Advice for using a non TMS psychotherapist

I remember reading in one of the books that if you can't find a psychotherapist specialising in TMS that there are certain key points you need to make sure a therapist understands.

At the time I didn't make notes on this because I thought I had found a TMS therapist though now it seems I won't be able to have sessions with that person so am wondering if I could find someone else near me and ask them if they would be willing to follow the Sarno "protocol".

Does anyone know what the key points are or where to find them in one of the books?

Thank you.

Verity

 

Find a TMS therapist from the list here, there are many, they will work by phone or skype and it's been found that works as well as in person. Would you go to a dentist or a brain surgeon and educate them on how to treat you? It's appalling that your average shrink doesn't know about the psychosomatic origins of dis-ease. Psychiatrists no longer do analysis, it's more profitable to hand you an rx and call emotional problems chemical imbalances and call it a day. I've never met a psycho-therapist who's heard of Sarno--that's truly appalling! For $150-250 an hour from your non TMS shrink, you may get a paid for buddy. You'd get more empathy by unloading your woes on the guy sitting at the bar-stool next to you.

You can ask a dedicated TMS therapist questions from the sub-forum below or contact knowledgeable practitioners who are active at this site like SteveO, Nicole Sachs, or others listed at the PRACTITIONERS LIST.

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That is pretty appalling, Tennis Tom, that so few psychotherapists are aware of Sarno's work. Thought to be fair, on the outside it looks like it is only for back pain. I came across it listening to one of Joe Polish's podcasts one night while trying to fall asleep. When Steve Ozanich mentioned fibromyalgia, that's when my ears pricked up and I investigated further.

I know my MO and I know I need someone to talk to though I need to find someone who is covered by my partner's insurance, hence the request for information about that section in one of the books. Though I will post my question about pushing through breathlessness as I feel that is a huge thing with me and my body has at last found a symptom I am not happy to ignore.

Onwards and upwards and thank you for your response

 

Although the Good Doctor initially wrote about backs, muscles, and joints, because he was a rehab specialist and that is what he saw in his practice, he expanded it most everything else that was not intrinsically structural and originated in the mind. Dr. Sarno uses the term "psychosomatic" interchangeably in his writings with the acronym TMS, he does not differentiate between them.

Anyone who calls themselves a psychologist should understand what "psychosomatic" means, and that it is the GREATEST source of chronic pain. Dr. Sarno writes about the fathers of modern psychology in his books such as Freud, Jung, and Adler. The problem today with psychotherapists is they want to ally themselves with the white-coats of allpopathic medicine including the high-priced psychiatrists, who no longer do analyis and push pills instead, claiming emotional dis-ease is caused by chemical imbalance. The current epidemic of opioid addiction and overdoses has much of its roots in the treatment of emotional disorders through chemistry, unbalancing the mindbody. It's much easier AND more profitable to write an rx, then sit with someone, listen to their life stories and changing their conditioned thoughts about themselves.

That's a trap I see many fall into, TMS may not be covered by their insurance plan, so they never get the correct treatment. Understanding TMS theory does not take too many sessions with at TMS practitioner, you would be better off going out of pocket, paying cash for a few sessions then seeing a conventional therapist who doesn't understand psychosomatic dis-ease and you have to educate on your dime. I would try a session or two by phone or skype with the TMS practitioners who frequent this site.

 

Hi,

Just wondering : why should it really matter ? : i think it is possible to 'use' a normal psychotherapist to talk about issues and getting feedback and insiders AND in the meantime do your own tms 'work'
It is not absolutely nesecarry to tell them that tms is your focus : talking about issues, worries can be a separate goal there! Or maybe doing so you find out that they are the same.

Or am i being naïeve here ?

Karina

 

Good advice, thank you so much!

 

Karina, from what I read in the section of the book I can't find, the author mentioned the approach from an orthodox psychotherapist may be unhelpful and in direct conflict with Dr. Sarno's advice. I just wish I could find it to explain it a bit better!

When/if I do find it I'll post it here.

Verity

 

Had a lightbulb moment about this as I was dropping off to sleep last night. Am so glad I still remember it.

A traditional psychotherapist will help you uncover issues and resolve them whereas a TMS psychotherapist will help you identify feelings that your brain was "kindly" suppressing.

As far as I can see it's not necessary to resolve issues as much as acknowledge the feelings that those issues raised, anger/sadness/guilt/shame, and be alright about it.

That seems to be the main difference in approach between the two.

 

Hi verity,

Too me that then is a win-win situation
: you can uncover issues : that fits the tms approach : wheter you want or need to resolve them or just' want to be aware of them could be 'part 2 : (or not)
Still to me not a bad thing in terms of combining it with doing the sep and work on tms approach (practicing outcome independence etc etc )

Ofcourse if you have easy acces to a tms therapist : that's maybe better : but if distance is a problem or maybe you don't want to get help online and want it face to face, prefer that sort of contact : i think this could be used as a part of tms approach.

Karina

 

Karina, yes, I get what you mean though I don't really want to get bogged down by being "pushed" to resolve stuff, would take a lifetime, all I need is to uncover how I am feeling/have felt about something and let that be ok.

I think I may try a couple of online sessions.

Have you used anyone?

 

Hi,

I am thinkin about psychotherapy for a couple of months, due too new health problems i am on hold for now. Maybe wrong approach but had some counseling 10 years ago and know it can be exauting.
Online i never had : and do not think is right for me. No tms therapist here so leaves not another option.
I can relate you feelings about maybe psycho' could be trying to push you on working on stuff, that is a 'thing' for me too

 

The problem, as I see it, is there are so many different types of psychotherapy, I wouldn't know what to look for in a therapist.

I've had some CBT in the past which was close to useless. In our first session I bravely laid out my avoidance strategies and he fell for them one after the other.

 

Steve Ozanich, Nicole Sachs are two that quickly come to mind and have contributed here and KNOW there TMS! They do phone and Skype and it's been found that works as well as in person. I'm sure there are MANY other TMS qualified practitioners here and you can easily find them on the "PRACTITIONERS LIST" here. They don't charge anymore then regular therapists or counselors but you will get TMS specific advice. SteveO and Nicole both have web-sites with their contact info. If anyone has further recommendations for TMS practitioners they've had positive results with please chime in.

 

Just to add my two cents here...I initially met with a non-TMS therapist because she was local and covered by insurance. After a consult with her, my perception was that my experience would be about living with/managing chronic pain. She wasn't aware of TMS and thought it was interesting.
Instead of wasting time, I called the pain psychology center and got connected with a TMS trained therapist via Skype. It makes a difference and will likely save you time and money.