I am not a therapist but I do see a therapist who had PTSD due to a violent childhood. She has often told me that she couldn't do the work if she hadn't done her own healing first but I do believe there was some crossover (she was healing herself while helping others). And even though she has done her own healing work I know there were times she was triggered by something I said. Not terribly triggered but triggered none-the-less.

Have you worked with a therapist on healing the trauma that caused your PTSD?

You'd have to ask my previous therapist. He was pretty good. And made a point of saying th reason he wasn't available at certain times was because that's when *he* saw *his* therapist. So that's all I got, besides PTSD.

Healing blessings on you,

My therapist has done her work and if she gets triggered that is when now she has to go to a colleague or to her supervisor for supervision. She would also go back to therapy if none of the previous things help. You have to do your own work first or at the same time as lo g as its not through your clients or at there expense. It sounds like you are going to have to do some soul searching. Thanks for coming here and having the courage to ask. Good luck to you.

I am far more qualified as an engineer than as a therapist, but I have known quite a few therapists who were non-professional members of several support groups I have participated in. So far, none of those support groups were PTSD specific, but there aren't that many PTSD specific support groups around. The groups I knew these individuals through were Naranon and Alanon.

The ones whom I have heard on this didn't seem to believe their needs were all that different from the average working stiff. Every job has its unique challenges and the nature of our illness will increase those challenges in similar enough ways. Pulling up a chair and letting themselves be just another schmuck in the group was part of how they reached for that balance between symptom management and fulfilling lives. Seemed to be working for these folks.

Should you chose to accept the welcome, doug, we are willing to let you be one of us schmucks... We won't hold your pro-ways against you.

I went from providing therapy for people who've been through trauma to providing parent education. I enjoy working with groups and I can still be helping but not traumatizing myself.

I am no therapist, but my therapist told me she does not watch TV or movies that are full of violence. She says she cannot without thinking of patients and reliving their pain. She also told me that she does not read or listen to the news for the same reason.

What advise would you give a client suffering from the same thing? That is what you need to do? Depending on how bad it is you may have to take sometime off work. You may also have to find another line of work but I would not do that right now. Get back on your feet before you make that decision. You may also have to seek out professional help. Sorry I wish I could tell you how to get well, but there is no simple way to do that.

(((Hugs)))

while not a professional therapist, i have the credentials to work with individuals needing faith based counsel while going through their healing. i specialize in abuse victims. i myself have PTSD with complications from a very violent childhood that bled into more abuse during my adulthood unfortunately. those i work with are privy to the basic info of my background. when i need to step back i do. it helps them to see the value of knowing when to care for one's own needs is important.

ok i sounded like a Posh. you'll have to forgive her. Brigid always does. -Lilu