Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with therapist

CBT headshrinkers in Pittsburgh

woolly — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:01:53 -0800

Can you offer any recommendations for CBT-centered therapists in and around the Pittsburgh area, ideally east end? I'm looking for a CBT psychologist to provide therapy in conjunction with meds. I have Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD and symptoms of PTSD. I am looking to learn CBT skills to help me cope with these issues that stick their dirty hands into my life and soil everything that makes it good and fun and worth it.

So far in therapy I have tried EMDR (didn't seem to do the trick for me), as well as regular talk therapy - the kind that felt like not much was getting done aside from chit-chat type conversation about day-to-day occurrences in my life, which became frustrating when I didn't want to fork over the co-pays for casual conversation.

I take Effexor 150mg once daily, and my psychiatrist expects to potentially increase the dose sometime soon if my symptoms do not improve even more. I also have Ativan .5mg on hand for dire situations and/or panic attacks.

I have a tendency to put off finding a therapist because of the previous experiences not working out, and because it's all a bit weird and awkward for me, but I really need to get this accomplished as my life has been threatened by these things in recent history, I'm a lifelong self-injurer with two suicide attempts in my past.

My primary issue in life is currently my anxiety and a recent spike has me motivated to find a good, solid therapist who can help me learn CBT. Pittsburgh area, preferably east side. I have widely accepted insurance. Suggestions? Thanks.

How best to help people, "officially", with no college.

softlord — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:03:22 -0800

So after spending a few years unemployed, and starting my own business, I'm exploring my options for creating my next chapter. Help me figure out a path. ObDifficulty: I have no undergrad degree. One of the things that I'm generally known to be good at (and that excites me) is helping people delve into their lives, their habits and assumptions and what makes them tick (it is the cornerstone of my freelance business, which I won't link to here but is available from my profile). I've always been the shoulder-to-cry-on, the advice giver, the person who helps with new perspective. This is especially true when it comes to relationship and mindfulness issues.

A quick glance at my MeFi profile will find many response to relationship stuff. This is not to say that "i always give great advice and i'm always right", but that it is something that I have a knack for in my life and seems to energize me.

So now I'm maybe interested in turning it into something I can get paid to do.

I know there are many different paths when it comes to human behavior and working with clients and such. LCSW, Psychology, Psychiatry, Life Coach, and I'm trying to figure out what would be a useful path for me.

The challenge is, I never went to college, and it seems like many licensing programs assume or require an undergraduate education. If possible i'd like to avoid spending the next 8 years in school in order to practice a more well-informed and well-educated version of what I'm doing now for free (or getting paid to do).

So I guess my question is, what are my options, especially as someone without an undergraduate education, to be able to start to move into this field. I'm not particularly interested in the medical aspects (though neuroplasticity and how the brain works are also areas that fascinate me).

Obviously, there are more snowflakey details that I'm happy to add downthread or via MeMail. I'm in Atlanta if that makes a difference.

Looking for a specific NYC therapist recommendation

prefpara — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:01:28 -0800

I am trying to find mental health help (talk therapy as a start) for my friend, urgently. My friend has the following limitations, in order of importance:

1. sees patients on Saturdays (this is a must)
2. is on or convenient to the UWS (this is very beneficial but not a dealbreaker)
3. is good (this is hard to control for but... you know... obviously highly desirable)
4. has any sort of expertise in, or experience with, patients dealing with chronic illness

I see a referral to a psychiatrist as likely in the future, but at present my friend has only agreed to see a talk therapist, so I'm focused on that presently attainable goal.

I am currently really swamped at work, very stressed, and feel freaked out by the possibility that I won't find someone for my friend to see this Saturday. I would really appreciate any specific names that you can suggest.

Working as a massage therapist in Vermont

Fermin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:29:30 -0800

Hi! I´m planning to move from Uruguay to the US around the end of the year. This will probably be the preface of many questions to come (as these two countries couldn´t be any more different). I still have to decide exactly where in the US to live, so please help me decide. My reason to move is to be able to participate in more of a series of workshops that happen a lot in NYC, Philly, Toronto, and Montreal, so I want to be close to those cities (closer to Montreal, where there is a special person I want to visit and be visited by often). In my situation it´s harder to get a working permit for Canada, so my most realistic choices are in the US. I´ve been reading and googling, and Vermont sounds (in general) like my type of place.

