Posts by redharbor9

driftinggull21 said:

...perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask... should you be required to disclose everything when bringing a child to a pediatrician if that doctor is abusive toward kids—hitting crying children just to quiet them because he believes physical punishment is acceptable... or if he happens to be a pedophile...
...is it not enough to simply turn around and walk out to find another pediatrician?

Whether my child's pediatrician hits his own children at home is something I don't know, nor can I ever know. However, if he strikes my child during an exam, there are three consequences: first, the Department of Justice would launch an investigation; second, I would file a private lawsuit; and third, disciplinary proceedings would follow. Therefore, I doubt any pediatrician would dare hit a child while on duty. As for being a pedophile, that isn't written on their forehead or displayed on the office door.
In short, if I am dissatisfied with a pediatrician, I would switch doctors immediately. I would notice any issues long before a tenth visit.

A psychotherapist provides a service, much like a hairstylist, and the pricing is comparable.😁 That is why I drew that comparison. Psychotherapists are human beings entitled to their own opinions, personal struggles, and problems, provided they know how to leave them at the office door. Naturally, the reverse applies: once the session is over, the therapist must leave the work at the workplace.
A psychotherapist needs to know a client's private information to provide effective help, just as a client might ask their therapist something personal; the level of detail in the response will depend entirely on the individual therapist.
For instance, in my own home, I don't keep a single photo of my family, my house... anything that could compromise my privacy or intimacy. I don't even have a Facebook profile for that exact reason.
Furthermore, it is unthinkable to me that I should have to answer questions regarding my sexual orientation, my voting preferences, or whether I am homophobic...

Individuals who claim to be psychotherapists but lack psychiatric degrees and formal psychotherapy training are committing the crime of practicing medicine without a license under current laws.

It’s not that simple though. The law defines psychotherapy itself, not "psychotherapist" as an official title—since that doesn't even officially exist yet. If the legal framework were actually that clear-cut, all those alternative healers with zero training claiming to be therapists would've been shut down long ago. But they're still everywhere...

Even official documents can pass through if they just claim various professions are providing therapy, even if the definitions are getting a bit tighter now...

Bottom line: what you wrote will only matter once that new psychotherapy bill passes. That bill wants to define psychotherapy strictly as medical treatment, which is what the current Secretary is trying to push through. Until then, we're stuck in this legal mess where anyone can twist the wording to suit them. That's why the Wild West is still happening.

driftinggull21 said:Yeah, right.🤣 As if we should just hand over our Social Security numbers too.🙄
A psychotherapist is entitled to their own personal views and opinions, but within the office, they must remain professional and objective. Anyone dissatisfied with their therapist is free to find another.

I bet they’d want a blood test next, and let's not forget about equipment size for the male therapists, obviously.😍

placidwolf2 said:Lately, giving a client your direct number so they can reach out whenever they need to has become a defining feature of certain modern psychotherapeutic approaches.

For instance, Schema therapy introduced the concept of Limited Reparenting (see the link, page 31), which outlines an entire strategy for building a more successful, secure, and trusting therapeutic bond—and that includes mandatory phone contact. Schema therapy has proven particularly effective when working with BPD, NPD, PTSD, and ED patients, as well as treating other disorders with high suicide rates. Today, there’s hardly any recent scientific literature on these conditions that doesn't discuss or recommend Schema.

Personal experiences with providing a phone number have been overwhelmingly positive; I haven't heard a single therapist complain about clients abusing the privilege. Initially, calls tend to be frequent—maybe two or three times a week—but as therapy progresses, they taper off until they drop to once a month or not at all, which is actually a reliable sign of clinical progress and success. 🙂

Everyone's experience is different 🙂 and let's be real, things are never perfect or perfectly organized...

Rebecca Scott3 said:....morning everyone.....you all were busy typing while I was catching some Z's.......the world keeps spinning, doesn't it?....

...most people just assume that a therapist should be this perfectly open-minded vessel where their own personal beliefs don't bleed into the session.....but honestly.....from what I've seen in my own life.....that isn't always the reality. Not everyone walking into a clinic is a saint with an unbiased mind. No matter how hard someone tries to shove their personal biases, their little paranoias, or their deep-seated fears into a box under the bed.....it’s impossible. You can try to suppress it, sure.....but eventually, those things are going to float right back to the surface....

