Seeing a therapist.

[Usmc0844spare]

I'll get straight to the point.

There only about 10,000 Psy. docs in the Bay Area that most certainly have the authority to...and would love
to have the opportunity to....pull your 2A rights away based on half of what you posted.

I know you're hurting. But a public forum like this is not not not the platform to broadcast the situation.

Bull sh*t. Stop with the scaremongering.

[ivanimal]

Therein lies the rub - an anti-gun therapist is free to use personal animus towards people with guns to make this "judgment call." Especially since "erring on the side of caution" is a good excuse and provides plausible deniability to stick it to the gun owners.

This is what I am talking about, no one that?s ever met me would ever think I was a threat to myself or anyone. All I worry about is that one idiot?..

To make a long story short, my entire family is dead. My wife?s entire family is dead. Most of my friends are, well, dead. It has been 15 years of hell taking care of dying parents and siblings, and the money grabbing parasites that follow. I?m not a therapist, but am pretty good at talking things through. I?m also about as 2A friendly as it gets. A good friend and neighbor is also a 2A friendly therapist based in San Luis Obispo. Not Bay Area, but here to help a longtime Calgunner.

PM incoming, thank you!

I'll get straight to the point.

There only about 10,000 Psy. docs in the Bay Area that most certainly have the authority to...and would love
to have the opportunity to....pull your 2A rights away based on half of what you posted.

I know you're hurting. But a public forum like this is not not not the platform to broadcast the situation.

This is exactly the platform, there may be many other people that are asking the same question. I have always been a maverick when it comes to the civil rights we fight to protect. Who knows how many ?lists? I?m already on.

Ben, most true statement I've ever seen posted on this forum. First time we shook hands, I knew we would be friends. The last time I saw him, was when they were counting the days for Victor. Less than a week later, my world caved in on me too. Been picking up the pieces since.
Ivan, I hope with all my heart you find the closure you need. All I can offer you is some range therapy I owe you. Come and collect it, it'll do us both some good.

Brother we need to go shooting soon! Thank you for your kind words.

OP, sorry for your loss

My $0.02 is find a ?life coach? instead of a ?therapist?. Maybe it?s just the specific people but I find life coaches give actionable advice and tools to deal with life and therapists just charge you $$$$ to listen to you talk

And don?t discuss guns just the loss of important people in your life

My first sponsor is a life coach, I?ll reach out, thanks for the advice.

Bull sh*t. Stop with the scaremongering.

Well said as usual.

[ivanimal]

I may word this wrong, so bare with me. For those of you that don't know Ivan the original poster is one of the greatest people you could ever get to know. He has fought or helped fight more gun laws than anyone else I know.

I too had low point and issues in my life in 2019. I, went to counseling with a therapist and figured my life out. Instead of destroying my life I learned to deal with my life. I am so much happier of a person now because of what happened. What I thought was the lows of my life losing my girlfriend, my house, most of my fantasy life was something with therapy I learned actually probably saved the rest of my life. I would have never admitted this openly without knowing Ivan.

That being said I think counseling / therapy is a great thing and no one should worry about the 2nd amendment when deciding to get their life together or not. Maybe time that we as a gun community challenge the red flag and other laws. Probably won't be a easy fight but it would could be a worthy fight, it is allows people to go to therapy and correct their life issues without fear.

Should you go to therapy and end up with some type of red flag where they are trying to take your guns away I would be proud to stand with you in your fight and donate money towards fighting any type of red flag laws.

It has been my pleasure having you as a friend. Thanks for sharing your personal story, it mirrors my results from decades ago. The person I am is a result of seeking help.

[RandyD]

First, my condolences on the loss of your father and cousin. Dealing with death is a difficult process.

I think Usmc0844spare gave you practical advice regarding your inquiry. As an attorney, without doing legal research, I would analyze the situation the same way.

Regarding therapists, I deal with them in family law litigation. I would avoid therapists. I don't trust them. They mostly stand for everything that I oppose. You need to deal with your feelings, which can be difficult, time-consuming, and painful, but that is what family, church, and friends are for.

In dealing with death, one of my comforting thoughts is Isaiah 57:1: "Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come."

I hope your journey through this problem is quick.

[IVC]

Bull sh*t. Stop with the scaremongering.

