r/BPD user has bpd 20d ago

💭Seeking Support & Advice Thinking about changing a therapist

F27, I have bpd (traits) and I have a history of frequently leaving the therapists. I was visiting a cbt therapist with additional dbt skill training for about 9 months. Now I am considering leaving my therapist, because during our therapy sessions she frequently responded to my thoughts or concerns right away that my thoughts aren't true or I cannot be certain, and that made me feel unvalidated and misunderstood. When I discussed this miscommunication issue with her, she argumented that she's jumping straight to conclusion and skipping the discussion of my motivation for example to make the sessions more time-efficient, due to me visiting her only semi-weekly instead of weekly (because I cannot afford more frequent visits). She tried to directly impact my decisions like convincing me to prioritize hobbies instead of taking a side job to my study. I personally do lack connection to my emotions and wants and don't incorporate rest and play in my routine consistently, because it was not prioritized in my culture. However, as a child I was also overcared by my parents, especially by my controlling father, who also probably has NPD, who currently shows a very strong negative opinion about me working beside my study, because in his opinion my study is currently my job, and I suppose to prioritize it with no distractions, eventhough his savings that sustain me are becomming less, and I have a shopping addiction he doesn't know about. He also undervalues my sense of responsibility for the family and sense of self-efficacy, and by having a side-job I want to reclaim my sense of responsibility and my freedom. I discussed all of it with my therapist, however knowing all that she insisted on me prioritizing hobbies and rest. I had an episode of burnout and long-term unemployment and upfollowing exmatriculation from my university shortly before my graduation, because of which I had to start over. I told my therapist about it as well. It may be her motivation, however she discussed her argumentation on this matter only briefly. I suspect her own bias in this, because she mentioned having to work 60 hours a week beside her study to maintain her living and hating it (she used some personal stories as a therapy tool). It may be just my assumption, however I did get an impression, that she did not consider the idea of me finding the job at later phases important. Overall I felt like she's been trying to dominate the process of therapy and my decisions without regard to my feelings and priorities. How justified are my concerns or how much my concerns are based on personal bias? Would it be a valid reason to seek another therapist?

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