Therapist won’t work with me anymore unless I take drugs

[TinaTeaspoon54321]

I am 5 months pregnant so this feels particularly unfair. I know people can and do take SSRIs in pregnancy and that it’s a risk/benefit analysis. Yet I personally would prefer not to and feel confident that I can get by without. Surely that should be my decision and being able to receive support from the person I’ve already established a rapport with shouldn’t depend on this?

I don’t feel there is masses more to say tbh. I took SSRIs briefly in my early 20s following a break-up. Not sure they really did much in retrospect. I think I just moved on naturally anyway. No other history other than that.

I started seeing the psychotherapist (accredited with BACP) because of difficulties with this pregnancy. Amongst other things I am at high risk of premature delivery. I recently had a panic that my waters had gone at 23 weeks. This was when the therapist said I needed to see a doctor to be prescribed drugs if I want to continue working with her.

Are you at risk of self-harm or being sectioned, OP?

I hear you. I do think pregnancy is a bit of a special case though as there’s a lack of long-term evidence as to the effect on the fetus.

I’ll definitely be taking the therapist why I’m moving on if I end up doing so.

No I’d say I’m a very long way from both those things.

I know two people who have cecome therapists. They're both batshit.

Find a new one.

I was once seeing someone. She trecommended I asked my gp for anti-depressants. She, however was an expériences nurse. Her take on it was that while she was trying to get my feelings to the surface to deal with them, I was pushing them down, which was a bit counter-productive.
If that in any way ressembles your situation, it might be worth seeing your GP.
Just a thought.

Your therapist sounds dodgy, she's not trained in medication, barely knows you and seems to be chastising you for being worried about PPROM.

You're pregnant, if you don't want to take medication, don't take it. No is a complete sentence. If your therapist doesn't like it, find another one who will actually respect your boundaries because clearly this one does not.

Huge difference in making a recommendation and threatening to withdraw someone's therapy if they don't comply with demands.

A therapist can decide not to work with you going forward for any reason, if for whatever reason this is their line then you need to look for another.

That's a very good point.

This!

As a therapist, I would say my stance is usually not to recommend medication (I would never ever insist on it) except when someone is so severely depressed that they are suicidal and a serious risk to themselves.
If this is the case OP then please see your GP. If not then I think you need a new therapist.

This is the scariest and most bizarre thing I’ve read for a while! Also have a lot of anxiety about my current pregnancy after my previous baby was born premature so I understand a little of what you are experiencing right now. Even so, I’ve been told to avoid over the counter drugs like ibuprofen as it’s not great for pregnant women and yet you are actively encouraged to take anti-depressants? Surely these would be a last resort if you were at risk of self harm?

Would you take antibiotics if you had infection? Or painkillers for pain? Mental health medication is no different I promise. Do you what you need to do to get better - for you and your unborn child. Why not at least try?

Ssris are actually fine in pregnancy. Depression much more dangerous.

I’m a bit lost at people saying they need more context.

The only person who decides what goes into her body is the OP. How bloody dare this ‘therapist.’

Only if really truly necessary (e.g. I’d take pain relief if I had a broken leg but probably just for a headache). I’d try to manage without first if possible.

*not just a headache

Your personal views on antidepressants are irrelevant here. The point is, the OP's therapist is massively overstepping their professional boundaries. Therapists are not qualified to prescribe psychiatric medication so should not be insisting on their clients taking it.

BiscuitLover

Depends on what you deem as "safe".

If they are unable to work with the client because due to their poor mental health they cannot properly engage in therapy, then they can. They can stop working with a client at any time.

I think you need to do more research on the effects of any drugs on pregnancy. Many women need to take medication inmpregnancy for one reason or another. I dont think your therapist should be condemned out of hand for saying she woukd see you unless you take the medicatiom. That is her professional opinion.

There is a lot of stigma about antidepressants even to this day which is so sad. The evidence states that ssris in particular and at a low dose are absolutely safe. Poor mental health is much more likely to cause damage. Clearly I’m biased as I am on ssris myself (and have looked into this extensively, especially my academic background).

THANK YOU

Whilst I'm not a practicing therapist, I am trained in CBT and MI and I would NEVER threaten dropping a patient if they refused to take medication either as a RMN OR a therapist. It's a huge overstep of professional boundaries, it's highly manipulative, and it's coercive!

I think you are minimising the use of side effects that can occur here. Yes, they can be massively helpful for long term use for people who need them but OP doesn’t feel she wants them right now and there’s the potential that actually they will make things worse to begin with - not something some will want to potentially risk due pregnancy.

The therapist can refuse to work with a client for any reason of course but it’s only a few sessions in and she’s being told no counselling unless medication which isn’t at all helpful.