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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 1, 2004, at 11:39:09
HI
SOme of you may recognize me from a post about worrying about my little sister who cuts herself. All of your advice re: how to support my little sis has been very helpful. I am encouraging her to go back to counseling but she really doesn't like her recent therapist or the one before that. In asking questions about what she doesn't liek about them, it seems like it's more about them not meeting her needs or seeming to know about cutting. She also said that she felt worse when she was in therapy. I have told her that I think she should talk to someone but it doesn't have to be her old therapist. It could be someone differnt. I feel that for it to be an effective situation it really needs to be someone who has experience with teens with BP adn SIB. Any suggestions for helping her/my stepmom find her a counselor with experience in this? Last time we talked about it, she hadn't cut herself in 6 weeks but her girlfriend and closest friend (one in the same) is away for a week right now and she's having a rough time. We're all trying to keep her busy to make it a little easier for her but I'm very concerned and wouldn't be surprised if she cut herself this week. I am supposed to see her this afternooon. We're supposed to do a movie or something after the guests leave that are at her house today. (grandparent and godparent for holiday dinner).Any suggestions?
Thanks. She seems to be doing a little better than she was a few weeks ago but I am still very concerned.
L13
Posted by fallsfall on January 1, 2004, at 16:59:40
In reply to finding treatment for teen with BP who cuts, posted by Lyrical13 on January 1, 2004, at 11:39:09
Since your sister has seen two therapists in the past, she probably knows what she would be looking for. I would suggest that you look for someone who has experience with kids her age who cut. You can get referrals from your GP and from her two previous therapists. She should "interview" potential therapists. In this first meeting she'll need to tell her story some, but she also needs to check out the therapist. She can ask how they would handle situations that she's had in the past and see if she is comfortable with their ideas. Make it clear to her that just because she does that first interview session (or even 2 or 3 or 4 sessions) she doesn't have to stay with that therapist if she thinks they won't help her. If she's seen someone a couple of times, then she should talk about why she wants to change, but if she wants to see a couple of people once and then make a choice that should be fine.
The most important part is that she have good rapport with her therapist. I agree that it would be good if her therapist had experience with cutting - and I think that it would give HER more confidence in them, but the biggest thing is that she feels she can trust them.
This process should make her feel like she has some control over this whole thing. That will probably be important to her.
Good luck to her! Let us know how the search goes.
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