Being months away I´m trying to plan as much as I can, and to figure out some minimum savings to take with me to settle there, so I want to get an idea of the cost of living. I´ve been looking at house rentals on Craiglist and see some great differences in the prices. From that point of view it would be more convenient not to rent in Burlington, but sparser population can make it harder for me to get a decent income.

I´m training as a circle dance instructor and a doula, but my main source of income right now is as a massage therapist. While I don´t discard the possibility of working for a spa or a hotel if I need to, I would rather work on my own (I normally take between an hour and a half and two hours per massage, I wouldn´t like to do 30 or 45 minutes massages), so I would depend a lot on the people that would be willing to drive to my place. So here comes my question to you Vermonters.

How far would you drive if someone recommended you a good massage therapist (or doctor, or lawyer, or any other professional whose services you may need)?

If I were to move to, let´s say, Middlesex, would it be realistic to expect people from Burlington to go there (after proper advertising and mouth to mouth, I know how to be known)? Or at least from Montpelier? What if it wasn´t in a town or city but out in the country?

And quite related to that, is there some zoning rule that would prevent me from having my practice at my home? And if there is, is it actually enforced? It´s not like I would bother my neighbours. I "may" want to put up a small sign outside.

Thanks a lot for any answers or advice you can share with me.

How (on earth) do you do therapy in NYC?

theflash — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:10:01 -0800

How do you handle mental health in NYC- insurance, out of pocket, other options? I just made a huge move to NYC, and now I'm trying to figure out how I can continue in therapy. I have a referral from my last therapist, but when this new person told me the out-of-network fee, I couldn't believe how high it was. More research indicates that a lot of therapists here don't take insurance and most people are paying out of pocket, with very low reimbursement rates. Even if I find someone in-network, my insurance (Aetna) will only cover a small amount that I assume is not the whole fee. A place with a formal sliding scale probably won't consider me in need since my gross income is high (though with loans, my expenses are also quite high and I can't spend $800/month on therapy).

So, MeFites: what do you do? How do you handle the insurance/out of pocket issue? (And if you have recs for someone in Manhattan or Brooklyn who focuses on relational therapy, I'm all ears.)

Therapists in Northern Virginia

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:03:15 -0800

Can someone recommend therapists for me, my wife, and a marriage counselor in Loudon County Virginia that takes Anthem BC/BS insurance? Long sordid details: my wife and I are having a great deal of trouble in our marriage. Infidelity by myself years ago, infidelity by her recently. When I discovered her affair I confronted her and we were in limbo for a few days. We already had a vacation to Florida scheduled and were responsible for transporting my mother and nephew down there, so didn't feel we could cancel. While in Florida I gave her an ultimatum of "stop talking to him and work on this with me, or lets just divorce". She agreed to stay and try to work on it with me. The next day I told her I was fearful of hurting myself. She took me to the hospital. Stayed a few days. I just got out and am flying back to Virginia tonight. The hospital has set me up with a place called "health works" and my first appointment is April 10th.

I'm not sure if they're going to have a therapist or if its just going to be a psychiatrist continuing my Zoloft script. Either way I need a psychologist/therapist of my own, one for my wife, and a marriage counselor.

Any recommendations?

Must take Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Throwaway email: novatherapy9@gmail.com

What do I need to know about physical therapy.

thecaddy — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:06:43 -0800

What sort of questions should I ask while looking for a physical therapist? So my shin splints haven't gone away, and I have been prescribed physical therapy by a sports doctor. I'm now looking for a therapist, and I would like to know if there are questions I should ask potential PTs beyond the obvious (such as are you in my network and how much do you cost).

Based on my Yelp reading, I definitely want to ask about the ratio between PT and patients during a regular day. What else should I be asking about / looking for?

BONUS: If you have recommendations for PTs in lower Manhattan, I'd love to hear about them.

Therapist for anxiety/depression in Inwood/Riverdale/lower Westchester?

The Elusive Architeuthis — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:53:45 -0800

Asking for a friend-- Can anyone recommend a therapist for anxiety/depression in Riverdale, Inwood, or nearby Westchester? No particular approach preferred, although approaches like CBT that have some literature supporting their efficacy would be better.

