To get the ball rolling here are some questions that indicate what kind of things I’m looking at:-
Do you think therapy or medication helped you at all? What do you think are the limits of therapy based on your own experiences?
Do you believe that it is correct to label depression and anxiety as illnesses which need curing?
Do you sometimes feel as though you are being judged when you see a therapist?
Do you think that therapy or lifestyle/relationship/personal situation changes are required for someone suffering distress to improve?
Why do you think people often feel ashamed or guilty about having depression or anxiety?
Because there is a general lack of understanding, so those suffering still feel that others will stigmatise them.
Do the positive effects of therapy last outside of the consulting room or once the course of treatment was over? Yes. Those suffering can understand the logic. However, it is very hard to apply it when you are at a real low. It takes a lot of strength to make it work for you.
Who should decide what the outcome of therapy should be? (You or the therapist?). You.
How important are relationships in both maintaining and relieving your symptoms of distress? (This includes the relationship with your therapist). Important. Therapist needs to understand that one size does not fit all and be prepared to adapt. More so than the patient, who is often confused and requires comfort and guidance - whilst the patient needs to be strong and has to feel the need to get better, the therapist has to be talented enough to manage the patient when they are really not feeling it.
How much does will-power and motivation play a part in recovery? Does therapy help or hinder this? Willpower is high in my situation, but energy is low, so can't meet my own expectations.
Why do you think therapy doesn’t work for some people? Because they want an answer and to be fixed. Like medicine - take it, rest and be sorted. It doesn't work that way.
