Therapy

I apologize if this has been discussed but we know Eric was in therapy for a while and on medication, but Dylan was incredibly against it. Do you think it was the "normal' reasons some people don't want to go? He stated he was self reliant and he did think he was much smarter than pretty much everyone, so he probably didn't think it would help. He also thought he was a lot different then everyone else so how could they understand? Plus could he really be that honest with the therapist? That's an issue with therapy, if some of your thoughts and feelings are SO dark you can't always be open.

When I was looking at therapists I found I couldn't connect with any. I may try again one day, I'm in my 30's now and feel like it's hard to find one that actually understands and listens, so I imagine that has to be even harder for a 17 year old.

So what was so different in their personalities that made Eric more open to therapy? Or do you think Eric just bull shitted his way through it? I bet if Dylan was forced to go he would just sit there not talking or just said he was sad sometimes but fine.

I guess Eric was just forced into it more. Indeed, there is a great possibility he bullshitted some things, or simply couldn't be bothered to provide in depth details. If Dylan went, he would do the same.

I agree, vast majority of therapists are doing their job because they have to. From my experience, one of them even yelled at me, and the other one just laughed while sipping coffee with other therapists. I believe a bad therapist would have worsened up both.

I would still LOVE to see Eric's therapy session notes. I would like to see just how much he opened up. If he was really trying to find help or if like you said he lied his way through them like it was some sort of game.

I'd love to see them as well, refresh my memory if you can, did Eric's therapist get sued?

1Mare, UGH I'm sorry about the therapist, there are some REALLY bad ones out there and I agree if they got some bad ones it would have exasperated the issue even more. I have had therapists who LOVED to tell me to just take time to myself, go for a walk on my own, watch TV.. after I told them that I felt really isolated and tired of being alone all the time.. so you think I am going to feel better being by myself MORE. I would tell them I was going to bars on my own or going to classes and it was eating up my money but I NEEDED to be around people. Nope, just go for a walk by yourself... or watch television.

I also mentioned once I had 3 glasses of wine and fell asleep on the couch watching a movie and they told me I couldn't be helped until I went to AA..

WOW OMG [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I would not listen to any of those therapists either!!

When Dylan was in diversion he was pretty much forced to do what he had to do and did the bare minimum. He was late with his payments, did not do the community service until forced and lied to the counselor's face. I think it was just how he was. He knew he was a weak person but did not want anyone to see that. He was trying to take care of things on his own but was floundering

Unlike Eric. The "star pupil of diversion". He made his payments on time, did the community service and told the counselor everything they wanted to know. He was on meds and in therapy. He must have been a dream for them. Of course it was all a lie as well.

I get the sense that him being the "good son" and the one who is not a problem was drilled into him for a LONG time. He was breaking down and tried to deal with everything on his own.

In his essays he was VERY arrogant.

Even his mom admits in her book that she doesn't understand why he was let out early.