Fiction: Fatal encounters between therapist and patient

99percentfake — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:18:36 -0800

I am looking for any stories that include a fatal encounter between a therapist and his/her patient. It can be any form of fiction: books, movies, episodes from television series, short stories, etc.

It can be any form of death: suicide, homicide, accident, etc.

It can be either the therapist or patient (or both) who dies.

Example #1: Basic Instinct
Example #2: Sixth Sense
Example #3 (a stretch): Antichrist (they were married but "he" was a therapist)

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Can anyone recommend a therapist or accredited counsellor in Edinburgh?

cromagnon — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:58:45 -0800

Asking for a friend. Ideally I'd like to find a well-established mainstream psychotherapist with experience of both acute and long term treatment and support of adult patient with depression. CBT, integrative and/or psychodynamic modes, and with a positive view of integrating with NHS services. Ideally also with reduced rates for low incomes, but this isn't vital. I know about the COSCA list, but am trying to get a recommendation based on opinion or experience. Thanks in advance.

NYC therapist for problematic drinking.

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:03:44 -0800

Looking for an NYC therapist specializing in treating problematic drinking. It is for someone who is a very private person so 12-step/AA/etc. is not an option. The issue is infrequent binge drinking leading to behavior stressing an otherwise happy and healthy relationship. Anywhere in Brooklyn or Manhattan works. Looking specifically for a psychotherapist, not a psychiatrist. Insurance not an issue. Throwaway email: soothemythroat@gmail.com

Looking for a therapist in Los Angeles.

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 19:31:42 -0800

Can anyone suggest a therapist specializing in anxiety disorders in Los Angeles? I'm looking for a therapist in Los Angeles specializing in anxiety disorders, especially panic attacks, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Westside preferred but I would consider strongly recommended therapists in other parts of town. Throwaway email: askme.latherapist@yahoo.com. Thank you.

Therapists around the Pioneer Valley?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:01:52 -0800

I'm looking for a therapist in Western Masasachusetts. Hi. So I live in Pioneer Valley of Western Mass, just out of college at ~23. I've got ADHD and some depression and anxiety, and I'm finally looking for professional help. I've been slogging through all of the people on Psychology Today's therapist finder, but so far only one or two of them seem like a possible match for me, if that.

I'm a hardline rationalist, so I'm definitely leaning toward finding someone in the CBT area. A huge chunk of the people I've found online describe themselves in a New Agey/touchy-feely way, or work in BS modalities like psychoanalysis or hypnotherapy. Ideally, I'd like someone who's practical and even a little tough with me, but attentive to the subtleties of my thought process and where I'm going wrong.

I tend to fit in with the general psychographic of AskMe, so I thought I'd see if you guys could suggest someone. If you live in Western MA, who's your therapist? Are they good?

Here's my throwaway email for private replies: askmehopemefindatherapist@gmail.com.

Sex therapist on the SF peninsula

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:39:40 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a sex therapist on the SF Peninsula. I'm looking for recommendations for a sex therapist in the SF peninsula area. Specifically, we're an early-30s married hetero couple dealing with erectile dysfunction. We'd like to find someone who can help him work through his feelings about this as well as possibly therapize us as a couple to the extent it's helpful.

A few notes since I can't answer follow-ups as an anon:
- For anyone who doesn't want to post here for privacy reasons, feel free to email Sockmcpuppet650@gmail.com
- The gent in question has been to a doctor so we don't have a particularly need there. There is a medical component to the ED, but we think there's probably a mental component as well at this point because he gets so stressed about it. That's one of the things we'd like to work on.
- We're looking for traditional therapy and not interested in having someone watch us have sex or anything like that. I'm not even sure if that's a real thing, but if it is I'm sure we could find it in the Bay Area ;)

Thanks MeFites!

Therapy while traveling or in transit.

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:59:39 -0800

What are my options for therapy while I am traveling and in the midst of a move to a different part of the world, with a lot more travel on the horizon? I think it's time for me to go to therapy. After struggling with anxiety for most of my adult life and recently realizing that my anxiety is having a pretty big negative impact on my relationship with my SO it's pretty clear to me that I need some help dealing with things.

