Selecting a Psychologist

C

Catas286

New Member
Hi All

If you don't have access to a TMS doctor or therapist, what would you recommend looking for in a psychologist that will help overcome TMS? What would one need to specialise in?
 
If I couldn't find someone trained as a TMS therapist, I'd choose someone who knows ISTDP ( which is Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy). This is a technique often used by TMS therapists, but non-TMS therapists use it as well. Also, I'd make sure the therapist is willing to learn about TMS. There is a new book out for TMS therapists called Hidden from View, which would be a good resource.

Have you considered seeing a TMS trained therapist via Skype? Many people have had success with this when no one is available locally.
 
I worked with Amber Murphy from Alan's team, and she is awesome! I would say Skype is not as good as face to face, but don't hesitate to go to Alan's team.
 
Marinedad said:
Yes she is , it didn't help me but she would be the one
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Marinedad, I was at a similar junction at some point. I would not say that Amber's sessions had a direct and immediate impact on me. However, she was able to convince me of two things: fear is the main enemy, hope is the main friend. I stopped sessions with her after about 2.5 months because I felt ready to seek recovery on my own, through errors and trials (money was a factor, too - my insurance did not pay for the sessions). And what is important is to come to those convictions not intellectually, which was very easy, but on a visceral level, which was much harder.

As I was looking into my past, I did not find that smoking gun that cleared all of my pains. Instead, step by step, I realized that my problems were due to the GAD (general anxiety syndrome) which I never before acknowledged to myself. I was able to make significant progress after I started seriously meditating and recognizing my anxiety in even minor manifestations. Then it took about a year to recover about 70%. I am now at about 90% recovery and still working on it - but I would say that I have my life back, with the new wisdom, thanks to my brush with neuropathic pain.

I briefly checked your posts and it looks like you had a lot going on in the past few years. It is possible that the stress of life kept piling up and was bottled inside - until the pain became unbearable. Give yourself more time and don't look for exact prescription. Each person finds their own unique path.

As for Amber, we are still checking in every once in a while 2 years later and she has been an amazing cheerleader for me.

Best of luck and do not lose hope. It is your friend.
 
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TG957 said:
Marinedad, I was at a similar junction at some point. I would not say that Amber's sessions had a direct and immediate impact on me. However, she was able to convince me of two things: fear is the main enemy, hope is the main friend. I stopped sessions with her after about 2.5 months because I felt ready to seek recovery on my own, through errors and trials (money was a factor, too - my insurance did not pay for the sessions). And what is important is to come to those convictions not intellectually, which was very easy, but on a visceral level, which was much harder.

As I was looking into my past, I did not find that smoking gun that cleared all of my pains. Instead, step by step, I realized that my problems were due to the GAD (general anxiety syndrome) which I never before acknowledged to myself. I was able to make significant progress after I started seriously meditating and recognizing my anxiety in even minor manifestations. Then it took about a year to recover about 70%. I am now at about 90% recovery and still working on it - but I would say that I have my life back, with the new wisdom, thanks to my brush with neuropathic pain.

I briefly checked your posts and it looks like you had a lot going one in the past few years. It is possible that the stress of life kept piling up and was bottled inside - until the pain became unbearable. Give yourself more time and don't look for exact prescription. Each person finds their own unique path.

As for Amber, we are still checking in every once in a while 2 years later and she has been an amazing cheerleader for me.

Best of luck and do not lose hope. It is your friend.
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Thx you so much for the words of wisdom I was thinking of amber and reaching out..but I can't afford $$ to talk even though I would love to have a chat.
 
Catas286,

Like TG957, I never found the "smoking gun." After in-depth exploration of my childhood all the way up to current stressors, I concluded that my personality traits of goodism, perfectionism, and people pleasing led me to suppress anger and other emotions that eventually exploded like a volcano (literally overnight) into chronic pain and kept me there for almost 3 years. Fear also played a significant part. Fear of being alone, fear of the future, fear of winding up like my mother who lived the last twenty years of her life in severe pain. The way out has not been linear, I've had setbacks and resets, and it has taken a long time to get to the point where I'm about 80% healed. Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but it's worth repeating again, self-care is vital. Put on the armor of self-love to ward off the assault of fear on your body and mind. Make yourself a priority and know that you are special and worthy of a pain-free life! I couldn't afford TMS therapy, so the TMS Wiki was the lifeline thrown to me while in the sea of despair. Make use of all of the free podcasts, YouTube videos, and Saturday chat sessions offered here. You are at the right place.
 
HattieNC said:
Catas286,

Like TG957, I never found the "smoking gun." After in-depth exploration of my childhood all the way up to current stressors, I concluded that my personality traits of goodism, perfectionism, and people pleasing led me to suppress anger and other emotions that eventually exploded like a volcano (literally overnight) into chronic pain and kept me there for almost 3 years. Fear also played a significant part. Fear of being alone, fear of the future, fear of winding up like my mother who lived the last twenty years of her life in severe pain. The way out has not been linear, I've had setbacks and resets, and it has taken a long time to get to the point where I'm about 80% healed. Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but it's worth repeating again, self-care is vital. Put on the armor of self-love to ward off the assault of fear on your body and mind. Make yourself a priority and know that you are special and worthy of a pain-free life! I couldn't afford TMS therapy, so the TMS Wiki was the lifeline thrown to me while in the sea of despair. Make use of all of the free podcasts, YouTube videos, and Saturday chat sessions offered here. You are at the right place.
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Very well said. It accurately describes my path to recovery and what I do now to maintain myself in shape.
 
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