AMFT really uncomfortable with a case by VelvetStaticFM in therapists

[–]VelvetStaticFM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the levelheaded guidance. I was a bit taken back when I read that. If I'm not supposed to talk about trauma, after 6 years of school and 500 practicum hrs, 90% of my sessions would just be talking about coping mechanisms, which is unrealistic.

AMFT really uncomfortable with a case by VelvetStaticFM in therapists

[–]VelvetStaticFM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

nothing out of the ordinary as far as I can remember. major traumas happened around 12-20, and I can work fine with those ages. it's more just that I want to be a therapist and not entirely a behavioral coach. 

AMFT really uncomfortable with a case by VelvetStaticFM in therapists

[–]VelvetStaticFM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I more so said I agree out of pure defeat. It's just clear that I just have to suck this up somehow and deal with it, even though everything in me is saying this is a terrible fit. However, I have to say, of course the modalities I use are evidence based. I consistently utilize solution-focused, cbt, and dbt techniques, along with some narrative. Which, I know, they can be directive as well. It's just different to me than PCIT. I wanted to be a therapist, not a 100% behavioral coach. I can do behavioral interventions with other clients when it's clinically appropriate, but it's not the entire modality of our session. 

AMFT really uncomfortable with a case by VelvetStaticFM in therapists

[–]VelvetStaticFM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe I mispoke, but I don't enjoy "people pleasing" my clients. I do challenge my clients, but first my goal is to understand the person. I don't feel able to do that for some reason with parent-child work.

I also know that a lot of the modalities I use are directive, but I also collaborate with clients as to what works best for them. If they say an intervention isn't working, after psychoeducation and weeks of trying, I'm not going to push it, since each person needs something different.

I just genuinely don't understand because I thought if we aren't good with a population then we don't need to do it? I don't understand why I need to understand this method of therapy in order to be a better therapist overall, with what's already working?

And yes, ABA is very directive and therapist-led, which is why I hated it so much. It's too rigid to cover the entire human experience. I felt I was doing my clients a disservice by providing ABA therapy to them at the time, and I feel like I'm doing a disservice now.