<p>
</p>
<p>This dichotomy, bluntly, isn’t remotely true. Many, many (I’d bet a sizable majority of them) psychologists practice “pragmatic” therapies (CBT, IPT<DBT, etc) while some MSWs practice more psychodynamic therapies. In fact, I’d guess that psychologists are probably more likely to practice pragmatic therapies, because their training has a greater focus on research-based therapies. Regardless, practitioners of all degrees practice different types of therapy.</p>
<p>It may be dependent on what the local schools of thought are in your area.
What is being emphasized in the local U’s?
Those trained in the '60’s, '70’s, and 80’s, are still in practice in my area & even though Linehan is local, my experience has been that MSW’s are MUCH more helpful, even though my last therapist is a psych.
He basically just bonded with H and chatted about growing up in Seattle.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>I can’t say this enough, OP. So, I’m going to be the proverbial broken record.
Being clinically depressed (or any mental illness) is NO reflection on you nor your son. You nor your son caused or fostered it. It is NOT a moral defect on your son’s part. Nor yours. It is physical. It is physical. It is physical. He can’t will himself to be well. Nor can you. It does not negate in any way the intellect or the humanity of the person who is affected. It CAN hide those wonderful traits–which is why it is so important for those who know someone suffering to stand up champion them.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many people don’t believe that something they can’t see is real.
However, they can see the effects from it.
Depression is real. Expecting someone to get over their depression by themselves without repercussions, is like expecting your broken arm to mend itself properly without having it set.</p>
<p>OP–please, please read my comment early in the thread. we might have been erring on the side of too much support. Or we might have been erring on the side of suicide (which runs in my family). I’ll err the first way every time. My son was in trouble. We let him come home and figure it out. Now, six years later, he’s a college grad about to start a new job. That’s great but that’s not the important thing.</p>
<p>The important thing is he’s well and happy. And still with us. Don’t, please! don’t cut him off. He needs someone ON HIS SIDE.</p>
<p>" He went on a brief travel abroad experience and then spent the summer working at an internship.</p>
<p>Then ‘something’ happened."</p>
<p>Is it possible something really bad happened while he was traveling abroad or at the internship? or could it be that the internship didn’t go well in his eyes and either he no longer wants to be an engineer or feels he can’t cut it so there is no reason to try? Any of those things could make him depressed.</p>
<p>Yes,There are all kinds of possibilities-depression, substance abuse, breakup, sexual identity issues , sexual assault or bullying, academic issues, medical issues ,etc. Someone needs to get to the bottom of this as it is not normal for a previously high functioning young man to be acting in this way. </p>
<p>No update?</p>
<p>I would try and “turn the heat down” and take the pressure off yourself and your son. There seems to be a sense of urgency in getting it all figured out because of the scholarship and school. I understand completely how you must feel to see the things your son worked so hard for be jeopardized. But I do think your son needs time in an environment with little pressure to figure out what is going on. It does not appear that you have adequately explored the options with his school. I would put some energy into determining whether a leave of absence might be available, especially under these circumstances. My instincts tell me there might be more wiggle room than you think.</p>
<p>Young men of this age can be tough. It is near impossible to get them to do something they don’t want to do. It is draining and frustrating. But I think you should continue to impress upon him that the situation in unlikely to improve if he won’t address it. I think this is where you draw the hard line in the sand. You are willing to support him through this but he needs to address the problem and work on a solution with those who can help him. Maybe give him a little time to rest up and reflect. Not sure that taking the 2 courses this summer is helping though - it keeps the pressure on.</p>
<p>Op,
So sorry that you and your DS is going through all of this.
I have not read all of the posts above so it’s probably a repeat of what others have said.</p>
<p>" He went on a brief travel abroad experience and then spent the summer working at an internship.
Then ‘something’ happened.
He lost all motivation - when he returned to school for his 2nd year, he started skipping almost all his classes. He was feeling extremely depressed."
And his roommate was dealing drugs…</p>
<p>Possible reasons for this sudden change:
<p>I would schedule an appointment with a psychologist (for talking about his stressors) and a psychiatrist (in the advent that an antidepressant is needed). Even though he is over 18, you should still make the appointment for him and drag him down there yourself if he is not going to go. (Drive him over and check him in and wait in waiting room or in the car). The college may have rules about scheduling appts, but you can do it with the private therapists since he his home for the summer.</p>
<p>Also ask college if he takes a leave of absence or medical leave if he can keep the scholarship in place.</p>
<p>Lastly, by him asking you if he can drop out of college, this is a big cry that he is very unhappy. This is a better cry out than a suicide attempt. So you should really stop and listen and take care of him now.</p>