...so, I actually think it would be incredibly helpful if clients had the right to know even the most basic stuff about their therapist beforehand.....things like....did they go to a religious college or a seminary? (like a Catholic or Jewish institution)....
....do they hold really traditional, patriarchal views on family and roles?....
....are they registered members of a specific political party?....
....have they ever been in therapy themselves, and if so, what was it for? (honestly, that could be a huge asset or a major red flag, depending on the person)....
....are they actually comfortable discussing topics like homosexuality?....
......and what kind of client profile do they actually gravitate toward? (Are they specialists in depression, PTSD, anxiety, social skills, etc.)?....
.....
....at the end of the day....don't you think a person has every right to know who the individual is that they're supposed to trust with their mental health?....

Obviously they have every right to know. The real question is how much the therapist chooses to reveal or answer. It can be risky for the therapist because being too open might lead a client to expect a level of closeness that isn't professional, which causes massive issues with certain types of patients...

EDIT: I had one female client ask about my sexual orientation. I told her. Then she went and asked my colleague—who actually referred her to me—why I hadn't just mentioned I was gay. My colleague asked her why that even mattered, and the client just looked confused and said it didn't matter... Then there was this guy who wasn't sure if he should wish me a Merry Christmas, so he went stalking my Facebook to check my religion. Clearly, that didn't help him much because he ended up coming in to ask what my religion was and if he was supposed to wish me a Merry Christmas anyway.😍

Look, sometimes clients need these "irrelevant" details just to build rapport, which honestly makes the therapy more successful...

Some therapists let clients call them 24/7, while others freak out if they get a single text. I actually know a therapist who lived with a client for a week—that’s basically the absolute peak of losing all boundaries. On the flip side, I know therapists who won't say a damn thing about themselves beyond their credentials...

Tyler Jackson6 said:I don't know if this helps your case, but here in the States,
if you look at the "demographics" of psychiatrists, they have the highest rate of singles and divorcees compared to any other medical specialty. 😁

I mean, there’s really no point in a patient telling their doctor, "How the hell are you supposed to fix my marriage when your own life is a total wreck?" 🤣

I honestly believe there are probably schizophrenic psychiatrists out there (on meds, obviously), just like there are plenty of gay gynecologists. It happens more often than people care to admit. 🙂

That stat actually refers to psychotherapists... but you could spin it another way if you wanted to be pedantic. If you look at it like that, it basically implies they’re the ones causing the divorces, which totally ignores what the partner is doing. The real issue here is just how much they care about spotting problems and actually fixing them the right way. But let's be real—look at any relationship around you. How often do people actually deal with their issues in a constructive, serious way? Hardly ever.

Look, when you add those divorce stats to the mix, you also have to factor in the mental health issues. It’s a pattern. That stuff is basically a hallmark of psychos.

Dennis Jackson38 said:Are you referring to that same historical stretch where people insisted the Earth was a flat disc, thought leeches were the panacea for almost every ailment, or believed redheaded women were witches destined for the pyre? 😬

Upon further reflection, one could theoretically conceive of a brilliant robot designed to step into the role of a therapist—one capable of posing flawless logical inquiries and delivering impeccable logical responses and diagnoses. Why, then, would such a thing never succeed in the real world? Because a machine will never possess the single most vital element required to truly grasp the struggles of another human being: empathy.

Really? Seriousness? A therapist "views" it??? There hasn't been a "view" regarding this specific example since 1970. (I find it hard to believe that we still have to Wikipedia and copy-paste this stuff on this PDF 😁)

Since the 1970s, the consensus of the social sciences and health professions has moved to the belief that homosexuality is a normal variation of human sexual orientation, while there remain those who maintain that it is a disorder.[2] In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Listen to this... "influence the therapy." The only thing it will influence is his loss of medical licensure, because he's busy declaring a homosexual person to be sick.
Now, remind me about that little girl they kept locked away just for being a lesbian... chills....

If I had to choose a personal motto to live by, it would be:

"Not doing more than the average is what keeps the average down"

In an effort to extract the philosophical core from this topic and steer the conversation back toward its intended course, I’ll attempt to refocus the point 😉

It is perfectly reasonable to expect those who have dedicated their lives to mental health to possess a higher degree of insight, openness, and freedom from the primitive biases found in whatever "mental mainstream" you are referring to.
I am certainly not suggesting they need to be superhuman, far from it; however, they shouldn't be using their credentials as an excuse to implant their own prejudices into patients who come to them in good faith—especially those dealing with more complex issues.

Right now in America? It won't happen. There's a huge list of psychiatrists and therapists over here who still think homosexuality is a disease and try to "fix" it. And it's not just the treatment—they straight-up terrorize clients, telling them they're going to hell or blackmailing kids by threatening to tell their parents everything.

