Being there for your kids - Considering Therapy? Consider the 6-Week Rule

Episode Date: June 7, 2024

Unless you find yourself in emergency circumstances, sorting out all of your options for beginning therapy is a good idea. To that end, I encourage using my 6-week rule. Check it out.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let me tell you about my six-week rule. Deciding to begin therapy is a big deal. Typically, it means that there's a lot of stress in your life. Stress is taking its toll on you physically and mentally. You might feel like you're going to burst. Oftentimes, your loved ones ask if you're all right, and you blow her off. You might give her a few tidbits around the edges, but not the main thing that's bothering you.

You feel antsy and can't get comfortable. Joy and good feelings are fleeting. There's a part of you that wonders if things will ever get better, and maybe you're defective. Most people, guys in particular, have a hard time allowing others in and being vulnerable. It's fine for people to have secret parts that nobody knows about, but not if the secret disrupts your life. Beginning therapy can be a process whereby you start letting people in and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. That's why beginning therapy is such a big deal. Typically, there are bothersome things on your mind which won't go away. You try reaching out to friends and family to help sort out your feelings. Sometimes that's all you need, and you feel better getting that load off your chest. You're getting back to your old self.

You have a few good night's sleep. You feel hungry again for the first time in a while. You're hanging out with friends and family and enjoying having fun again. However, if your moods come and go, you seem to have lost your rhythm and the funk returns, you then might consider what I call the six-week rule. That is, try shaking things up, sharing with friends and family, getting a check-up with your family physician, and see how your days go. If your funk continues for more than six weeks,

then think about beginning therapy. Because this, that is you, are a big deal, do your research to find your therapist. Studies indicate that 75% of effective healing therapy comes from the doctor-patient relationship, while only 25% comes from your therapist's bag of tricks. Get recommendations from your physician and from friends and coworkers. Even go to the length of interviewing prospective therapists for one session each before committing to the process. If you are in an emergency situation or feel suicidal, call the suicide hotline at pound 811.

Tell loved ones and find a therapist quickly. Sudden unexpected events like an unexpected loss or traumatic attack, or incident require mental health triage. Under these circumstances, the six-week rule does not apply. I had a patient back in the day who had been in therapy back in Florida before his company moved him to Virginia. His appointment with me was on a Thursday, and he told me that I was his fourth therapist appointment that week. He had been in therapy for a year back in Florida, and he wanted things to click again since he had moved. After his appointment with me, I didn't see him for two months. He then came back in and started sessions with me. Oops, I chose the wrong one. I saw him weekly for

six months with symptom relief and a smooth transition to his changing circumstances. In my new book, The Healing Journey, overcoming adversity on the path of the good life, I make use of extensive counselor-client dialogue to give readers a sneak peek into just how effective therapy is done. I offer four stages of therapy, and I share new treatment strategy, which I call it. all intelligent psychotherapy. Check out my new book on my website, www.orgon.com, and buy your copy on

Amazonbooks.com. Blessings to John. If my comments are questions of your own, contact me through my website at www. Thereformykid.com or email me at John Robinson 0.0.BelSouth.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting,

and now the healing journey, overcoming adversity on the path of good life. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.