For several years after my husband's death.  Tried out several -- one fell asleep (snoring!) while I poured out my heart, another had the "There, there, dear," approach (useless), a third handed me some sort of pills without even asking medical history, which I tossed in the trash on the way out the door.  Finally settled on an Analyst who let me scream at her weekly, which probably helped. 

But when I embarked upon a foolhardy plan of drastic change for all the wrong reasons, she encouraged me rather than trying to stop me with rational warnings and observations.  When I called her out for that later she said she thought I needed to make the mistake to learn.  Irresponsible. 

Yes, saw a priest turned holistic  psychotherapist. He was the best. Very spiritual. I want to model him in my work. He teaches breathwork, mindfulness, meditation,  affirmations, mind/body connection, and other holistic things along with the traditional CBT.

I have, off and on, over the years.

The first time, my family made me go when I was 15, because, you know, I’m causing all the problems in the family. I was the focal point of all the anger because my dad was an alcoholic. The therapist suggested the entire family come in and it helped some.

I became depressed (I was confused and didn’t know it was depression) in my late 20’s and sought a therapist. The first one sat there listening to me, nonchalantly rolled up a piece of paper, then looked at me through it like a telescope. For real, wtf is with some of these fucking assholes. I got a new one. 

A couple years later I had just begun seeing another one. I had a very real depressive episode with a panic attack and thankfully a co-worker helped me, dialed my therapist for me, and I spoke to her. I was able to go see her and was soon prescribed an antidepressant. (It helped in six weeks. Like, incredibly so. I was on it for some years but then got sick of the eventual blandness in my spirit. Went off it on my own, no tapering. I was fine.)

During the time I was on the antidepressant, I would go visit the doctor but it simply became a check in. No talk therapy. I felt that was wrong. I think it was then that I decided to quit that shit. Like, fuck you, you drug dealer.

Then after I had cancer, was on medical leave, I sought a therapist just to sift through all the cancer aftermath feelings and stuff. It was good.

And the last times I went, it was to get a better handle on what I was going through in my marriage. It helped. That was Pluto transit to my Venus. 

So, here and there throughout my life, as I felt I needed. I don’t have need for it now. But for real…it’s sometimes like a crapshoot finding a good one, or a good fit.

No, but I would love to. I think it would do me good to talk to someone. My mom wasn't a therapist, she was a literature expert, and she was absolutely amazing at analyzing things, people, and situations and explaining, I miss it so much. It's in my plans to find a good therapist.

Yes. The first thing I did when I bought my first car at 17, was find a therapist and saw her for 2 years. I was very lucky to have found a great person and consider the experience a genuine life saver for me.