Gestalt therapy - opinions, please | ADHD Information
Luvmykids02: Thank you so much for your kind and supportive words. It gave me a boost today. I get down in the dumps with DS, even though I know I should keep it together for the sake of everyone in our family/keep things in perspective. Guess it's just part of being a mom and being human!
It is wonderful to have information and input from you and all the other very informed and experienced posters here.
I'm going to grab my Barkley book and other info I've collected, escape for a little while this evening (don't have young kids but still feel like I need to take a break from the demands of my crew sometimes) and feed my brain something positive!
Have yourself a good day!
hanginindere wrote:
don't have young kids but still feel like I need to take a break from the demands of my crew sometimes) and feed my brain something positive!
Ditto and I shall do the same but I may add a little vino
We are all here to support each other and help where we can and please take comfort in knowing that we are all in this together. Now, I'm off to look for a corkscrew to open up my bottle of whine I mean wine Your doing a great job mom and kudos to you for being so proactive.
hanginindere.........Russell A. Barkley is a world renowned ADHD expert and he has ADHD and so does his two children. In terms of research your on the right track BTW, as parents, there are many things we could have done a long time ago but its never too late and the only way we learn is through making mistakes and educating ourselves. Never look back with regrets as whatever decisions you make for your child are the best ones at that time. With ADHD, we live and learn but we never stop learning about it. There is always something new to learn as new research is constantly being done so together we will continue learning
I am researching psychologists/counseling opportunities for my son; his present counselor is not a good fit (DS is ADHD inattentive and treament efforts to date have not been beneficial).
I came up with numerous local therapists, who practice gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic (to name a few) therapies. I am going to explore these therapies further and also wonder if anyone is willing to share opinions and information regarding these therapies, their effectiveness, etc.?
I very much appreciate any information or comments that may be provided.
We personally did behavior therapy with our daughter and it worked wonders. I have heard of a lot of people doing soial therapy and group therapy as well.I am glad for your daughter and you. I sometimes become discouraged and skeptical and like to hear positive experiences from others, who have had success with different approaches to assist their kids. Group therapy is something else I would like to research. Thanks, Jamie.
Have you looked into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? It is not the same as behavioral therapy. How old is your child?
Hi, Jessica N.
My son is 16 years old. We have not looked into CBT but would like to learn more.
I have not had good sucess with counselors. Our first one had us (the family) coming in weekly but never read his notes, so he asked us the same questions week after week. I think we went for 6 weeks before we stopped. We tried it again 4 years later, but even after 6-8 weeks I didn't see any progress and we stopped again.
I think that counseling can be useful, if you find the right one. I have not been able to do that. My husband is opposed to any further attempts.
reruho39649.5962152778Good suggestion Jessica N. Cognative Behavioral Therapy has been a very sucessful tool for those with ADHD, especially those who are getting this therapy in combination with medication. More on the subject below:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy...
is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy does not exist as a distinct therapeutic technique. The term "cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)" is a very general term for a classification of therapies with similarities. There are several approaches to cognitive-behavioral therapy, including Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectic Behavior Therapy.
However, most cognitive-behavioral therapies have the following characteristics:
1. CBT is based on the Cognitive Model of Emotional Response.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts
cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations,
and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to
feel / act better even if the situation does not change.
2. CBT is Briefer and Time-Limited.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered among the most rapid in terms of
results obtained. The average number of sessions clients receive (across all
types of problems and approaches to CBT) is only 16. Other forms of
therapy, like psychoanalysis,can take years. What enables CBT to be briefer
is its highly instructive nature and the fact that it makes use of homework
assignments. CBT is time-limited in that we help clients understand at the
very begining of the therapy process that there will be a point when the formal
therapy will end. The ending of the formal therapy is a decision made by the
therapist and client. Therefore, CBT is not an open-ended, never-ending
process.
3. A sound therapeutic relationship is necessary for effective therapy, but
not the focus.
Some forms of therapy assume that the main reason people get better in
therapy is because of the positive relationship between the therapist and
client. Cognitive-behavioral therapists believe it is important to have a good,
trusting relationship, but that is not enough. CBT therapists believe that the
clients change because they learn how to think differently and they act on that
learning. Therefore, CBT therapists focus on teaching rational self-counseling
skills.
4. CBT is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists seek to learn what their clients want out of life
(their goals) and then help their clients achieve those goals. The therapist's
role is to listen, teach, and encourage, while the client's roles is to express
concerns, learn, and implement that learning.
