Meditation, chakras, etc.

[Haldur]

I've been in group therapy for a bit for depression and anxiety, and my previous therapist was just replaced (they occasionally cycle therapists where I go to give people different experience).

I have a concern about the new therapist. During our first session she talked about chakras and energy flows and meditation. Personally, I have no problem with simply closing my eyes and relaxing, but the rest of it sounds too much like gobbledy gook to me. I was wondering:
1. Is there any scientific backing of meditation as a therapeutic technique?
2. What should I say to this therapist that won't insult her, or should I just go elsewhere (that would be difficult, so it's not something I would do lightly).

 

[Paul2]

I think you should definitely go elsewhere. If you want good help for an important problem, why not find the best you can (unless you tell me that you've looked around, compared, and the best you can find is someone who believes in Chakras).

You owe yourself the best person to help you. How difficult are we talking about - to go elsewhere?

 

[Zep]

I've been in group therapy for a bit for depression and anxiety, and my previous therapist was just replaced (they occasionally cycle therapists where I go to give people different experience).

I have a concern about the new therapist. During our first session she talked about chakras and energy flows and meditation. Personally, I have no problem with simply closing my eyes and relaxing, but the rest of it sounds too much like gobbledy gook to me. I was wondering:
1. Is there any scientific backing of meditation as a therapeutic technique?

Yes, there is some support for meditation as a therapeutic technique. However how successful it will be depends very much on what your condition(s) are that you are trying to treat. I'm no psyciatrist, but there are a few who do post here (I think). So I highly recommend you find yourself one who you trust and who can explain clearly to you what your condition(s) are, the treatments available and expected outcomes.

However, "chakras" and "energy flow" are NOT meditation nor anything to do with it. They are completely imaginary ideas, as unscientific as they come, and so form no part whatever of any useful treatment (beyond getting all your hard-earned wages into someone else's wallet).

2. What should I say to this therapist that won't insult her, or should I just go elsewhere (that would be difficult, so it's not something I would do lightly).

This is a major issue. If you are being treated for real mental health issues (and not just using these sessions as an excuse to meet other people), don't waste your time and energy even trying to argue with this "chakra therapist". Find another therapist ASAP who does not waste your time and money with useless, hand-waving notions about imaginary rubbish about chakras, meridians, etc. You should not need to explain anything to the first therapist or invent excuses.

Good luck!

 

[rwerdja]

I've been in group therapy for a bit for depression and anxiety, and my previous therapist was just replaced (they occasionally cycle therapists where I go to give people different experience).

I have a concern about the new therapist. During our first session she talked about chakras and energy flows and meditation. Personally, I have no problem with simply closing my eyes and relaxing, but the rest of it sounds too much like gobbledy gook to me. I was wondering:
1. Is there any scientific backing of meditation as a therapeutic technique?
2. What should I say to this therapist that won't insult her, or should I just go elsewhere (that would be difficult, so it's not something I would do lightly).

I won a free "session" with this woman that had me sit in a chair as she waved a stick or wand in my face .. almost hit me a few times .. it was some woo woo crazy ****,

Edited by LashL: 

Edited to properly mask profanity. Please see Rule 10 re: the auto-censor

and I could not get out of there fast enough .. I would never go back! And to think that some people actually pay for this .. I, too, think you should find a new therapist.

 

[Sudahl]

This "therapist" just destroyed her own credibility, and may have violated ethical guidelines if she belongs to a professional body. Never mind the rules of the organization she works for. By all means find another therapist, one who is capable of helping you without resorting to BS. Don't be shy about complaining to her employer, and do not worry about hurting her feelings. Calling her on this nonsense should not be necessary-you have the unequivocal right to decide who your therapist will be without having to explain anything. Even if you did, calling someone on nonsensical ineffective beliefs is not an insult-it is you standing up for real help, which is your right.Your competent and professional care comes first. Thsi therapist is neither competent nor professional.

Unfortunately, this kind of nonsense is rife in the mental health field, although there are many therapists who are competent and who do not buy the woo. Find one of those.

 

[Mahaha]

Like someone has already said, meditation is one thing, different from the whole cakhras/energy belief system.
If she just mentioned them but they have no part in the therapy, just ignore that and meditate, it can have a big impact on the process.

If her therapeutic course requires you to believe in that stuff... well, that's not very ethical of her and maybe you should think about quitting.

 

[Haldur]

Thanks for all the responses.

There's a bit more to the situation than what I said in my original post. I've been going to the same clinic for a few years now. I'm currently unemployed, I don't have insurance, and they charge on a sliding scale. The people I'm in group with now, I like a lot, and have known a few of them for a long time, so it would be difficult for me to leave just because of that. I don't know if any of you have been in group therapy, but you do tend to form trust and friendships.

I also have a different psychiatrist at the same clinic, who I really like -- he's smart, and seems to know a whole lot about the different medications, and I trust him. He's mostly there to prescribe and monitor medication, and make any changes that might be necessary. I only see him nowadays every other month, since the medication I'm on seems to be working well. if I leave my therapist, I'd probably have to leave him as well (I'm not 100% sure).

The bulk of the first session was just introductions, and we just had a brief relaxation/mindfulness/meditation thing at the end. I just had a bad reaction to the language that she used (I studied science and engineering years ago in college, so my B.S. meter went off the chart when I heard the phrase "energy field"). I wouldn't say that it caused a panic attack (which I used to be prone to, but am no longer, thanks to good medicine). But it did make me really uncomfortable, which is why I posted here.

I've had some time to think about this. What I think I will do is stay for at least one more session, and mention my reaction to the group, and see what happens. If I get an argument from the therapist, I'll look into my options. Previously, with another group therapist, I'd spoken about how I disagreed with some religious viewpoints that she had expressed (I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheism, and I don't know that anyone else in the group is), and we did manage to work that out.

Anyway Thanks! I actually do feel a bit better now than I did before I posted this. (It's good to vent).