Musings on therapy, and list

Spending years in therapy can be discouraging. Why is it taking so long to get better? Am I with the right therapist? Do I really need to go every week?  Am I just not paying attention? Am I too dependent on my therapist? What is wrong with me?

There may be more posts about therapy and therapists. For example, what is the goal of therapy? Is it to feel better temporarily, or is it to give you tools to cope when you're not in therapy? Is it to stay in therapy for the rest of your life, or to eventually wean you off therapy, even if only temporarily? I think I've wanted the latter, but I've often gotten the former.

How do you get what you want from therapy? 

I'm not sure I have a healthy relationship with my current therapist. We do set goals. But sometimes she is the only person I see in a week. Sometimes, weekly my therapy appointment is the only time I leave the house. Sometimes, she is the only person I confide in. So I've become pretty dependent on her. Possibly at the exclusion of other social connections?

I have learned some tools from therapy. A lot of times I ignore them. I'm feeling better this week, so I want to remind myself of one of them that's easier to do when I am feeling better: 

Make a list of pleasurable activities. 

1. Writing

2. Watching TV

3. Going for a walk, especially on the beach or a nature trail

4. Knitting

5. Playing the piano

6. Reading

7. Kayaking

8. Dining out with friends and family

9. Dancing

Wow, it's really hard to dredge some of these things up, because I haven't done them in so long. But the idea is to use this list when you are not feeling so great, and pick something that you can do which can help you change your mood. 


If you're having trouble thinking up activities on your own, maybe this list (pdf) can help you get going.