Difficulty with therapy

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I am currently trying to get a diagnosis since I believe I do have Aspergers. I've seen a therapist a few times and I'm having trouble with him.

I was diagnosed with ADHD 26 years ago when I was 8 so I don't know if that is interfering with my therapy, but I'm having trouble retaining any information that my therapist is telling me. I feel emotionally drained and confused after our sessions. Whatever he's saying just isn't getting through to me. I just want to ask him point blank if he can give me a diagnosis or not and then I can work on the steps that I need to adapt. I need instructions not fancy words that I have to decipher.

He gives me tips for life and tells me that I'm a good person, etc. but I need him to be more specific. Why am I scared of people my own age. What is the reason for me to doing this particular thing? Why do I get obsessed with odd things that consume my every thought?

I need him to tell me exactly what to do and give me instructions and he just talks in hypothetical scenarios instead.

Should I look for a new therapist or do they all talk like this?

You might need to look for a new therapist.....but keep this one until you're satisfied with the new one.....or tell the present therapist what you have just told us.

Where are you located?

I think it's hard for most people to stand up to health professionals, I think when it's not working they usually quietly take their business elsewhere when it's not working. It's probably allowed to be firm about what you want, if it's not respected then it's probably better you know, but it's hard to do.

Breaking things down into specific instructions is a skill he may not have.

I like kraftiekorties advice. I had a group therapist suggest I had either Asperger’s or schizotypal disorder from day 1. At the end of my therapy sessions, he all but believes I have it but isn’t formally qualified to diagnose ASD. Same with two psychiatric nurse practitioners who independently came to that result. Truly skilled mental health people are rare but they do exist.

Thank you! I have another appointment in a few days and I'm going to try to be more direct. If he can't do that I will find someone else. There is a center that specializes in autism in my area but they are out of network from my insurance and really expensive.

A good therapist will help you to find out why you’re asking these questions by helping you understand yourself better and why you’re asking them. A bad therapist answers your questions without understanding why you’re even asking them in the first place and the worst kind of therapist medicates you without really considering your questions and isn’t engaged beyond that. I’ve always had the third kind and as far as I can tell you might have one of the former.

If you haven’t already you might consider taking the RAAD-S and the AQ tests. They’re a good way to access if you have some ASD traits.

http://www.aspietests.org/raads/
http://aspergerstest.net/aq-test/

Thanks! I just took those and got a 157 on the RAADS and a 39 on the AQ. Consistent with what I've gotten on every quiz that I've taken so far. Hopefully I can find out soon if my suspicions are correct!