Take Gruden, for example. He was constantly on TV bragging about how he could "cure" it. After a massive wave of backlash and complaints, he finally shut his mouth about it in public. But the way these people operate in private? It’s a total horror show, like something straight out of Monty Python.

The real question is: how much does finishing therapy actually guarantee that a therapist has done the work on themselves? That they’ve actually faced their own baggage? Sadly, I've seen plenty of cases where people didn't move an inch, even after grinding through full analysis...

Terry Grant2 said:They certainly should, though I can't say for sure if everyone needs it or how long it takes... my understanding is that psychotherapists should undergo their own personal psychoanalysis for about four years during their training (at least, that’s what I heard from a psychiatrist who doesn't practice psychoanalysis herself, but was required to complete a four-year psychoanalytic program)...
As for psychologists—I don't believe they are strictly required to, as I haven't come across many cases where they have their own therapy... though they might engage in some form of supervision...

And regarding psychiatrists being people with their own biases... 🤷 well, they certainly are... and it's true that some may be dealing with their own issues... that's just a fact...

Which is why some people say that—ultimately, it is the therapist's own personality that does most of the healing. 😁
So, isn't it wise to be very careful when choosing someone to guide you through such a delicate process as psychotherapy? 😍

Here is how you can tell if your therapist is truly the right fit for you;


Your first psychotherapy session

During that initial therapeutic hour, the therapist gathers essential information about the individual seeking help. The consultation usually begins by collecting basic data regarding previous physical and mental health history, followed by a series of questions designed to get a sense of the reasons and motivations behind the person's decision to seek therapy.

This helps the psychotherapist gain a deeper understanding of the situation facing the person—whether they are looking to resolve specific issues through psychological means or hoping to ensure new emotional growth and development through the therapeutic relationship. That first encounter is also a vital opportunity for the client to evaluate the therapist's methodology and personality, gauging whether the fundamental conditions for a collaborative therapeutic relationship actually exist. Sometimes, it might take a few sessions to make that assessment. It is quite important, therefore, to discover which specific psychotherapeutic technique the practitioner employs, and equally important to determine which approach feels most acceptable to the person seeking care.

It is best to discuss primary goals and what you hope to achieve through therapy during that very first meeting. Please feel free to ask your therapist any other questions you might have, such as the expected duration of treatment, how frequently sessions occur, how long each session lasts, or anything else on your mind. If you don't feel comfortable with the therapist, or if you sense inconsistencies that prevent you from doing your best work with them, please feel free to look for someone who is a better match. Occasionally, it takes a few meetings before either you or your therapist reaches that conclusion. Once therapy officially commences, consistency in attendance is necessary, with frequency varying based on your established goals and the specific therapeutic technique used. In any case, for anyone wishing to grow and evolve psychologically, emotionally, and in every other sense, psychotherapy is a wonderful choice.

Mario Mikulan

Source:
http://www.regionalni.com/lifestyle/...-psihoterapiji

Nah, only analytical therapists actually undergo psychoanalysis...

Quentin Tarantino:

Psychologists—I don't think they need it. I've never even heard of them having their own therapy... maybe some supervision, but that's it...

That has nothing to do with the profession itself. It's about the specific type of psychotherapy they're trained in... everyone hits the same requirements to get their degree... some programs make personal therapy mandatory, some don't, some make it optional...

Quentin Tarantino:

That's why people say the therapist's own personality is what does most of the healing. 😁

I also heard a solid concept recently: that a therapist heals themselves too... basically by learning something new from every single client, which helps them evolve into a more complete person along the way...

Look, at the end of the day, a therapist is just a human being. No amount of schooling or fancy degrees makes you immune to everything. What matters is developing self-awareness about your own limits and actually respecting them. A pro should know when to call it quits or refer someone out if they realize they can't handle it.

Clashes over beliefs happen all the time in therapy. It’s on the therapist to figure out if those views are getting in the way and then deal with it the right way.

I was doing a counseling session recently with someone who thinks cannabis is this massive hard drug, even though they're actually a heavy user themselves. I have totally different views on it, but honestly, it didn't bother me one bit. While we were talking through their issue, I pointed out some gray areas and corrected some misinformation they had, but I didn't push it any further than what was necessary for the work. I don't care about winning an argument. Meanwhile, I have a colleague who can't pull that off. That subject is such a landmine for them that they wouldn't even work with someone holding those views, so they just distance themselves beforehand to stay safe.

Issues regarding personal morals come up constantly when you're working with criminals—pedophiles, abusers, murderers, you name it. Back in grad school, we used to debate whether we could actually work with people like that, and it was wild seeing how much we differed. One female colleague would work with anyone except a pedophile; I personally couldn't stand skinheads; others wouldn't touch anyone with a criminal record. It always comes back to knowing your own boundaries and sticking to them. You aren't bulletproof against someone else's personality.

