Looking after ourselves
Reading the title of your post, for some reason I wanted to burst out into song...
"What is therapy?
Baby don't hurt me.
Don't hurt me, no more..."
(oddly appropriate, as a matter of fact)
For me, true therapy is about problem solving; and in cases where the problem can't possibly (or practically) be solved outright, it's about solving the problem to the greatest degree reasonably possible.
As you say, the modern approach of simply applying distraction - of treating the symptom, not the disease - is woefully inadequate. Even with the best job of distraction, you just wind up right back in the same situation; a day older and wearier.
I think I've become pretty darn good at distracting myself from all the misery people try to hurl at us. But nothing ever gets any better because there's no actual help to solve my problems. That's what 'therapy' really ought to be - fixing the problems.
Hugs @Anastasia
It sounds like a reasonable definition in a reasonable world, but what if the situation is far from reasonable?
My son went to his "therapist" today and came back "discombobulated" his word, but respectful. No dinner and in his room early.
Sorry about your dreadful headspace. Good you have a plan to find a neutral therapist for you.
I like the idea of doing homework, and would have been keen to do it over the last 10 years, but none of my "therapists" ever gave me any. I began researching online when I had access and time, and discovered many things along with my earlier quals etc. First homework was last year, from an OT when I was on NDIS. She then said I seemed happy to do homework, would never go through it with me, which meant that 10 months later, I finally found a Gp and a supt wkr to look at it. In a way, she was too young (27) to really understand but she at least brought a few little tools to the table. Not a lot considering the cost of an OT, but at least something.
My last visit to son's therapist was totally retraumatising. This therapist is supposed to be for my family insitutional child sex abuse traumas going back 2 generations, but the amount of time allocated, was far too little. The old stitch in time saves nine ... applies ....
When you are ready I am happy to hear about positive therapy experiences, I gave a psychologist the sack and reported her for abuse last year in April. So now I am alittle on my high horse about THEM rorting the system. I dont want to waste tax dollars on NOT HELPING SERVICES. I said to another that I was getting annoyed with the Australian Psychological Association for overcharging and false pretences, and she gave me first handout in 3 years, about "I statements" when I had been discussing them with another parent and thinking and applying them for 30 years! eye roll ... Good Lord ... I probably should wind up with her next month, she does not have anything to give me.
My spt wkr came up with a concept I had not heard of from cultural studies in sociology ... "ascribed status", which applied to my circumstances in a lot of ways. I thanked him and have told him a few times he is underpaid, for his quals and work. He has an MA doing a Phd. He is good value and for the first time in my life I am seeing someone every week. So things can be discussed in a timely fashion.