The issue is that I am bouncing around between locations at the moment. As I type this I am in a major city in North America and I will be here for the next week or so. I have access to my GP, constant access to the internet and some time to do research and figure things out. In a week or so when I move on I will be in a foreign country where I don't have a family doctor and my time/resources will be limited relative to where I am now. How do I get the help that I need?

I have tried working through a few different workbooks (Feeling Good among them) and I've also tried MoodGym and e-couch. None of these things worked well for me. I find talk therapy to be the most helpful. Talking with others really helps me work through my problems and having someone to ask questions and provide an opinion makes a big difference for me. I don't really know what the therapy situation is in my new home country but even if there are therapists available/accepting patients, I will be traveling a lot as part of my new position. I am afraid I am overlooking an option (like a more interactive version of MoodGym or something) and I don't really know where to find the help that I need.

Where can I go to find the help I need and what do you recommend given the circumstances?

Is therapy a good career choice these days?

sunrisecoffee — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:55:10 -0800

Is masters' level therapy a smart career choice right now? I'm a psychology nerd who wants nothing more than to be a therapist. I'm about as sure about wanting this as one can be about any career. However, I have reservations. Regardless of my passion for psych/therapy, is this a good field to be getting into these days? Recent articles, i.e., the New York Times "'What Brand is Your Shrink'" article, have me scared.

Is therapy really a dying art? While I would prefer to do deep psychodynamic therapy, I'd also be OK with CBT and the like, but I worry that even that might soon fall out of favor.

Is it worth it to apply to grad school and work towards eventualy becoming a therapist? Will I ever be able to pay off my loans? Will I ever have a chance to practice psychodynamic therapy?

Therapist in Asheville, NC?

annabellee — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:36:13 -0800

Help me find a psychotherapist in Asheville, NC. A dear friend has just moved to Asheville, NC and is looking for a good psychotherapist for talk therapy. She's not looking for a particular modality or degree, just a compassionate, smart person. She has mild anxiety and depression, just moved to the area and is looking for someone to see weekly. She knows no one in NC, so I said I'd ask for her. I'm sure she'd be delighted if the therapist took insurance or had a sliding scale, but all recommendations welcome.

What would it be like to get therapy from a Blue Devil? What is a Blue Devil?

Keter — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:40:25 -0800

TherapyFilter: For a friend--I am looking for a lovely therapist in the Durham, North Carolina area (and reasonably nearby regions as well). The therapist would preferably be more interpersonal or psychodynamically/psychoanalytically oriented versus cognitive-behavioral or purely supportive, be queer-friendly, and also have some experience treating anxiety disorders. Feel free to MeMail or e-mail me if you do not want to post publicly. Thanks, MetaFilter!

She's been so awesome!

bebrave! — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:11:50 -0800

Gift ideas please for my son's Physical Therapist! Son had sports-related ACL surgery last summer. PT has been meeting with us first weekly, then bi-weekly, since July. She is awesome and I want to get her a gift. Our appointments stop 11/17.
Short backstory: Most visits I have been able to bring something from my garden or kitchen to her. She seems to appreciate them while at the same time is a little "meh", essentially not knowing what to do with things to use (like cucumbers), and claiming "no kitchen knowledge" when given cookies/cake.
She has a spouse and child (girl) with one (boy) on the way.

I'd like to give her a gift for being an awesome PT. Is there a perfect PT gift? If not, help me suss whether a good idea to give a cookbook or the obvious baby gift card/diapers or what. I don't want to push the Martha Stewart thing, it just happened that I was bringing her stuff and she seemed a little interested in making things.

Specific ideas/links will help me most. Thanks in advance!

Menschy Seattle Therapist, please

ArgyleSockPuppet — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:28:42 -0800

Recommendations for a good (please note my definition of good) therapist in Seattle I know similar questions have been asked, but I don't feel like they are quite exactly what I am looking for.

I am looking for a personal recommendation (meaning, you or a close loved one has seen this therapist) for a therapist in Seattle who could help with the fallout of a very traumatic failed relationship. I am looking for, for lack of a better word, a mensch. I don't want to be plugged into someone's cognitive behavioral framework, or Freudian framework, or religious framework, or any framework--I want to converse with an open-minded, unconventional, empathic, genuinely good listener who will make me feel understood. I'm allergic to "practical problem solvers" who want to give homework or have ideas about "improving" my life or trying to manipulate me into feeling or behaving the way they want me to (or even the way I want me to!!). I don't want to be changed, fixed, manipulated, or acted upon in any manner. I want to be listened to, deeply, and understood. That is all. That would be enough.

