Should I tell my therapist?

Hi, this is Alysone. Since I just joined this forum, I'm wondering if other people tell their therapists that you're on this site? I don't want her to read what I post cuz it feels like a safe place to really be real. But I don't want to keep secrets from her either. I send her emails, as do my alters, and she responds to them which helps me make it thru in between sessions. But it feels like I can be even more real and honest here than even in my sessions. It feels safe here to chat with those that really know what its like to be DID, and even though T is understanding, she doesn't experience the world like I do. And sometimes I have to be a certain eat with her and it feels like a.little boy of pretending. I'm feeling really confused right now and switching all over the place so I don't think I'm making sense. I'm just wondering if any of you have also told your therapist that you participate in this site, or do you keep it special just hot those of is that live this DID experience every day. Thanks, Alysone

that's a good worry. i know Jo - our host - told her therapist that she's on a "DID forum" but she didn't tell her what one or where it's at. which i'm glad for, i don't want that therapist seeing anything about us.

~ Rachelle

The therapist knows that we are on a DID board but she does not know which ones. One would like to think that she would realize that her patients require a modicum of privacy, or as much as one can get on the world wide web and thus leave the DID boards to the patients. You are not required to tell your therapist everything. If it would be beneficial for you to report your board usage to the therapist than do so. You may also consider e-mailing salient pieces of conversation to your therapist, plausibly with names removed, so that she may respond appropriately and you do not lose your ability to use this board freely.

That's a good idea to tell about it but not which one. That way I'm not keeping a secret but still have privacy and can be real here. Thanks for helping.

I was really paranoid about postong. I was worried about my T or any one spying on me. I loosened up after I realized that in my case my T pretty much knows about me what I post anyway. What he doesnt know is often logical in the profile of a DID client.

I believe emma told our T that we're on a DID forum, but that's it. Our T isn't helpful at all with the DID though so sharing more than that wouldn't serve to help any of us. Glad you found something that works for you

Yeah, i've mentioned that i'm on a forum, but didn't go into specifics. I don't think he would 'check' it out or anything even if i did. The only time i specifically mentioned what help forum i used was for another therapist (for something else, not DID) so that they could recomend it to others if they wanted to since it was a lot of help for me.

Yeah, it sounds good to only tell when they take the DID/DDNOS seriously. I haven't told my T but he would be able to see it (if he wanted to try). See here: has anyone found out?

** paranoid trigger warning ? **
Even when you list names here and to the T she/he can find out. Even when you're copying/pasting text while removing names. Just put a part of a post in Google and see what is the first result.
** end **

But apart from that, I think they should respect the privacy of their patients - I would expect a good T to not just go looking on such forums - or if they have found out, to not track their patients.

One would like to think that she would realize that her patients require a modicum of privacy, or as much as one can get on the world wide web and thus leave the DID boards to the patients.

Very much agree.

This is a very personal question, and the best answer for you will depend on your personal situation.

Online support groups are an important form of social support for many of us. I am very open with my therapist about the kinds of support groups I participate in. Support groups are not always healthy, however, so when that has been a concern I also disclose the specific support group and discuss my participation. Now and then I have e-mailed my therapist the URL to a thread or post here. Often what I post here relates to my current work in therapy.