Posted by Andrew on 13/9/2016, 7:15 pm, in reply to "Guidance needed asap re. what type of medical specialist"
I suggest you ask to be referred to a clinical psychologist, preferably female. CBT is the prime approach because of the need to address both the anxiety that accompanies the experience of peeing, but also the cognitive side: i.e. to address the belief systems that are awry.
The cognitive therapy needs to address also feelings of shame, and possibly guilt: all the unhelpful negative emotions and beliefs about oneself that make life difficult, let alone peeing.
Hypnotherapy does not cure paruresis. However it could help with learning self-hypnosis to enable one to calm down negative and distracting thoughts. There is a technique of virtualisation whereby one learns to enter a self-defined calm place; this is helpful in life and also in toilets. A hypnotherapist may be able to teach you that. So this is an addition to CBT.
Another addition to CBT is neuro-linguistic programming. A practitioner may be helpful in unpicking things like the words and phrases used in one’s mind that trigger anxiety.
There may be a need to address issues of self-worth and of self-assertion. What do I mean by self-assertion? I remember being in a French motorway service station when a coach of French people rolled in. The female toilet was out of use. The women huddled together and then boldly, with no apology or embarrassment, went in the Mens to use the cubicles. They were asserting their needs.
You can get a feel for what these therapies are by having a look at the Dummy’s Guide series; there will be a book on each.
Note that each of these will probably need more that the 6 sessions available under the NHS.
Keep in touch
In Haste
Love
Andrew
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