This psychologist does some things well and some things not...or the "nots" may just be the things…read morehe is unwilling to do, as he did warn me that his practice is very focused. How much so it took me awhile to realize.
He is all about "the toolbox" and, for some, this may be all they need. But you have to be at a certain point in your therapy journey for this to work. He emphasizes over and over that you have to be super motivated to make it work. But those of us struggling with depression, especially MDD, and trauma, and/or severe anxiety, which I have all of, know that getting motivated is one of the hardest parts, and he offered no ideas for accomplishing this state of mind.
There were many times when I was trying to discuss particular problems I was having where I felt a kind of frustration or impatience emanating from him: he just wanted to get to the toolbox, was what I felt. And it's cool to see how enthusiastic he is about it. He really lights up.
But an example of how I didn't feel properly cared for: I had, at the time, suicidal ideations. That is, I wasn't actually going to commit the act, but I thought about it night and day and it tormented me. When doing one of his exercises he asked what I was thinking about and I said 'Robin Williams', who had just killed himself. And he responded, "that's irrelevant ". Another time I brought up having these feelings and he asked if I needed to go to the hospital. When I said " no" he moved on. He doesn't seem to realize that people in this state need help to overcome the thoughts. We need to be able to talk about them without worrying about being carted off to some padded room (and though I've never been to a Redding psych facility I'm quite sure that the experience would be awful.) Now I'm on Zoloft for that, but it's not a permanent solution.
Or, I was always worried about losing my job because I have memory and focus issues that cause me to make mistakes. But instead of trying to help me find ways to focus or think of accommodations that my employer could implement to help me, he told me just that the past didn't indicate the present, I.e. just because I'd lost jobs in the past doesn't mean I'll lose this one.
He also has this method, and it's quite clear what he's trying to do, where he counteracts the negative things you are saying with something positive. But the way it feels is that he isn't listening to you, and this is what most people on the outside will do as well. So if I say, I can't find anything to do with my spare time that interests me, first he makes me rephrase can't as "won't let", which is really annoying when you are putting all the effort you have into something, and then he goes on to suggest the things you've already tried and says that the negative patient is the one who says (like Eeyore) " that will never work". But no, seriously doc, a cup of tea is not overcoming my major depressive disorder, and neither is a hot shower.
Again, this is likely just about where a person is in their healing and therapy process. I think he needs to either be more selective about who he accepts as patients (only those who are really ready for his methods) or open himself up to listening to what his patients are trying to say, because quite often we already have some idea of what we need. I recommend him if you want to learn mindfulness, for example, but not if you are seriously bleeped up, like me.