5. CBT is based on aspects of stoic philosophy.
Not all approaches to CBT emphasize stoicism. Rational Emotive
Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, and Rational Living
Therapy emphasize aspects of stoicism. Beck's Cognitive Therapy is not
based on stoicism.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy does not tell people how they should feel.
However, most people seeking therapy do not want to feel they way they have
been feeling. The approaches that emphasize stoicism teach the benefits of
feeling, at worst, calm when confronted with undesirable situations. They also
emphasize the fact that we have our undesirable situations whether we are
upset about them or not. If we are upset about our problems, we have two
problems -- the problem, and our upset about it. Most people want to have the
fewest number of problems possible. So when we learn how to more calmly
accept a personal problem, not only do we feel better, but we usually put
ourselves in a better position to make use of our intelligence, knowledge,
energy, and resources to resolve the problem.
6. CBT uses the Socratic Method.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists want to gain a very good understanding of
their clients' concerns. That's why they often ask questions. They also
encourage their clients to ask questions of themselves, like, "How do I
really know that those people are laughing at me?" "Could they be laughing
about something else?"
7. CBT is structured and directive.
Cognitive-behavioral therapists have a specific agenda for each session.
Specific techniques / concepts are taught during each session. CBT
focuses on the client's goals. We do not tell our clients what their goals
"should" be, or what they "should" tolerate. We are directive in the sense that
we show our clients how to think and behave in ways to obtain what they
want. Therefore, CBT therapists do not tell their clients what to do -- rather,
they teach their clients how to do.
8. CBT is based on an educational model.
CBT is based on the scientifically supported assumption that most emotional
and behavioral reactions are learned. Therefore, the goal of therapy is to
help clients unlearn their unwanted reactions and to learn a new way of
reacting.
Therefore, CBT has nothing to do with "just talking". People can "just talk"
with anyone.
The educational emphasis of CBT has an additional benefit -- it leads to
long term results. When people understand how and why they are doing
well, they know what to do to continue doing well.
9. CBT theory and techniques rely on the Inductive Method.
A central aspect of Rational thinking is that it is based on fact. Often, we
upset ourselves about things when, in fact, the situation isn't like we think it
is. If we knew that, we would not waste our time upsetting ourselves.
Therefore, the inductive method encourages us to look at our thoughts as
being hypotheses or guesses that can be questioned and tested. If we find
that our hypotheses are incorrect (because we have new information), then we
can change our thinking to be in line with how the situation really is.
10. Homework is a central feature of CBT.
If when you attempted to learn your multiplication tables you spent only one
hour per week studying them, you might still be wondering what 5 X 5
equals. You very likely spent a great deal of time at home studying your
multiplication tables, maybe with flashcards.
The same is the case with psychotherapy. Goal achievement (if obtained)
could take a very long time if all a person were only to think about the
techniques and topics taught was for one hour per week. That's why CBT
therapists assign reading assignments and encourage their clients to
practice the techniques learned.
Luvmykids0239649.6000115741
reruho: I sympathize with your family's experience with less than successful counseling. It can be quite frustrating. I do have to admit, though, that most recently with the counselor DS sees, DS expresses to me he does not feel free to express his thoughts to the counselor and, in addition, DS is resistant to trying a new ADHD med (prescribed by psych in same group), so DSs comfort level and med compliance are issues to be considered here also (if I am going to be totally objective ). On the other hand, the counselor does not see the same person my family and I do, and every time I have mentioned family counseling, I am told that the counselor will "explore" it; well, seems like we're not on the same page with him. IMO, your point about being able to find the right counselor is a very good one.
Luvmykids02: Thank you for posting the information. A little earlier today I had come across the same information when researching online and found it quite interesting. Reading about different therapies gave me a sense of hope for possible help down the road. You know, I must admit, I also checked out a couple of books from the library today, one of which was written by Dr. Barkley's; something I should probably have done long ago. For example, browsing through the book, I read very specific suggestions for parents regarding IEPs, etc., which were really an eye opener. Like I said, I should have done more reading when DS was younger; I might have been better equipped! 
Parents really do need to be proactive when it comes to their kids, advice directed towards myself, also.
You know, I must admit, I also checked out a couple of books from the library today, one of which was written by Dr. Barkley's; something I should probably have done long ago. [/QUOTE] OOPS - Dr. Barkley, that is. ("Taking Charge of ADHD," Russell A. Barkley, PhD.) I also noticed when searching online that he has coauthored a couple of books regarding defiant teens - something I'll have to check out, also.