Structured Therapy??

[NotAChevy]

With this being a new year, and with me trying to better myself by realizing the ways of the past don’t work, I have started to look at all the aspects/ways I’ve done things before, evaluate them, and make changes as needed. So far, I have restructured a large part if my life, and so I started thinking about my therapy sessions.

I'd like to start by saying there’s absolutely nothing wrong with my sessions; actually, I am 1000% better because of my sessions, and am closer to achieving many of my goals because of my therapist putting up with me over the last 2+ years.

But, my mind starting thinking. “what if I could learn more from my sessions? What can I learn from my therapist still? What are some areas that I still see weaknesses or failures?” This brought me back to my study of CBT and how can I implement that into my life better. So, we, my therapist and I, are creating an outline we’ll be using- go through my usual rants about how crappy my bosses are (I need to rant sometimes), go over the homework the therapist gives me, go over a chapter in the book we’re using, go over anything we need to add to the chapter, and get homework for the next session.

So, I ask of you, are your sessions very structures like this, or are they very free-flowing like mine have been to this point?

[JumpingSpider]

My sessions never seem to get past the rant. Which I hate. Because that's not what I want to talk about. I want to address chronic harmful repeated behaviors and discuss strategies for how to manage them. The prompts all seem to be asking about my feelings and then giving me space to have those feelings and justifying those feelings. Which is what triggers the rants and takes up the damn session. With no resolution. I always leave a session so upset and exhausted the rest of the day is a loss. Like complaining about other people is a way I avoid addressing real issues and in that regard it's like therapy just enables me to ignore my real issues.

I suggest workbooks and I've even bought and shared some. But I think the therapist are just overworked and forget and default to the prompts about feelings.

I always wonder I don't think I need cognitive behavioral therapy. I need like vocational therapy for daily life challenges 😂

[NotAChevy in reply to JumpingSpider]

When I meet with my therapist next week, we’re going to start a workbook and I'm trying to create a little bit of a schedule so I don't spend all my time ranting abt the idiots at work. We’ll see how it goes, but I'm def looking forward to it.

[BlueTrails]

Hi! I’m so glad that you’ve found a therapist that has been so helpful for you! I think therapists are a wonderful and important part of the support team for a person with ADHD. I get frustrated sometimes in therapy by needing to be the one to come up with what I need to work on and to provide the structure of the conversation too. And I love my therapist and she has been an incredible part of my healing. That said, what you described with homework and goals sounds more like coaching to me. Some therapists are great at shifting into that forward looking, goal oriented type of conversation but it is a different kind of conversation that coaches specialize in. As an ADHD coach, I love to work with people who’s healing therapeutic journey has opened them up to being able to move forward, see what is possible for their lives and get coaching support. Best wishes as you find the people to support your thriving!