Why are therapists so bad at treating CPTSD?

[Ambivalent1]

?

 

[tary]

CPTSD seems like something that is very unique to the person suffering from it, and what might work for one person might not work so well for others.
Therapists might use the same methods for everyone.

 

[RAJ GHRANDHICK]

They themselves haven't experienced it so they can't relate which creates misunderstandings and they can't do anything like that

And people who have experienced most likely never be able to become therapists

 

[LaVieEnRose]

Because of the C

 

[Tesha]

I have CPTSD. I've got a fair bit of layman and some academic knowledge around psychology and therapies. I have no bloody clue how to 'fix' my own complex and convoluted thought processes - so it's going to be nigh on impossible for anyone else to work out!

('Fix' is the wrong word, because I'm not broken, I'm unwell, but hopefully you get the drift).

 

[Willy Wonka]

As far as I know, it's not even common knowledge among therapists that childhood trauma can lead to a personality disorder. Not to mention CPTSD... It seems impossible to me to find a therapist who knows about narcissistic parenting (as a personal example) and CPTSD (unless you have enough money)

 

[Felodese]

It's a relatively new diagnosis. A lot of therapist probably aren't up to date, haven't taken the time to truly educate themselves about it, or they might not consider it a *real* diagnosis before it's in the DSM-5.
And then there's just people who suck at their job...

 

[RosebyAnyName]

It's because they don't know how to react to people with real problems. Most therapists came from wealthy enough families to afford getting their medical degree. In my experiences, at least when discussing general trauma, therapists try to downplay it or try to convince you that it wasn't actually that bad so you can cope with it better. To academics in an ivory tower, this sounds like a good idea. To patients and trauma survivors, it's just frustrating and feels insincere.

My current therapist is doing this now (I didn't even want to talk about "solving" trauma, just learning to calm down / manage uncontrolled trauma responses) and it's frustrating.

 

[Ambivalent1]

As far as I know, it's not even common knowledge among therapists that childhood trauma can lead to a personality disorder. Not to mention CPTSD... It seems impossible to me to find a therapist who knows about narcissistic parenting (as a personal example) and CPTSD (unless you have enough money)

My therapist said that I'm the one claiming to have cptsd and that it's my diagnosis. This feels like a sick thing to say. I've done therapy for a long time with others. She herself knows of what I've gone through so why say it's "my" diagnosis?

 

[Willy Wonka]

My therapist said that I'm the one claiming to have cptsd and that it's my diagnosis. This feels like a sick thing to say. I've done therapy for a long time with others. She herself knows of what I've gone through so why say it's "my" diagnosis?

I honestly think this is a good thing, because I think that most of the time the patient knows exactly what is wrong with him and the therapist should "just" help him navigate. That's what she meant, I think. I wish I had a therapist who's like that... I've been going to different therapists for about 28 years and I've never been asked about my childhood or was just waved off when I said "Help! I think I'm the golden child of a covertly narcissistic mother."

 

[penguinl0v3s]

It's not even in the DSM-5, so people ate not trained to treat it. It's still controversial among practioners about whether or not it's a legitimate diagnosis, so it could be a while before people get better at treating it.

On the upside it's one of the more common psych problems, so I think people will figure out how to treat it quickly once it becomes legitimized by whatever mysterious authority writes the DSM.

My therapist said that I'm the one claiming to have cptsd and that it's my diagnosis. This feels like a sick thing to say. I've done therapy for a long time with others. She herself knows of what I've gone through so why say it's "my" diagnosis?

That's silly, it sounds like she's invalidating you because it's not possible to officially diagnosis CPTSD. Honestly, official diagnosis codes only really exist to bill to insurance, and good therapists should be able to think more outside the box. If CPTSD describes your experience better than any other condition, it's useful and good to categorize it that way. Sorry you were invalidated by her, that's really shitty :/

 

[Willy Wonka]

It's not even in the DSM-5, so people ate not trained to treat it. It's still controversial among practioners about whether or not it's a legitimate diagnosis, so it could be a while before people get better at treating it.

On the upside it's one of the more common psych problems, so I think people will figure out how to treat it quickly once it becomes legitimized by whatever mysterious authority writes the DSM.

That's silly, it sounds like she's invalidating you because it's not possible to officially diagnosis CPTSD. Honestly, official diagnosis codes only really exist to bill to insurance, and good therapists should be able to think more outside the box. If CPTSD describes your experience better than any other condition, it's useful and good to categorize it that way. Sorry you were invalidated by her, that's really shitty :/

according to my research CPTSD is being talked about since roughly 10 years. since 2023 it´s in the ICD-11. so I guess it´s gonna take 10 more years for "them" to understand it... hopefully the DSM´s gonna catch up soon

My therapist said that I'm the one claiming to have cptsd and that it's my diagnosis. This feels like a sick thing to say. I've done therapy for a long time with others. She herself knows of what I've gone through so why say it's "my" diagnosis?

aww, sry I think I misunderstood what you wrote a bit when responding yesterday ...

 

[Kit1]

I have CPTSD. Diagnosed. NHS gave up on me and I have given up on them. It is not even the name of the diagnosis that sometimes matters as much as the ability (or lack of) of a therapist, psychiatrist, doctor or anyone in the medical field to be humane enough to just stop and listen and support. Basic empathy is a great starting point and I find even that difficult to find - and not wealthy to pay someone to do the job.

 

[penguinl0v3s]

according to my research CPTSD is being talked about since roughly 10 years. since 2023 it´s in the ICD-11. so I guess it´s gonna take 10 more years for "them" to understand it... hopefully the DSM´s gonna catch up soon

Pharmacies still bill insurance using ICD10, I don't believe the ICD11 is in use yet :/

 

[Mebius]

Just talk it out bro! It would reverse years of suffering and negative reinforcement bro!

 

[tankapi]

I wish I knew. After waiting ages to get onto their client list, I had my second session with a therapist today. They told me very gently and politely that I'm too traumatized for them to be able to help me. That they'd refer me to someone once they had a chance to confirm that other person's availability.

I picked the first therapist as someone that was older, qualified, and appeared to be experienced with both grief and trauma. But apparently I'm too fucked up.

 

[Willy Wonka]

Pharmacies still bill insurance using ICD10, I don't believe the ICD11 is in use yet :/

oh! that´s interesting, thanks for the information! a therapist could theoretically still know about it. I´ll give it a try - eventhough their cluelessness terrifies me. 28 years of therapy and nobody even ever asked me about my childhood. I found out about everything by my own research

I wish I knew. After waiting ages to get onto their client list, I had my second session with a therapist today. They told me very gently and politely that I'm too traumatized for them to be able to help me. That they'd refer me to someone once they had a chance to confirm that other person's availability.

I picked the first therapist as someone that was older, qualified, and appeared to be experienced with both grief and trauma. But apparently I'm too fucked up.

wow. that´s hard! I hope the other one is able to help you! at least the therapist was honest ...

It's not even in the DSM-5, so people ate not trained to treat it. It's still controversial among practioners about whether or not it's a legitimate diagnosis, so it could be a while before people get better at treating it.

On the upside it's one of the more common psych problems, so I think people will figure out how to treat it quickly once it becomes legitimized by whatever mysterious authority writes the DSM.

That's silly, it sounds like she's invalidating you because it's not possible to officially diagnosis CPTSD. Honestly, official diagnosis codes only really exist to bill to insurance, and good therapists should be able to think more outside the box. If CPTSD describes your experience better than any other condition, it's useful and good to categorize it that way. Sorry you were invalidated by her, that's really shitty :/

my prediction is that one day we´ll (*they*) find out that being born causes CPTSD