The Failure(s) of Therapy - What needs to change and why?

Is there any way that we can help support YOU today HD? Would you like to vent about some of the other struggles you are dealing with? Sharing things on this forum has helped me, maybe it's mostly putting things into words, but it does help me to know that sometimes, maybe another person may be reading and I don't feel so all alone.

It's very important that you hold the damage therapy has done to you to a minimum, if you can. FIRST, for yourself, of course. Like they say on the airplanes, FIRST put the oxygen mask on yourself, then on the person/child you need to help.

Are you still seeing a therapist? Do you have any other sources of emotional support? For so many of us who end up in therapy, with C-PTSD symptoms or something similar -- we didn't, and don't, have very supportive family and that can lead to difficulties finding other supportive people in real life, too. A vicious circle. This forum isn't the same as real life, but it definitely has been a help and social support for me. I may not have any answers, but I can listen/read.

I know it's quite a struggle HD. Do you feel you have grown from this at all ? Can't remember where I read it , but someone talked about finding gold nuggets , but you have to dig through and work through a lot of crap to find them. Like diamonds , they form from ordinary carbon , but put under immense pressure for long periods to become something beautiful.. And that you still have it in your heart to want to support others tells me HD , that you are one of those diamonds and a beautiful person.

Speaking of deaths from therapy, here are some articles (TRIGGER WARNING) that underscore how deaths can occur as the result of attachment-based re-birthing therapy. Thankfully, most of these practices have been banned:

Victims of Attachment Therapy

Attachment Therapy on Trial: The Torture and Death of Candace Newmaker

Rebirthing therapy banned after girl died in 70 minute struggle

CHILD'S DEATH DURING TREATMENT CASTS DOUBT ON NEW AGE THERAPY - Chicago Tribune

Controversial therapy that killed | The Guardian | guardian.co.uk

https://allthatsinteresting.com/candace-newmaker

Awe, ((((HD)))) ((((safe hugs))))

If your work involves trauma studies, then you need to take a bunch of breaks and find support to help you through your coursework. Sometimes we empathize with those we are speaking with and then we feel their pain. If all we do all day long is absorb and empathize with so many people's pain, we're bound to feel some sort of vicarious trauma ourselves. You can get treatment for that, too.

But, ironically, the whole purpose of your thread here is to explain how scary treatment is. So, (not to be funny here, but it is quite ironic), most of our support will be for you to find treatment for dealing with reports about bad therapy (how sad is that?!).

There are alternatives. For one, social support can help you get your mind off of things for a while. Music playing in the background may help you feel more distracted from the work that you're doing in school. Learning from mentors or professors on how to disengage from absorbing other people's pain while still empathizing (imagine the other person in their own shoes instead of you in their shoes, for instance). If you must, avoid empathy and remain stoic, which, ironically, is one of the main complaints of therapy. Sadly, I think this is why many therapists become stoic over time, or they remain consistently stoic.

What about studies to increase our threshold for secondary trauma? For that matter, how about tools to increase our threshold for trauma in general? I don't know.

When I'm feeling overwhelmed with repetitive stuff I just don't want to hear anymore, I find something else to do like listen to an upbeat song and go out. You deserve a break to enjoy life, no matter how much you empathize with others who don't enjoy what you do. That comparison is not healthy, and you need not feel guilty. There's room for advocacy later. For now, do what you need to do to take care of you!

(((safe hugs))) Be well.

OMG ! It's like something cultish.

@Out There

(((hugs)))

After reading these articles and then reading your comment, I think you're right. It sounds like it. Scary! Sad!

Psychiatric & Mental Health Rape Reporter | Up to 25% of psychiatrists & psychologists use their patients for sex

This is taken from the website link above

Just makes me sick to my stomach... stats are far worse than we'll ever know.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5324545

Doctors tortured patients at Ontario mental-health centre, judge rules - The Globe and Mail

The top link has a lengthy catalogue of accused perpetrators.

Many more out there...

This is so sad.

I can see how upsetting this would be to read.

Awe, HD. I am speechless. I hope you are ok.

Thank you for posting more links! This industry needs a kick in the butt. Please keep digging and sharing links.

Just what my thinking is that they need a kick in the butt. I can see in the long term , that people will no longer engage in therapy because they see how dangerous it can be. If the profession doesn't do anything about this , then at some point they will no longer be a profession. I will never trust a therapist again , and I find that really sad , because in the past I have been quite a therapy fan , and it has helped me a great deal.