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By Kal - 19/06/2023 16:00

Today, while I was explaining my troubles to my therapist, he asked me, "And don't you have someone you can tell all that?" FML
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Anderling 32

That is not an uncommon question in therapy at all, nor is it intended to be dismissive or cruel (usually, anyway, because I don’t know your therapist). I’ve been asked this exact question as well, and my psychiatrist was an incredibly friendly and helpful person. What they actually want to know with that question is, “Is there anyone in your circle of friends or family who can support you with the issues you’re having?”. Getting support from friends and family can significantly decrease the chances of mental illness developing to the point of unmanageability, and while your therapist is probably a chill dude, he’s not going to help you clean out your apartment after depression kept you from doing the dishes or vacuuming for a month straight. When you’re not sure about what your therapist meant with a question, it’s completely, 100% alright to ask what they meant or if they can rephrase the question. And if you feel like this one isn’t clicking with you or you can’t feel like you trust him, it’s perfectly okay to switch therapists to someone else.

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tiptoppc 19

I second. Having support goes a lot better than a single professional therapist. It might help to also be part of group therapy, especially for people in the same situation as you. The Therapist could of have re-phrased it, but it’s not an invalid question, Just needed to be rephrased in a way that couldn’t be misconstrued the way is sounds.

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Comments

Anderling 32

That is not an uncommon question in therapy at all, nor is it intended to be dismissive or cruel (usually, anyway, because I don’t know your therapist). I’ve been asked this exact question as well, and my psychiatrist was an incredibly friendly and helpful person. What they actually want to know with that question is, “Is there anyone in your circle of friends or family who can support you with the issues you’re having?”. Getting support from friends and family can significantly decrease the chances of mental illness developing to the point of unmanageability, and while your therapist is probably a chill dude, he’s not going to help you clean out your apartment after depression kept you from doing the dishes or vacuuming for a month straight. When you’re not sure about what your therapist meant with a question, it’s completely, 100% alright to ask what they meant or if they can rephrase the question. And if you feel like this one isn’t clicking with you or you can’t feel like you trust him, it’s perfectly okay to switch therapists to someone else.

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tiptoppc 19

I second. Having support goes a lot better than a single professional therapist. It might help to also be part of group therapy, especially for people in the same situation as you. The Therapist could of have re-phrased it, but it’s not an invalid question, Just needed to be rephrased in a way that couldn’t be misconstrued the way is sounds.

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Razath 17

Agreed. Been there, had that question asked. I didn't take it well at the time, due to my mental state, but my therapist explained it the way you did when they saw I was starting to go into a downwards spiral from the question. Ask for clarification. 100% they didn't mean it the way OP took it. Hang in there, OP. You can get through this :)

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