Psychotherapy Question – Mental Health Practitioners Please!?
Question by Tam C: Psychotherapy question – mental health practitioners please!?
I’ve been seeing a psychotherapist and have increasingly the feeling he, too, is ‘annoyed’ by me, not progressing perhaps? I asked him if I need to come back, and he says that if I feel I need to and benefit from the sessions that I should come back. But I don’t get a clear “yes” or “no” answer, which is really confusing me. Is it ok to directly ask him and would he then answer frankly?
Details: I have extreme difficulty communicating and relating to others, personality disorder was thrown in a bit, but I’m not sure about that… These intense interpersonal relationship problems with almost everybody that i interact with are the main reason why I’m seeing him. I’m a “recovering” alcoholic and was referred to him after put on anti-depressive medication. I had a lot of problems at work with co-workers – from which I got fired since – and had to go see EAP.
“Employee Assistance Program” referred me to a psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication, and she referred me to him for therapy. She also refered me to the psychiatrist that she works with and explained that she can’t help me (???). I’m not sure if I’m twisting it in my mind or if my perception are accurate, I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong?
This psychotherapist telling me frankly that he’s annoyed with me, would give me a better idea how to proceed.
if you’re a mental health practitioner how would you handle someone that you perceive as annoying, not progressing. I read that borderlines are supposedly ‘difficult’ and the most dreaded clients, would you tell that openly to your client (so they at least can try to understand what is going on?). And what can I do to improve, I really don’t understand why I’m irritating everybody so much!
Best answer:
Answer by elle
He’s trying to tell you that he doesn’t think you are motivated enough for therapy. Maybe you aren’t doing your homework (if he gives you any), maybe he feels you aren’t being open with him or that you aren’t sticking to the topic during session, etc. Being that you have interpersonal problems, these problems are probably coming out in your therapeutic relationship also. Usually, this is a really great opportunity for you to work through this with your therapist and it sounds like he is trying to model appropriate behavior by being up front and honest with you. You should stick with it and talk to your therapist about how you feel. This is standard in therapy, especially with borderline-type clients. You really have to be motivated and working hard during therapy to see benefits. Its sounds like he is trying to make sure you are ready to do that.
Psychiatric nurses are not trained to do therapy, so she was right in referring you.
Start by asking your therapist what you are doing that is irritating.
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