Interesting ariticle on therapy - NYT

[dudeguy]

I found an interesting article on therapy which might interest some people. Thought I would share it, it's from the New York Times, it's an opinion piece but it makes a lot of sense.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opini ... html?_r=1#

[Harlow]

I really enjoyed that, and agree. If you're not being helped, the therapist needs to change things up, even if that means terminating with that patient.

[Cinnamon]

This was interesting and I agree, in today's world where people often don't have family, priests, authority or trusted guidance, they want a person who has some interaction.
I went thru a deep depression about 2 years ago when my life was falling apart on all fronts. I went 4 times...the first I felt better because I actually for once talked about all these issues in one place. The second, I went in prepared with a list of what was going on and how I was going to deal with them. The third, I expected feedback and she said to each question I asked, that is a good question, what do you think? I could have gotten that from an Oprah magazine. I quit after the 4th session. why bother if the therapist is afraid to have any input or opinion.
Flash forward, I am still broke but in law school and there is one free counselor... the relationship I thought was breaking up 2 years ago is still going on, still abusive and I am still stuck. The first day, the therapist says, well we need to talk about why you would want to be in a relationship - of any kind! - with someone who treats you like that. If you can't answer that, that is our next conversation. If you can, what do you get from him you can't get elsewhere and in a healthier way.
opinions.
helped me to extricate myself a bit.
sort of.
got an order of protection finally and when he wanted me to drop it and promised he would see a doctor, she said - its not your job to get him to therapy or not. that is his job or not. its not your job to make the arrest easier or harder either. your job is to be safe and let him handle his side. It is your job to separate, be safe, set boundaries and he has options. don't let him drag you into this being about your responsibility to fix his problem.