I turned down therapy even when i was offered it for free.Found help elsewhere.Guess it helps some people though.Im glad its helping you.x

for me::::
i didnt have that much therapy, i found it to stressful, so i just bummble along with my life, and maybe some day i will get it right..

Has anyone read a book called the four arguments. A friend of mine got it for me last xmas. I haven't read it yet. I need to she said it h elped her alot.

Well, I've had general person-centred counselling - not for me, the therapists were too passive. When I trained as a psychologist I saw a TA (transactional analysis) therapist - this was good, as I was able to separate the negative parental archetypes that berate me in my mind. I would love to be able to have Jungian analysis - to fully understand myself, my dreams, my motivations, etc. I'm not in therapy at the moment, as I find it hard to find a really good therapist and I can't afford it

Therapy I havent done any. Tried counseling a few times. I get easily frustrated. I hate that fact that someone is listening and getting paid for it. An hour a week just dont cut it for me. I always feel I should write my life story let them read it and go f rom there. I hate the awkward silent moments in counseling. SOmetimes all i do is cry I can't even talk. So I gave up.

I had some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and found it useful while I was going through it, but when it stopped (7 sessions) I found I quickly went backwards. I think I needed simple talking therapy as well, with someone trained to bring feelings and emotions to the fore as on the 2 occasions things flooded out I felt so much better afterwards, but it was completely accidental. Unfortunately this isn't available on the NHS in the UK and I simply can't afford it myself.

I had several therapists and didn't respond well to them, for me they were either too much like my mother or too passive and soppy. The last psychologist I had was excellent. he is known for his intense therapy style and is quite blunt but that's a style that suited me as I prefer things upfront and honest. He was a great teacher.

I wonder for the most part whether a lot of failed therapy is due to either the person not really ready for it and not being able to connect with the therapist.

Keen to hear your thoughts

I have not tried therapy yet. I am somewhat shy and find it difficult to start talking to strangers. Like jloz39, I thought I should write a book about my miserable life because all I do is cry about it. I cry so much my boyfriend says it's why I'm losing water weight! I am writing journals now on this site so I can take share them with a therapist when I finally get the courage to see one. I'd also like to know what luck others have had with therapy.

Yeah I know what you mean. My friends used to tease me by telling me to write a book and call it "Days of our lives starring ***" and that I'd make a mint.

I figured why go back into the past when I can look forward instead and do something else.

Melasande I think you are right, ppl may not be ready, or not able to connect with the therapist. The other reason may be that the therapist is not very good. I suffer with transferential feelings - therapist/mum too, which always makes therapy hard, but when used properly, it can provide some insighful resolution.

rubyblue....I think I know what transference is (well...I've heard about it at least) but I'd be keen to hear more about it if you have the time and patience to explain it some more

I live in a small town so there's not much to offer me here. What is going on is capitalized by my ex-asshole and his new bitch. Their in all the AA groups. I tried alanon once but felt as if them people were connected to them 2. They also go to the local counseling center. Since they cause most of my anxiety I can't really go. I could use some NA right now. But won't go.

That's a bummer :( What's NA?

I've had 3 types of therapy, but I don't know what they are called, just recognized the methods and ideas were different.

The 1st type was rehashing the past with the idea that depression would vanish once I came to terms with things that happened in early childhood on up. It was very beneficial... definately the most hardest type of therapy as rehashing the past makes you almost relive it. Cycle up, wha la... all better?
Nope. Time passes, cycle down.

The 2nd type of therapy was deep philosophical discussions that had me wondering what the price of beans in Nebraska had to do with my depression. It slowly came together over a couple years... this type of therapy is based on the idea of helping the depressed person build self esteem and find a sense of purpose for their life. Yes, this was also very beneficial. Cycle up and wha laa, all better.

For awhile. Cycled down again to the point I had all my ducks lined up in a row and my gun was talking to me. (in other words, my house was cleaned and prepped for other people to clear it out, can't off myself if anything is in my house I don't want mom/kid to read or find... even tossed out Bob, LOL) The day before my do-it day, I picked up the phone book looking for a shrink close to my house... I didn't want to drive to the other side of town to go back to the old shrink, didn't want him to know all that therapy failed, etc. The first number I called, the doc answered the phone - not a receptionist. I told him exactly what was going down and he set me up with an appt for the very next morning.

That was therapy type 3... and what a difference it made! I told him I didn't have time. I don't want to rehash the past or discuss philosophy, just because I'm fat does not mean I suffer from low self esteem. Just teach HOW to live with this shit cause none of that therapy made it go away and stay away... and that is exactly what he did. First he explained what was wrong with me... about chemical imbalances, compaired it to diabetes... its an ailment requiring both medication and lifestyle changes. At first I went every 2 weeks then once a month, then checking in once every 3 months and now I'm on call if I need to come in. Two things I really like about this psychologist... not once have I ever ran into another client at his office. He schedualed to avoid people waiting, and if someone was there in the waiting room when my time was up, he had me leave via a back door. The 2nd thing is he understands artists, that odd quirks come with the territory.

Anyway, sorry for writing a book, but that is my experience with therapy. All 3 types helped me... but learning how to live with this ailment of depression was the best for me.