Please no generic referrals to King County resources, or general web sites like apa--I can find those on my own, and have already looked through them for many hours as well as test-driven two therapists I found through these methods. One was utterly uninspiring and mundane and the other, though clearly knowledgeable and good at what he does, was too research- and practical-results-focused based for my tastes.

I'm poor, and cannot afford this, but I am going to do it anyway. So, money is (gulp) not an object. I just need the absolute best fit for me.

Thanks.

Help me find a therapist in NE Portland

nanook — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 08:10:49 -0800

I would like recommendations for a therapist -- preferably in NE Portland -- to help me work through my feelings about the recent death of my father, and related difficult family dynamics surrounding his death.

Open relationship friendly therapist in Vancouver, BC?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:04:50 -0800

Can you recommend a good therapist in Vancouver, BC with experience with open relationship/marriage and LGBT issues? I've seen a therapist along with my partner previously, but we both felt she didn't do particularly well with my partner's desire to have an open relationship. It's something we're actively experimenting with, but it is causing strain and friction on our marriage. I am not logically opposed to the idea at all, and see nothing wrong with non-monogamy, so it's something we just need to work through.

There are also a lot of other issues I'd like to work on personally which I'd expect most therapists will be well versed with; family drama and self-esteem / career / life-direction, etc, but most important is that they have experience with and a good attitude towards non-traditional relationships.

I've looked on various websites and found some good leads, but ideally I'm looking for a recommendation from personal experience.

Gender therapist suggestions in SE Wisconsin?

Vibrissa — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:15:46 -0800

Asking for a friend: suggestions for good, AFFORDABLE (read: sliding scale goes down to <$20/session) gender therapists in Milwaukee or Madison?

Finding a couples counselor in Houston?

Pwoink — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:49:09 -0800

Does anyone have recommendations for a couples counselor or marriage/family therapist in Houston, TX -- or, at least, what resources I can use to find a good one? Thank you in advance!

Does anyone have experience of Core Process psychotherapy?

terretu — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:36:01 -0800

Does anyone have experience of Core Process psychotherapy? I've been looking for a therapist in my area (Cambridge, UK), and it's confusing, expensive & scary. I've found someone who uses Core Process, and he's significantly cheaper than most of the other therapists, mainly (it seems) because he's in the last year of further studies (though he's qualified to practice). His office is also close to my work, which is a definite plus.

Some cursory research on Core Process has thrown up the fact that it's mindfulness/Buddhist-based. Which, mostly, sits fine with me. I know that mindfulness works for a lot of people, and I studied Buddhism briefly (in an academic sense) and am interested in its central ideas. There's a little cynical part of me that thinks this might be closer to hippie alternative medicine bullshit than I'm comfortable with, but this cynicism isn't strong enough to be a dealbreaker.

The main problem is that my Googling hasn't thrown up any medical or scientific studies on the efficacy of Core Process. The only resources I've found are either from the main place in the UK that trains people to become Core Process therapists, or from individual practitioners advertising their services.

Also, I'm seeking therapy in the hope of getting a better handle on some long-standing issues (history of pretty bad depression & anxiety, whole bunch of family problems, some eating/food stuff). I know that no one seeks therapy lightly, but I want to do some serious work on things which I've been struggling with for a long time, and I want to know before I commit that this is going to be rigorous (and likely to help).

I don't know if I should go with this guy because he's cheap, or suck it up, pay more money and get a different/better-know/more well-tested type of therapy. I know that I really don't want CBT or any kind of traditional analysis, but outside of those limits I don't know what I want or what would be best for me. I also have a history of flaking out on therapy because it's hard and I'm scared and the whole situation makes me really anxious, but I'm hoping that this time (with the added incentive of paying for it myself, rather than taking whatever I can get from my former University/socialised medicine) I'll be able to stick with it and make some real progress.

Tl;dr - I like the look of this one therapist & he's relatively cheap, but I can't find any science or resources on the type of therapy he offers; does anyone have experience of or anecdata around Core Process?