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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by detroitpistons on February 27, 2006, at 19:55:29
Is it hard to find a therapist who specializes in or is very knowledgeable about bipolar disorder? Is CBT the best for BPII?
I want to avoid therapists who just want to talk about my past and childhood, etc. For example, I wouldn't want someone who uses the Freudian school of thought. The "past" issues are important, but I would like that to be secondary. I would like someone who treats in the context of bipolar disorder, and who understands the biological nature of it. I'm guessing the therapist who would fit this description would most likely be a psychologist (Phd) and not a counselor or social worker (MSW, etc).
Anybody have any experience with this?
Posted by kodi on February 27, 2006, at 19:55:29
In reply to Psychotherapists who specialize in BP/ BPII, posted by detroitpistons on February 27, 2006, at 11:51:32
> Is it hard to find a therapist who specializes in or is very knowledgeable about bipolar disorder? Is CBT the best for BPII?
>
> I want to avoid therapists who just want to talk about my past and childhood, etc. For example, I wouldn't want someone who uses the Freudian school of thought. The "past" issues are important, but I would like that to be secondary. I would like someone who treats in the context of bipolar disorder, and who understands the biological nature of it. I'm guessing the therapist who would fit this description would most likely be a psychologist (Phd) and not a counselor or social worker (MSW, etc).
>
>
> Anybody have any experience with this?I am currently working with an REBT therapist (he is a psychologist; however, I don't think it matters whether they are counselor or psych.). That stands for Rational-Emotive-Behavioral-Therapy. It was the original CBT and was developed by Dr. Albert Ellis.
In my therapy sessions, we work on changing my irrational beliefs about myself that I have "today". You can find out alot about REBT by searching on the web. I think the main site is rebt.org.
Posted by pseudoname on February 28, 2006, at 11:08:25
In reply to Re: Best type of Therapy?, posted by kodi on February 27, 2006, at 17:15:43
I think the degrees or affiliations a psychotherapist has don't say much about their philosophical orientation. Lots of psychiatrists, with medical licenses, are still pretty Freudian and dismissive of psych meds, for example. And the curriculums of all the various graduate & professional programs are very diverse. PhD / PsyD programs have been all over the map: Jungian, generically "psychodynamic", behavioral, cognitive, mixed, etc. Some social work schools are cognitive; some are psychodynamic. Some schools offer both tracks (but students have to choose ONE!).
Plus, a lot of therapists modify their approaches over time, as they get experience or exposure to new ideas. Some go from one extreme to another. Albert Ellis *PhD* (founder of REBT) and Aaron Beck *MD* (a CBT eminence) both started out doing psychoanalysis.
So, I would say, consider any licensed therapist, but check their current advertising & affiliations, ASK them (on the phone) what their orientation or philosophy is, and be explicit up front about what you want. In my experience, however, they will likely agree to any preference you express at first...
This is the end of the thread.
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