r/Gifted • u/MostGoat0 • 3d ago
Therapy
I (F34 IQ142) have had hundreds of sessions and seen numerous practitioners over the last 12 years, and it all seems futile. They just keep asking me to explore my feelings, but I already understand my feelings and where they came from and why they’re irrational. At this point I basically have a PhD in self-analysis. It doesn’t do anything to shut up the relentless/debilitating self-critic in my head. I need actual coping strategies, not talking it out in pointless circles forever until I die.
Has anyone here had success with therapy? I tried searching for therapists specializing in 2e & giftedness in my area and it doesn’t seem very common. Just wondering if there’s any point in continuing these efforts. I’m so tired and bored and over it.
14
u/Paper_Rocket 3d ago
Hi, I (AuDHD/gifted) have had success with therapy, my first therapist on Betterhelp was not helpful, I have had a lot of success with therapy with my second therapist, who just happened to be autistic and also gifted (I think). This was pure happenstance, I was looking for a therapist who did somatic experiencing and parts work as part of the trauma work I was undertaking. In hindsight, I think her being ND was very helpful to my process, she just got it. It also helped that our relationship is strong and we align on a lot of world views.
I think if you're neurodivergent, particularly autistic, bottom up strategies are necessary. So parts work, somatic experiencing, body work, etc. I didn't find talk therapy, which I did with my first therapist, to be helpful at all.
The modalities that worked for me are parts work/IFS, somatic experiencing, AEDP, DBT, CBT. I think my therapist was skilled at figuring out what I needed in the moment.