It goes both ways - neither one of you knows whether "medical professionals" are or are not biased enough to misuse their position. Their trade association, the AMA, is rabidly anti-gun and is pushing gun control through "public health" angle, which is dishonest and underhanded to begin with. So it's not far fetched to assume that there are enough, or at least non-zero, "doctors" who would push this agenda.

[Tarmy]

I hope this is not too personal a question. When I was quitting drinking 18 years ago I went to a psychiatrist and a psychologist. They perform different functions. Which are you looking for? I know a psychologist I would recommend (if he is still practicing as it has been 18 years) on the peninsula if needed.

I have been perfect at only one thing in the last 18 years, not drinking. I wish you well on your efforts to be the best human being you can be OP.

[Rickybillegas]

I have discussed this with several mental health professionals. They are only obligated to report you if they believe you may harm yourself or others. Being depressed alone is not cause. Thinking about an actual method is probably going towards cause for reporting. It sucks but you have to walk a fine line. Can?t go wrong telling them you don?t have guns.

What about HIPPA laws?

My understanding is that your medical information is protected (with certain exceptions). Your health history is private and cannot be released without a request in writing by law enforcement that there is a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Likewise, therapists are bound by privacy laws, unless again there is suspicion of criminal activity, or again danger to self/others.
Therapist can risk their license if they make capricious reports.

I highly doubt that extremely common life circumstance, transitory mental health issues would come under the need for any scrutiny.

My 2c. Any Attorneys out there correct my statement as needed.

[ojisan]

It took about 6 months for me to recover from my Dad's passing.
It was several years before I could think about him and an old fun moment.
Mrs. Ojisan's passing hit me hard for a solid year, then slowly improved.
It was five years before I had a thought about her that made me smile.

I considered counseling but just like you, I considered it too risky being a firearms owner and working in the industry.
I did not want my property taken, a possible ban on ownership and my job ended.

It was tough but sometimes only time can ease the wounds.
Don't be in a hurry.

You need a CG group hug.

[jimmykan]

You don't need to tell your whole life story to a new therapist on the first session, or ever if you don't want to.

Open up little by little, and if at any point you don't like the tone or where the conversation is heading, just pull the plug and look for a new therapist until you find one who really seems to get it, or get you.

They are out there.

[IVC]

What about HIPPA laws?

That's exactly where the "red flag laws" kick in - they provide reporting channels for (ever expanding) group of people to make unsubstantiated claims about gun owners. And when I say "unsubstantiated" I mean it. The burden of proof is minimal and the deck is stacked against the gun owner, which is not a bug, it's a feature. Similar to how TRO-s can be abused by vindictive spouses because there is minimal legal review and requirement.

[naz]

I highly doubt that extremely common life circumstance, transitory mental health issues would come under the need for any scrutiny.
.

You would think

My $0.02 OP is right to be cautious

[Keith4him]

Unless there are DTO (Danger to Others), DTS (Danger to Self) then there should be no reason for a therapist to be concerned. Yes, we are an anomaly but there are therapists who are pro 2A and don't believe inanimate objects (guns) are dangerous outside of human control. You can private message me with other questions.

[Ari_d_sparki]

I am sorry for your loss.
Faith can help with the grieving and healing process.
But time, time with family, close friends, animals and healthy activities do the most.
Last year a close friend had a traumatic death due in part to his lung cancer.
His widow (who I barely knew) needed help. The kids and family friends didn't help, I did.
It has been over a year and she is just now coming out of a fog and becoming human again.
She sees a therapist who helps make sense of some of her issues, gives support and suggestions that help point her in a healthier direction.
Along the way we fell in love and I found the one woman who could domesticate me. And yes, I did get her to shoot. The gun she does best with and is close when I'm not is a G19x.

[Ari_d_sparki]

I've been through some rough times and among other things seen a psych.
A few years ago I was perusing my medical file and saw that at one time my doc had noted that I was on the verge of a mental break. I did not know that he had noted it in my file. I'm glad that he noted it and took no other action.
He knows I own guns. He knows I shoot a lot.
He also knew that I was not a danger to myself or others and therefore did not report me.
He did not make things worse, he suggested exercise and a psych.
For me, the cardio exercise helped more than anything else.
Maybe that was my luck with my family physician and your luck might not be that but that was my experience.

[Ari_d_sparki]

We are all here for you.
We have all dealt with our share of sickness and death.
And mentally ill family members who dislike firearms.
If you were any closer I'd come over, give you a hug, take you to the range then buy you a soda and have you sit with some animals.