I’ve been in psychotherapy for almost a year now (June would make 1 year) and overall I haven’t had any terrible experiences. However, I haven’t made any improvements in the areas that I want and need. Let me explain: (TL;DR at the end)
I initially started this therapy after a psychological evaluation; to treat OPTSD and OCD. I read up on how this type of therapy helps people and while I suspected that it wasn’t something I was looking for, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to at-least try.
Why didn’t/don’t I think this therapy is what I need:
I am late diagnosed ADHD and have an upcoming assessment for ASD. I’ve always been hyper aware of myself and people in general (not necessarily proud, but it’s helped improve my critical thinking which, in turn, helps me find resolutions to my problems on my own more times than not.) So, by the time another session comes around, I’ve already moved on from the problem, therefore I have nothing to talk through. Or the opposite where I bring up an issue, I may already consider a solution, but I struggle to follow through due to executive functioning challenges.
With that being said, I’m not the type of person to think that Psychotherapy would be useless just because I critically think.
The type of therapy I’m looking for is CBT and DBT since my executive dysfunction is a major concern in my life. I’ve explained this to the first therapist I had and she hinted to depression and “possible laziness” both of which made me side eye but, the laziness was enough to want me to end the whole thing. Instead, after reaching out to end it all, they suggested a different therapist who they assured was more well-versed in ADHD.
Turns out, she’s not really. She seems to know the general traits surrounding ADHD, but when I talk to her about things like “decision paralysis” or executive functioning challenges, she doesn’t focus in on it and, instead, tries teaching me different outlooks/perspectives and mindful practices, which may do wonders for others or neurotypical people, but it just doesn’t help with my underlying issue and I’m tired of struggling.
Why I’m currently still going:
I’ve read that, whenever you go to therapy, to at-least give it 2 years before moving on, but my bf convinced me that it may be worth stopping now and starting over (but this also scares me) with a different type of therapy that would actually benefit me.
Change and starting over is really hard for me, especially when I don’t have anything lined up yet to “replace” it. Even if I know something isn’t good for me also.
I struggle with goodbyes, so my go to is usually email, so I’m thinking of sending another similarly to the first time I tried stopping. The thing is that I feel bad doing it so abruptly.
Would it be wrong to abruptly say my goodbyes to psychotherapy?
TL;DR
Would it be wrong for me to email my psychotherapy clinic to abruptly end therapy after 10 months as an ADHD woman searching for interventions such as CBT and DBT to help improve daily life structure?
Main struggles are executive dysfunction due to ADHD and possible Autism, not PTSD or OCD.