How old were you when you first started therapy? and why?

I was 16. I was admitted to a CAMHS eating disorder unit in the UK (one of the priory wards). I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and a number of other things. There were mandatory groups, like CBT and DBT, and I saw a therapist individually every week, and I saw a family therapist too once or twice but it didn't work out as I didn't really had any parents or family around.

I went straight inpatient as my condition was really bad and was never with community CAMHS before I got admitted. But I did see them when I was discharged and started with another therapist. It was a lot of back and forth in outpatient and inpatient. Some people left, and I got assigned to someone new.

Anyway CAMHS was way better than adult services. When I got referred to adults when I was 18, there was hardly any support and I went downhill very quickly. I got sectioned again, I saw a trainee psychologist when I was in hospital, and another psychiatrist who specialised in psychotherapy, but again there was noting when I was discharged.

Then I started seeing someone private. I am forever grateful for my current T who I have worked with the last couple of years.

I was around 16. My teachers were worried about me and sent me to my guidance counselor who I though was completely daft but kind. She talked me into seeing a friend of hers that was a therapist. She sent me to her because that T was willing to work with a minor without parental concent and at a significantly reduced fee. She was very kind and I found we went to the same church (she was in the choir and I taught Sunday school so our paths never really crossed). Anyway... she was not a good T for me. We tried to work together for 4 years but it just kept getting worse so I found another T... who ghosted me after the second session (she had underestimated my trauma history and couldn’t deal with what I had disclosed)... so I asked 1st T for a referral and got on a waiting list. Meanwhile I worked with a student who was aweful! Then onto the one who I was referred to. T4 was all CBT and only worked with trauma. She helped get my symptoms controlled but said I wouldn’t ever heal any more than that... fast forward 20 years and 5+ more T’s and now I am with someone that is very good with me and completely different than my past experiences.

First time that didn't go anywhere at all cuz the guy was a jerk and I walked out of the first session, I was around 20 I guess and had begun exploring my sexuality (I was a late bloomer, and my parents found out I had been dating a woman and lost their ever-lovin' minds over it and demanded I go, i had not yet moved out of their house as I was still in college at the time). that was a LONG time ago as I'm almost 58 now and I have seen 2 other t's since.

17 I think. I was having a lot of issues going on at the time. Saw her for three years. Then saw another T for 10 years. Been seeing current T for a year and a half. And Pastor T at the same time for about 9 months or so. 8 months maybe.

I started seeing a counsellor through my school when I was 17-18 years old. Then I started seeing a counsellor through my work 2009-2010 aged 24. Then I started attending my local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) 2010 aged 25 and am currently still under them. I started seeing a private therapist 2 years ago

I've basically been through three rounds of therapy.

1st: In college, probably age 20-22ish. Depression - initial personal recognition of my abuse
2nd: Around age 30 for about 2 years or so. Return to dealing with my history - PTSD issues had become problematic.
Last: The decade of my 40's. Went initially for an objective set of eyes on what I realized was a chronic problem with depression and PTSD issues that I wasn't managing fully on my own. Was fully resolved to walk through whatever fire it was going to take to get past my past. It took a decade of work (with complications in the middle of family crises and deaths unrelated to my history), but I MADE IT!

I've been out of therapy for 8 years now and have maintained a high level of stability. I'm in my late 50s now.

1 time in college, age 18, was in love but my feelings turned for my bf, my period wouldn’t stop, I wasn’t sure what I was doing in my course of study, had no guidance, no direction. The school therapist instead focused on my history and when I revealed my father’s death, he focused only on that. I hysterically cried. Then never saw him again for therapy, felt embarrassed, gyn put me on the pill, I left school.

Next time I was around 38, went for couples counseling. We didn’t like her. Nothing got solved. Similar feelings of having turned off to my husband. We never solved this or worked it out.

Many different professionals over the years, no good solutions.

The first time about 19 or so. I was in college and childhood memories resurfaced. I attended for a few months and stopped. The college I attended had a contract with her to see students at the schools expense. The school decided to no l ok nger prove the service and she she didnt take my insurance.

About 15 years later and so much of my life seemed to be crashing around me so I restarted therapy. My PCP knew I was in a fragile state emotionally and sent me to the one person she trusted to work with me. I saw her for ten years before her sudden passing. 10 months before her passing we agreed that I should see somebody for EMDR so for 10 months I had 2 Ts. I now see the EMDR T full time ; in July I will have worked with her for 3 years.

I was 26-27 I thought I was losing my mind but he said it wasn't me, it was my husband. I developed PTSD from abuse from my sociopathic husband.

I think I was about 5 or 6 the first time I saw one. I don't know what kind he was though. I've seen quite a few different ones and types since then (I'm 33) but nothing helped until I met current T 4 years ago.

I was 15.



I saw a therapist off and on throughout high school and early adulthood until 21 or so when I moved to a different state with my then boyfriend, now husband. As an adult I was 29 when I started with Number 1 in a line of now 6 therapists; I'm 32 currently.

I started therapy when I was 13 because of SH. I've had a total of 10 Ts in a span of 24 years.

I started speech therapy when I was 3. I started seeing the school guidance counselor every week when I was 6. And I started regular therapy when I was 12.

Not counting the therapists in hospitals, and if I’m counting the one I only saw twice, I’m on “lucky” 13.

I started at 14 after a mental breakdown. I got on anti-depressants and started seeing a therapist. I've seen them off and on since then, but gave up on individual therapy a few years ago. I do support groups now.

I had my first appointment at a college counseling center when I was 18 or 19. I finally went because I was struggling with anorexia / bingeing. It (I) was out of control.

I was 18 and it was for childhood trauma and depression.

I was 30, and was having difficulties functioning. I was later diagnosed with a mood disorder.

I was sixteen. I had been having some health problems and they did all sorts of tests and couldn't find anything wrong. I was at the doctor without my father for once and the doctor brought up setting a psychologist and i burst into tears so he made the referral. I was massively depressed, and my health problems were because I was living on like 800 calories a day but I didn't tell anyone that. Well, after they sent me to a psychiatrist and put me on antidepressants I started eating more normally but... joke was on me... my health problems continued and I eventually developed seizures on top of the depression. Anyway, I had several (about ten) inpatient psychiatric stays as a teenager.

I've been in therapy off and on for decades. It has helped me cope with my major depression or bipolar disorder (depending on who you listen to), and my borderline personality disorder as well. Right now I only go to therapy once a month.

45. I was in an abusive relationship, didn't realize it, and it was starting to wear on me. I've been seeing him for 3.5 years now and of course most of the other skeletons have fallen out of my closet during that time.