the idea of psychodynamic attachment therapy (too serious and detached in style for me), but have now settled on NARM developmental trauma therapy with integrated Somatic Experiencing and for me right now, it’s the perfect combination.

I’ve only had three sessions so far and have made huge leaps in my capacity for self-compassion and physical relaxation. I feel more ‘me’ than I have done in a long time. I’d really recommend NARM for CPTSD.

Diligent_Skirt_5618

3.2y

I've tried many therapeutic approaches over the past 30 years. Group therapy taught me I was not alone and removed some of the stigma and isolation. I had some limited luck with EMDR although the therapist I saw thought she could cure years of childhood trauma in 2 sessions. I spent 7 years in relational therapy, in which I experienced what it might have felt like having a loving caring presence as a child. I was able to remember and hold in my mind the major traumatic events that had been held in painful snapshots before this. That therapist taught me I was lovable and likable. Then I spent 3 years in CBT with a renowned therapist. This was also somewhat helpful. However it served to convince me there were all my problems were due to my dysfunctional thinking until one day my spouse told me it was over and kicked me out. I should have listened to my gut that something was seriously wrong between us and gotten help before it was too late. Major retraumatization ensued and a loss of faith in the oversimplification of CBT worksheets.

On to Internal Family Systems (IFS). In IFS I finally got enough space between my Self and the parts of me that held trauma in my mind and body. I also worked with IFS therapists specializing in food issues and in movement based experiential body work. I've been with my primary IFS therapist for 3 years. She has helped me to be able to deal with beliefs and emotions related to long passed situations. I've learned techniques that allow me to address issues on my own as they come up in my relationships. Under her guidance I have FINALLY made major progress in being able to heal my relationship with myself. I don't feel so bat s**t crazy and I can trust the wisdom that has always been inside but not accessible.

My best advice is to not give up ever. Do not stop fighting for the calm, loving and connected life that is your birthright. If you keep looking you will find what heals you and let go of what does not. If there was one therapy that helped everyone there would be only that one approach.

Puzzlesoph

3.3y

I started with Gestalt and have been doing this therapy for three years. I also tried CBT at the university for two months. But right now, as I took off my psychological defense mechanism, I began to feel the pain in my body caused by early trauma and decided to try something new. The pain is too strong and disturbing.

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