if you had to choose between meditation and therapy

[MavisGallavanting]

Hello,

I've got the opportunity to do very very cheap therapy but two times a week. I'd be interested in the experience — and genuinely need it as i have cptsd, not taking up anyone's place — but worried about it stopping me from reaching some other personal goals time-wise. I've just paid off a loan and have spare cash, but wouldn't have as much left to save every month.

On the other hand, I've got limited funds and little time. I was thinking of meditation instead, but taking this very seriously over the same period — building up to a practice. I have some support in doing this with a very experienced friend. And well, saving some money would help too.

I know they are not mutually exclusive, but which has benefited you the most, if you've done both?

• three times a week therapy, I mean!

Ooh interesting choice. I don’t know a lot about proper meditation at all (my therapy is based on mindfulness/acceptance though, also do yoga)

For me a lot would depend on what type of therapy it is, what the therapist is like - is there a reason it’s so cheap? Not that cost is always indicative of course. It’s vital that you gel with the therapist and that they use an approach right for you. Is discussing the personal goals something that could be done in the therapy too?

Would it be possible to try a short trial of the therapy first without committing to long term?

Therapy as with successful therapy you may not even need mediation!

@SingToTheSky

thanks for the reply - it's psychoanalysis, potentially old-school. They're in the last period of training/accreditation, so it would be a two-year commitment.

I wish I could stick to yoga, ha. I've done mindfulness/acceptance through the NHS and it's been useful.

@SingToTheSky

Alas, no! There's a consultation with a different fully trained analyst to assess suitability, so maybe I'll just do that anyway. I'm just quite suggestible and will be like 'oooh, that sounds good' as they will obviously agree therapy is the best option.

@Isadora2007

Successful therapy - the dream....

Hmm that’s quite tricky if it’s a big commitment. The initial assessment sounds interesting though.

Do you know much about psychoanalysis and how it goes with CPTSD? I’d probably want to find out more about that first.

I'd do the therapy but possibly not if it were psychoanalysis as I've never once met a Psychoanalyst who wasn't an arrogant prick.

Not sure what proper mediation involves so yeah not that helpful here, I'm firmly on the fence.

I’m a therapist and have had psychoanalysis myself (3 x a week for 2 years) life changing for me but a big commitment. With CPTSD I’d opt for therapy over meditation, you can learn to meditate alongside it.
Psychoanalysis isn’t for everyone it’s very challenging, I had a tough analyst but she was also kind and I grew to trust her. The challenge can create real change.
Best of luck

@MavisGallavanting

Hello,

I've got the opportunity to do very very cheap therapy but two times a week. I'd be interested in the experience — and genuinely need it as i have cptsd, not taking up anyone's place — but worried about it stopping me from reaching some other personal goals time-wise. I've just paid off a loan and have spare cash, but wouldn't have as much left to save every month.

On the other hand, I've got limited funds and little time. I was thinking of meditation instead, but taking this very seriously over the same period — building up to a practice. I have some support in doing this with a very experienced friend. And well, saving some money would help too.

I know they are not mutually exclusive, but which has benefited you the most, if you've done both?

Three times a week analysis will be challenging and sometimes disturbing but life changing.

It's an incredible opportunity, I urge you to get hold of it.

Anyone accepted to train to see patients three times a week will already be experienced before you can even get through the door on that kind of a training. They will already have had to have had many years of their own analysis and work on themselves.

Plus your therapist will be supervised weekly by an extremely senior training analyst.

I'm in analysis myself with a view to one day being ready to do this sort of a training. Long way to go though!

I was thinking that this question of meditation versus analysis would be a really good thing to think about in analysis!