Therapists and their advice.

[SimplyWandering]

So i really like my therapist. Her style is cognitive behavior health... however she knows i have a diagnosis of autism, yet makes statements that don't reflect that....

Whenever i mention i feel different all the time and she asks me to explain I talk about how my energy level is like a battery and sometimes i dont even notice hitting zero . At zero i stop talking or am non-sensical and need days to recharge. She calmly states that it's because i am an introvert and that's what happens to introverts.

How accurate of a statement is this?

Has a therapist said something similar to you?

 

[Pats]

I've never discussed the autism with a therapist and my psychiatric doctor just asks in general how I'm doing and if the medications is still working okay.
After my diagnosis, though, I continue to see him a few more times and his intentions was to help me become more social. I told him that I didn't want to be at this point - I liked being home and hermitting. I came home feeling like he was trying to FIX me. Trying to help me fit in where I don't belong. You can't fix what isn't broken.

 

[Catana]

She may be nice, but she doesn't know what she's talking about. Introverts have different ways of reacting to social overload. But if you are actually an introvert (and does she have any reason to believe you are?), that isn't even necessarily related to your autism.

 

[Judge]

She calmly states that it's because i am an introvert and that's what happens to introverts.

How accurate of a statement is this?

Sounds like your therapist buys into Jungian psychology and the "energy model" theory.

Theory from what I read- not necessarily fact.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/...r/200911/introversion-and-the-energy-equation

 

[sidd851]

That you like your therapist, as a human being, does not therefore qualify her as a therapist.
While having an affinity for your therapist is a desirable arrangement, the first requisite is that she is a therapist, and a competent one.
If you feel as though she is not accurately addressing your needs, as is evidenced by your comfort levels and adaptive ability in general in the greater world, then you need to either tell her this, giving her the opportunity to adjust her approach, or change therapists.

I would broach the subject to her, and ask what her thoughts are on my observations to see if there is a misunderstanding or miscommunication that can easily be addressed or corrected.

I would probably allow for an adjustment, on her part, and possibly a correction in my understanding of her purpose or direction.
After a visit or two, I'd reassess the situation, and act accordingly.

It is my feeling, though, that if she had to adjust, to be an effective, comfortable, attentive therapist for me, that I may well be better off with a different therapist.

In my experience with the few "therapists" and "counselors" that I have had contact with, it was quickly apparent that they were kind, attentive, helpful, concerned for my wellbeing, and effective--- or they were not.

I do tend to think that the most effective
therapist would engender the above qualities, and I would "like" them, their manner and personality. "Liking" my therapist has contributed greatly to their efficacy, and vice-versa.

Finally, I would like to point out that she may have used the term "introvert" in place of the more clinical description of your condition, in order to promote a more relaxed, comfortable, and encouraging setting.

Please understand that these are my personal thoughts only. I offered them up only to possibly round your perspective.
Ultimately you should do what you feel is best, for you, and your situation.

May you be well.

sidd

 

[Fino]

Have you tried saying anything like, "I think maybe it's related to my autism," or some other expression of this thought?

 

[Thinx]

Maybe she knows you well enough to conclude that you seem to be an introvert aswell as the autism? I m an introvert and I am INTP on the Myers Briggs, you could measure yourself on that there's online versions?

I would check out with her in plain and direct language anything you are wondering about, my experience is it's hard for neurotypical people to understand what we don't understand about the way they communicate, they think what they mean is obvious. She sounds nice and that's helpful and hopeful.

 

[Autistamatic]

I've never yet met a therapist or counsellor who could come up with any ideas I hadn't already found for myself, however clever or experienced they were or how much I liked them.
Like many Aspies I am prone to introspection, analysing and re-evaluating every action, every interaction over and again. The goal of most therapists is to encourage us to do exactly that - to look within and rethink. If you do that anyway as part of your nature, any ideas they put before you are likely to seem like old news.
It can help me to talk to one just to unload and get things off my chest if I have nowhere else to do so at the time, but the advice I have to take with a generous pinch of salt and just humour them.

 

[Theta.G]

How accurate of a statement is this?

Has a therapist said something similar to you?

That's tough to answer here because other (physical) things would have to be ruled out first like adrenal fatigue, how well are you sleeping, eating properly? Taking any meds in which heavy fatigue is a side effect and so on...

Introvert is a term that is thrown around a lot these days right? I would be a little weary if a therapist came to that conclusion because the term is so ambiguous. In that scenario i would expect a therapist to say something more along the lines of social anxiety... Your paying the person to find the problem and fix it.

At times like this you may want to increase awareness into her history. Investigate her online a little bit. Check out how many years she has been practicing, check out what degrees she has, and any other relevant information.

If she is experienced and said it casually probably not too much to worry about.
If she is inexperienced and said it as if it were a diagnosis... That is incredibly lazy ... maybe reconsider or look for a 2nd opinion.

By definition all people can only be thrown into 2 categories when it comes to this. extrovert or introvert. So in that sense it is accurate... but not actionable.

 

[Moomin]

It’s hard to know how she meant it. Is she a specialist in dealing with people on the spectrum or is she a general therapist? Sometimes they use different terminology to create an atmosphere or how they’ve been taught...


I’ve had around ten psychologists, therapists, counselors over the years and I feel that the good ones are the ones that give you strategies to cope with situations and support you. Those (two of them actually) were specialized in providing support for people with AS. As for the not so good ones. I’ve had a few were they don’t really have any experience or understanding of the spectrum. In some cases their knowledge has been old fashioned. Not fully understanding and always tried to look at other issues to downplay what was happening. The only time I’ve refused to go back to one was a specialist who told me “You’re becoming an adult, it’s normal to have fights with your parents (my case my mom)” when I was looking for advice to strategize how to handle it. And after I had self injured myself she said “oh dear, well make sure you tend to it afterwards” despite my begging her for help.

 

[Onna]

If you do that anyway as part of your nature, any ideas they put before you are likely to seem like old news.
It can help me to talk to one just to unload and get things off my chest if I have nowhere else to do so at the time,

I can definitely relate to that, and I’m thinking that counselling would actually be a better option. I think what those of us on the Spectrum who are particularly introspective could benefit from, is recognising emotions, and discovering information that they hadn’t previously thought of.

 

[Fino]

I was just reading about the concept of therapy and that, although there are many kinds of therapy where this may not be true or as true, generally, therapy is not meant as a place to receive advice or direction, it's a place to express yourself and be heard and validated, as well as a place to verbally flesh out your thoughts and feelings as they're expounded upon and bounced back by a professional, psychologically educated, empathetic, caring audience, all of which can be difficult or nigh on impossible to find elsewhere in the world.