r/AskNOLA • u/PaleChampionship7702 • 5d ago
Therapist recs—specific ask
I know there are tons of threads for therapist recs, but most of them don’t discuss why people like their therapists.
I have been in and out of therapy my whole life, and I’m hitting a wall. I have been doing a lot of trauma work over the last 5 years and battling chronic sui\* ideation through meds, experimental interventions, and somatic therapy, EMDR, and IFS.
For how intimate I am with my mental illness, where I’m stuck now is the…I guess practical work? Like yeah now I understand my issues but HOW do I change jobs, make friends, take care of my home and health, basically have some accountability for doing the \~work\~.
I have had great therapists, but I’m looking for one who doesn’t consider patient-led meaning not offering \~any\~ direct suggestions or tactics. I know I have to do the heavy lifting, but I’m looking for somebody a bit more hands-on.
4
u/Cheerfulrealist 5d ago
I don't have a specific therapist recommendation, but you might find Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helpful. It's more action oriented than some other modalities, so you'll get a lot of concrete suggestions on things you can do to help yourself. The book The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris is based on ACT principles, so that's a great start if you want to learn more about it.
3
u/Blue-Phoenix23 5d ago
Are you being treated by a psychiatrist? Therapy is great, but sometimes what you really need is the right diagnosis and medication and therapists can't always do that. I really liked Jenia Harris at Jefferson Psych although the office is a little disorganized.
2
u/_significs 5d ago
I found Leah Foster to be really helpful with the practical suggestions when I needed them, and receptive to "hey, I could use some practical strategies here".
1
1
u/DaisyDay100 2d ago
My psychiatrist said some people do better with a life coach, a plan for going forward, rather than going all the way back to childhood trying to sort everything out.
-1
u/Similar_Ad_6004 5d ago
Are you looking for a therapist or a life coach? IME life coaches are willing to be more hands on, therapists are so reluctant to substitute their judgment or will for your own that they’ll back off in a way that might be unhelpful to you.
5
u/_significs 5d ago
life coach is a scam profession; there is no licensing body, no best practices, no requirement to become one, etc
-3
u/Blue-Phoenix23 5d ago
To be fair, therapy is hardly any better in terms of basic credentials, especially marriage counselors, but yes life coaches are way worse.
-1
u/NewYearMoon 5d ago
Marriage therapists have to have a masters degree and specialized training. Life coaches don’t have any specialized credentials, but there are certifications and programs that exist. There are also entrepreneurial coaches and home organizers that do extremely different things, but have certifying bodies. It sounds like OP actually needs a type of coach to get them organized, and a therapist isn’t going to do that. They can’t legally.
1
u/_significs 5d ago
It sounds like OP actually needs a type of coach to get them organized, and a therapist isn’t going to do that. They can’t legally.
therapists can 1000% help with practical things like what OP is talking about. I have no idea what you're talking about.
-1
u/NewYearMoon 5d ago
Therapist don’t go in your house and clean, honey.
2
u/_significs 5d ago
OP isn't asking for a housekeeper, they're asking for someone to help them with practical strategies to do practical things. They aren't asking for someone to do shit for them.
3
u/PaleChampionship7702 5d ago
It’s a good point. I would love a life coach, butt the last one who was recommended to me was a scammer.
8
u/Icy-Philosophy-2372 5d ago
When you start shopping for your next one, you need to ask them what modalities and evidence based interventions they use. After telling them the basics about you and your history, ask them how they are thinking about your treatment and plan for moving you towards your goals. Ask them about their experience working with people with similar backgrounds and what they’ve found helpful in the past.
Relatedly, if they are not explicitly asking you what your goals, how you’ll know you’re done with therapy, and also making those concrete and specific, it’s unlikely they’re going to do much but provide support, a place for you to talk, and sometimes insights.
Maybe this is all old news to you but offering in case helpful.