He wants to define what a good employee looks like to him, and he wants to find someone who actually fits his vibe. 🙂

Now you're gonna tell me I sounded stupid, but let me ask you something: you really think every boss out there asks the same questions, uses the same criteria, and hunts for the exact same skill sets?

Kimberly Johnson4 said:So, I guess I really am a case in point 😢 ...
Man... looking back, one specific moment changed pretty much everything. I can't quite pin down the exact details because I was wasted as hell, which led to me making some seriously bad calls... then one thing after another... almost like a pattern while I was drinking... though I was always the life of the party even before that. I still drink now and I'm still the fun guy, but occasionally these outbursts of aggression just... happen. And honestly, that changes things, I think...

If that’s how you want to play it, we’re all outliers😉

Kimberly Johnson4 said:Alright... so I guess I have to ask: how do you even define a problem? I can't really point to one specific moment, or some life-altering event, or anything like that... It’s more like someone just wiped out all the actual memories, but left these heavy, bad feelings lingering behind where they used to be.... I don't know how else to put it...

That's just deep-seated subconscious stuff. I actually have a client in therapy right now dealing with the exact same thing. We worked through it and saw massive shifts—the person even looks better, physically. But the real kicker? We still can't pinpoint what the actual trigger was. It's a total mystery.

Nothing weird about it, honestly. You just need to find a therapist who specializes in this kind of thing and actually clicks with you. 🙂

Look, hypnotherapy can be a quick fix, provided you don't stumble onto some hack who's just trying to milk you for cash 🙂

Just because you stumble onto your subconscious doesn't mean you've suddenly solved everything. Sometimes, trying to fix stuff you've dug up isn't even necessary—honestly, you might not even need to be aware of half the junk you're digging through in the first place.

So you think that’s enough to claim everyone thinks or acts that way? That’s a pretty pathetic way to look at things. 🙂

Carl Thompson6 said:Every psychiatrist I've talked to says that when you're first tackling things, you need to be seeing them at least once a week, maybe even more. It honestly makes total sense to me... I mean, how are you supposed to actually work through mental health stuff if you're only checking in two or three times a month? At least during that initial phase, you've gotta stay on top of it.

Oh yeah? And where exactly did "every single psychiatrist" say that?
That’s total nonsense. Some people need a different schedule, and different therapy methods require different paces. Sometimes the work itself demands it. People aren't robots; you can't just follow some textbook template for everyone.🙂

Carl Thompson6 said:That’s a killer comparison... but honestly, why would anyone even bother throwing money down the drain like that? Whether you're talking to some random fortune teller or a shrink, there's zero guarantee of anything.

And how am I supposed to give him a guarantee? Someone explain that to me. I’m dying to know—when a client sits down in front of me for the first time, how exactly am I meant to guarantee they'll succeed?

@Carl Thompson6
You're getting a little carried away here... What you're describing is just one specific approach that applies to a tiny subset of people. Everyone has the choice to pick therapists who use "fast-track" methods. Some folks want quick results, maybe once a week, or they look for solution-focused therapy where you set a concrete plan to hit a goal in 10 sessions over a few months...

There are tons of different ways to handle this, not just $100 3x a week. That’s just one way to do it, so don't blow it out of proportion. 🙂

frozenbison3 said:There’s no need to rush straight into brain scans every single time. You can often spot organic issues just by looking at behavioral symptoms—plus, let’s be honest, imaging doesn't always catch the root cause anyway.

And don't get me started on psychotherapy being overpriced. You’re basically paying to vent on a couch for years on end. $100, sometimes even longer. Meeting once or twice a week for several years without seeing any actual progress or a "cure" is a massive money pit. Besides, if you take your car to a mechanic and they mess up, you have recourse. With therapists? They just shrug and claim you weren't "ready to do the work." Give me a break. If I drop tens of thousands of dollars on this and it fails, apparently it’s either my fault or the universe's fault. What a joke.

Look, if you think just throwing money at something fixes everything, go ahead and max out your credit cards to pay some grandma in Chicago the full amount upfront. You'll end up in the exact same spot. 🙂

Carl Thompson6 said:Haha... man, if they actually showed some genuine desire to help patients instead of just chasing the almighty dollar... I mean, I get it, even those mental health specialists have bills to pay, and I don't think they're all bad actors. It's just that there are way too many of them out there charging an absolute fortune for services that honestly don't live up to the price tag.

Maybe that's the whole issue—expecting them to actually do something useful.🙂