CBT issue.

[formidible]

I'm so far not happy with my CBT. I've only had one half-hour session which basically consisted of going through a leaflet about Sleep hygeine. I am starting a new job this week and so my therapist has re-arranged to next Friday morning, meaning another week missed. Even then I don't know whether I can make it then because it will be dependant on my new work shifts. When I asked more she said she can only do a Friday morning at the particular centre I visit, but I know for a fact that she also sees clients at other venues in the city. I've also been told that I only have 4 sessions left. That means only 5 sessions in total. She also never asked me how I was feeling or doing when she called. All in all it doesn't seem right, and I am thinking of changing to counselling.

[Hidden]

The first person I had CBT with was rubbish this present one seems a lot better. She had gone through my life history and all my present problems plus set me loads of homework in my first session. If you are already having negative thoughts about this particular one it may mean it will not work as well. What are your other options. Don't rush into anything but have a think about other options. Look after yourself

[formidible in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Holly. I am going to see what happens next week first. If I can't make the Friday appointment and let her know and she postpones it further for another week and/or is infelxible I will end it. Also if the second session is only a quick 30 mins or less I will again finish it. She has not asked me anything about past history but I did mention current issues. I have already begun to think about counseling but as you say I'm not going to rush to a decision. Thanks for your help.

[cheekipixi in reply to formidible]

Hi, please be very careful when not attending appointments, even though you have cancelled giving them plenty of notice. They log everything, missed appointments, did you ring? Did you just not show?I f you were late, how late were you? etc etc This information is used for future appointments, as to whether to discharge you or offer you services if you found you need them again in the future.

I know this as I was discharged in 2008, against my will, from my entire network of support:- Psychiatrist, Psychologist and CPN, the CPN I saw every 2-3 weeks at home for 3 yrs. I have been fighting ever since to access back all those services with no luck upto now.

I had a second opinion from a Psychiatrist last year and then another assessment by the same Psychiatrist this year. He was brilliant, went through my medical file with me, in there there was information about my attendance to possible CBT, they had put that I had not turned up a number of times. I explained to the Psychiatrist that I have much difficulty in ventureing out alone, I get the most hurrendous panic attacks, but no matter what, if I am unable to make the appointment for woteva reasons I have always informed them or i have had someone inform them on my behalf. He did believe this but only I think, because, it stated somewhere that I didnt have a diagnosis of anything in my file, 1 of the reasons for my discharge, well low and be hold, he showed me a letter with my diagnosis's IN MY FILE.

I would be straight to the point of why you're not happy with the service you're receiving but put it in writing and keep a copy for yourself, they will have to acknowledge your letter so will have to put it in your file.and more than 1 person will see it, and there you will have your proof.

Apparently this is a growing downfall of accessing services for mental health, whether it be for cutbacks or something else I don't know but what I do know is that it is unfair and discrimination.

I hope this helps and good luck with your help and your job.

-x-

[formidible]

I am aware of their "missed appointments" policy. I am always a punctual and an organised person. I called her immediately when I knew that I couldn't make this week's appointment. That is their policy. I don't think its me being unfair. Thanks for sharing the other points.

[elfmel]

Anxiety is a primitive brain/fight/flight response to unprocessed stress in our lives. Any therapy that focuses on the unprocessed stress will trigger more anxiety as it is activating the same part of the brain. To truly overcome this condition the part of the brain that produces the happy feel good chemicals needs to be activated. Solution focused therapy will focus on what you would like to achieve and how things will have changed when you have overcome the problem rather than focusing on the problem itself. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy will do this as well as moving the unprocessed negative thoughts into the intellectual part of the brain where they will either be transformed or let go of all together as they are no longer serving you. I wish you all the best.

[0704angela]

I suffer from Anxiety and Depression and am a full time carer for my husband. I did a six week course of CBT in April but I found it to be a bit of a farce... It is called Rapid Intervention here in Devon and the chap I had would only focus on one problem either Anxiety or depression - as I was staying in bed and felt that the depression was the worse I focused on that... but the stress of coping with the tasks given during the sessions and the work programme set on top of my caring duties caused my anxiety to go through the roof. He did not want to know anything about my past or my anxiety he did not appreciate anything that was connected to my caring all he was concerned about was teaching me the course from the book... I was glad to get the course over with... I realised that although the programme is good for getting you to focus and get you up out of the mire of bed, it did not resolve the problems that were getting you to stay there in the first place... for me I have now started face to face couselling sessions now with a life coach and psychologist and found that I have been harbouring problems from my childhood - learnt behaviour and response, self esteem issues and holding on to bereavement of the past and of the future.... although the sessions are only time limited I feel that this is the best thing for me. The CBT is only good if you understand that it is a programme to work too and not counselling , I even had to explain this to my GP who was sending people to the programme as she herself thought it was couselling! They have sent me a feedback form and I have fed this back to them... Good luck - the programme does work but you need to use it in conjunction with other forms of help ie. psychology, relaxation and medication. Best Wishes in your new job.

[formidible in reply to 0704angela]

Thanks Angela. My main concern is that I have to wait another week before session two, and cannot guarantee my availability on Fridays in future as I have started a new job which involves a shift rota. If she can't be more flexible I will have to stop anyway. I have not seen or been recommended any books, only a copied sheet about sleep hygeine which we went through in 20 mins. The rest of the time was filling in feedback forms again about how I was feeling in the past week. The entire session was no more than 30 mins. I don't know whether to book some counselling sessions now or wait but I do feel I need more support than I'm getting as I am having mood swings and have been feeling more depressed. Also I find that the only thing that calms me down sometimes is a Zopiclone tablet before bed and these do work but I have my own stock of these as my GP has a policy of not prescribing them. I only take it when I need to. I have started doing meditation short sessions at home in the evenings and went to my first meditation taster session this week atmy local Buddhist Centre which I really enjoyed and will go to more in future. The meditation does help but hard to stick to.

[0704angela in reply to formidible]

I think it sounds as though you need more support help than the CBT is giving you... I would try to explain to whoever set up the CBT for you that you do not feel it is giving what you require. Try to find an alternative... counselling is probably the more suitable treatment for you. You need to contact your mental health support worker in your area and see if they have any contacts for you.

The MIND helpline on the web will put you in touch with the relavant contacts... the work programme that I used is called.

"A Recovery programme for Depression" by Rethink Mental Illness by Karina Lovell and David Richards... it is a workbook and they also do one for Anxiety based problems... You can probably get a copy at rethink.org email:[e-mail] or phone: [phone] They will be able to help you more than I can... the book is good but your CBT counsellor is supposed to support you through the book... sounds as though you are getting no-where with your one. It might be work a try this way.

Hypnotherapy is also a good form of relaxation and this is also good to incorporate in you day... if you can get hold of a anxiety focused tape and do it in your lunchhour for say 15 minutes you can then maintain your calmness and lessen you anxiety during your working day and also repeat just before you go to bed... this may help with your new job.

I hope this helps.

[formidible in reply to 0704angela]

Thanks a lot Angela. I will follow up your recommendations and try and feed back later when I've hopefully got things sorted a bit more.Thanks again.