Speaking of...
More social workers...
A curious thing happened to one of my psychiatric residents not long ago. One of his patients caught him off guard with a challenging question: “Have you ever been in psychotherapy yourself?”**********
It was an interesting question, and it made me wonder whether one could be a good therapist without having been in psychotherapy.
If the answer was no, it would appear to be at odds with what we do in the rest of medical practice.
RELATED: Speaking of therapy...
I hear there's an outbreak of "Obama Comedown Syndrome"*
4 comments:
I would not want a brain surgeon, who had already undergone brain surgery, to do brain surgery on me.
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john, one small suggestion.
you should actually read the article...
"If your cardiologist does not have the best bedside manner but effectively treats your hypertension, you might not be happy, but at least you are heading in the right medical direction."
"In contrast, if you do not have a rapport with your therapist, then the treatment is useless."
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You are correct that I misunderstood the subject of the following sentence: "If the answer was no, it would appear to be at odds with what we do in the rest of medical practice." It is bothersome when people overuse words like 'it.'
Personal experience is not required to have empathy. Nor is it necessary to undergo treatment to be able to have a rapport with someone. Then again, rapport is not a requirement for someone to help others with psychological issues. Common sense and logic are huge aids that can show people how and why they are headed in the wrong direction.
The article says, "One way to think about it is that a therapist should not start exploring a patient’s mind without really knowing what is in his own." Certainly that is one way, but not necessarily the best or only way. You go to therapy to get help -- not to make friends. The therapist should know what is in his own mind to be able to get accredited. Their personal life cannot interfere with their professional life like the resident's did.
It also says, "[t]herapists, just like their patients, bring their own life experiences into treatment, which influence their feelings about their patients — a process called countertransference."
That is misleading. Of course therapists bring life experiences into treatment. Their education and professional experience are what matter. If a therapist is going through a divorce, it may make him empathetic, but it will also increase the chance of bias. They must leave their personal feelings at the door. They must be impartial. They cannot allow their personal feelings get in the way of treatment.
The main thing that is truly required is trust. A willingness to listen and impart insight as to how the person became lost is important too. That insight comes from education and professional experience. Friendship should not even be on the list. If I felt broken enough to want to see a therapist, I would not want a therapist that is likewise broken. That would be the blind leading the blind. That is definately NOT the kind of psychiatrist that I would want taking care of me.
The article also mentions "... mood disorders and complicated substance abuse." Those should be easy ones because they are not illnesses. Sadly, too few realize just how easy it is to change. All it takes is a decision and the responsibility to stand by that decision. I learned that the hard way years ago. Most people don't learn that until they hit rock bottom. The trouble is some people's rock bottom kills them.
I contend that if the world worked harder to get their idealist heads out of the clouds and worked more on observation, common sense, and acting like adults, then a lot fewer people would even need therapy. To this end, blogs like yours help.
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"john M Reynolds said... Their education and professional experience are what matter"
well, unless, of course, the therapist in question is an arrogant, elitist dickhead.
anybody know any doctors like that?
thx though for your commentary... obviously something you've put some thought into.
i think we can agree that ultimately... solutions are found within... whatever path you might tread to get there.
in short, you can't save people... you can only care.
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