Therapist recommendations for laziness/procrastionation in greater LA area

October 1, 2012 9:02 PM

Therapist recommendations in Orange County / South LA. Specifically for procrastination and laziness issues.

I'm nearly very successful, but I can't seem to work quite hard enough. Let me be clear. I'm not someone who's working 50 hours a week, and needs to up it to 100 hours. I have months where I'll barely work 20 decent hours in the whole month. I'm fantastic at the last minute multi-hour last minute cram, but that's no way to live. I'm talented and good at what I do. Better than a lot of people who work harder than I do. I'm productive enough in those 20 hours to keep an apartment rented, my own business running, my utilities paid, and my life chugging along.

I know if I could just get myself working regular, full time 40 hours a week I'd be much, much more successful. But at age 40 I haven't been able to manage that. And it's not that I'm enjoying the time I spend lazing around either. I mostly sit around, surf the internet, read, and feel bad that I'm not working like I feel I should.

Maybe it's depression, but I don't think so. I work out regularly. Have no trouble sleeping or getting out of bed. I have an ok social life and so on. I really think it's procrastination and a lack of "work ethic"/laziness. And I'm sick of it. I've read books like the "Now Habit", and while interesting haven't gotten me where I want to be.

But when I think about where I could be in my life if I consistently worked a 40 hour week I'm disgusted with myself. I want to change, but can't quite get there. (In the past, with a boss looking over my shoulder I have no problem working 40+ hours at a high level, but can't manage it myself. So I know it's something that I can do.)

What I'm looking for is a reasonably priced therapist in the Orange County/South LA area (well, I'll drive farther for someone fantastic) who can help me get to the point where I'm self motivated enough to work a regular 40 hour week without the threat of a boss looming over me, tracking my hours, and saying I may get fired. I won't get fired. I work for myself. My clients love me because I get them great results. Other people in my field recommend me to people they can't help. I'm good at what I do.

But I know I'm wasting my prime earning years and I need to make bank now so I can retire someday. And, mostly, I just want to be better. I know I can be, but I can't quite get there.

So please, let me know who's helped you. I'm wary of the effectiveness of therapists, I see lots of bad/useless ones in my work, so I may not be the best patient. But I do want to change.

I'm approach agnostic. CBT. Fine, if it does the job. Freudian psychoanalysis. The same. I just want something that works, someone who's competent and effective.

Thanks in advance.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

No recommendation in your area, sorry, I know that's what you're asking for. And I hope this isn't seen as a derail. But I just wanted to suggest that as you try out therapists that you be at least a little open to the possibility of depression and/or anxiety. So-called "laziness" is more of a symptom than a condition, I think. Good luck.
posted by univac at 10:46 PM on October 1, 2012

Any chance you could ask a mod to post a throwaway email? I have someone who might be a good fit but I'd rather not say it publicly.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:55 PM on October 1, 2012

From the OP:

[e-mail]

posted by taz at 11:16 PM on October 1, 2012

Not quite what you asked for, but note that even if you can't find a fantastic therapist in your area and price range, you can still get effective results from a moderately competent therapist PLUS a good workbook. (If necessary, you can even buy your therapist their own manual. Don't just try to do the exercises on your own, though -- you definitely want that outside structure and support while you're acquiring new skills & habits.)

I can't say whether you have ADD/ADHD, but I'm pretty sure 'laziness' is not a psychiatric diagnosis, nor even something therapists necessarily believe exists. In the past I've used a (different) workbook designed for a (different) condition I do not have, and it was nonetheless very effective in giving me the tools I needed at the time. It sounds like the tools you need right now are the tools designed for ADD (which I do have). If you don't like that book, here's another one -- both are recommended by professionals I trust, who were themselves recommended to me by other professionals.
posted by feral_goldfish at 7:24 AM on October 2, 2012