Your opinion

Should delusions and/or hallucinations be interpreted or confronted by the therapist? What do you think?

I think that delusions and/or hallucinations should not be interpreted or confronted by the therapist.

You are the one who must ultimately interpret what’s going on in your mind, not anyone else, though a good therapist should be able to help in the process. I don’t think they should confront them either. Confrontation leads to anger. Your therapist can just respectfully let you know that they (and others) don’t see these things the way you do.

Janjones, thank you for your reply.

I am the therapist in question, not the client. I have recently started to work with clients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. My orientation is Psychodynamic and I believe that delusions and hallucinations are expressions of unconscious material that, if understood, could help clients to learn about themselves, or how their mind work and to improve their lives. I do let my clients know when we are not sharing the same reality, but encourage them to share theirs we me.
While some are hesitant to share, most seem relieved to do so.

I would like to hear your experiences with therapy. What is/was helpful and what is/was not.

LOL -- This is so funny! I don’t have a mental illness (that I know of!) I am actually here just to talk, learn and be a supporter. Since you didn’t specify that you wanted to speak with diagnosed folks, I just chimed in with my two cents, based on reading and personal opinion. Everyone has a label of ‘consumer’ under their name so you can’t tell on the forums, who has what diagnosis unless they have it in their profile, or you read it in their posting. So I am just a non or normie, in this situation.

I think it’s great you are here and that you are a therapist, helping people. Hopefully, you will get replies of the type you are looking for (hint, hint, chime in you guys!! )

Take care, Jan

im in cbt. on meds. schizoaffective.
my therapist confronted mine early on and i got pissed off and yelled at her.

I'm diagnosed with psychotic depression,
Currently in DBT and CBT. My therapist once tried to interpret my "delusions" and tried to poke holes in my logic, but I proved her wrong and it upset me a lot because I felt like she was trying to take away my powers and it made me loose trust for her because I felt like she was working against me.

Thank you Rawiyah and AnxxietyAttacks, for your imput.

I think the most important, in therapy, is to work with a therapist you trust and that is able to help you to achieve YOUR goals, whatever they are.

AnxxietyAttacks, I like your blog. Interesting.

I probably wouldn't care too much for someone telling me what I mean or think based on a delusion or hallucination. I also wouldn't care for someone assuming a statement I make, extended or not, or a display of intense emotion being caused by my illness. I've ditched friends over that. I don't need it. I don't need people proclaiming my assumed wants in a generic fashion.

Maidoforleans wrote:AnxxietyAttacks, I like your blog. Interesting.

thank you. i am currently enjoying your comment.

Maidoforleans wrote:Your opinion

opinions are like buttholes. everyone has them and they all stink.