Any other mental health professionals here?

[StarsAbove]

Anyone? I know we are human too but I feel ashamed. I feel like an imposter. When I was in school they told us to fix our shit before getting into the field. I thought I did but it was not a long term fix. I am trying to navigate this path the best I can.

 

[otomedissection]

I don't think I'd be considered a mental health professional, but my work is very mental health-based and I've worked closely with inpatient psychiatric care. I definitely feel like a huge hypocrite any time I start struggling myself but I think it gives me a lot of motivation to try and help other people too. Being unable to give myself a break just means I can try to share that grace with someone else instead and I feel content with it. Obviously I'd love to put more work into fixing my own problems but I think just the pure motivation of wanting someone else to not suffer like you are is very valuable.

 

[StarsAbove]

I actually think that says something really good about you. Even if you struggle to give yourself that same grace, the fact that you want to keep other people from suffering the way you have is pretty meaningful

 

[NZkiwi]

worked as a health professional in the hosptial and i guess it gave me ?arrogance/minimisation in terms of not asking for help given how stretched the system is

now i understand im unwell and im working with professionals who are smarter than me

 

[Twistedliesinside]

Yes, it may be even harder and important for those in mental health to accept or access treatment. Especially if you feel like you'd do a better job than they do haha, considering they can't just use all the basic techniques without it being ineffective and transparent. That black and white thinking of fixing your shit is bullshit. Mental health takes constant maintenance.

 

[StarsAbove]

worked as a health professional in the hosptial and i guess it gave me ?arrogance/minimisation in terms of not asking for help given how stretched the system is

now i understand im unwell and im working with professionals who are smarter than me

I can see how being a part of the health care setting made you feel that way. Everyone deserves help and support though and I think that is amazing that you are getting that now because it can help you be the healthiest, strongest version of yourself and I am sure you will be a force to be reckoned with in whatever you decide to do with your life next.

Yes, it may be even harder and important for those in mental health to accept or access treatment. Especially if you feel like you'd do a better job than they do haha, considering they can't just use all the basic techniques without it being ineffective and transparent. That black and white thinking of fixing your shit is bullshit. Mental health takes constant maintenance.

Ha, I totally dont think I could do a better job. I feel like a fraud all the time. I worry what other therapists would think of me as a therapist because of how bad my mental health can be. Seriously, therapists are some of the most judgmental people I have ever met in my life. I never thought it would be that way.

Yes, it may be even harder and important for those in mental health to accept or access treatment. Especially if you feel like you'd do a better job than they do haha, considering they can't just use all the basic techniques without it being ineffective and transparent. That black and white thinking of fixing your shit is bullshit. Mental health takes constant maintenance.

Ha, I totally dont think I could do a better job. I feel like a fraud all the time. I worry what other therapists would think of me as a therapist because of how bad my mental health can be. Seriously, therapists are some of the most judgmental people I have ever met in any profession I have ever been a part of. I never thought it would be that way.

 

[infinitanocte]

I'd like to be a mental health professional in the future and am kind of studying with that goal in mind, but I'm concerned that because of my mental health issues, I won't be able to do a good job. I know typically you have to see a therapist and whatnot so that you take care of yourself at the same time, but I feel that progress in therapy can be slowgoing sometimes (and depends on your compatibility), so I'm worried that won't be enough.

And it's funny you say therapists are some of the most judgemental people you've ever met. Sometimes I also worry that I'll be judgemental or inefficient or bad at helping people (even though I haven't even started yet).

Do you have any advice or experience to share with me? Will it help once I start studying for it/a degree and get some experience?

 

[I Me & Myself]

My sister in law is a psychologist and has been one of my biggest supporters.

She always comforted me by reminding me of how I always help my friends when they are going through rough times mentally. That I'm not just a person in need of help, but also a person trying to help.

She said "The only real difference sometimes, between mental health professionals and the patients, is who gets to go home at the end of the day and who sleeps in the hospital."

It really hit me then that she is struggling too, that she's not only my lifeline to cling to but she herself also needs a lifeline. It doesn't make her an impostor nor does it make her ingenuine.

It brought on a certain kinship between us that no doubt strengthened our bond. Certainly did not make me feel like she was a fraud.

That said: She, and likely you, have limits as well. And it's important to realise those, especially in such an occupation. It can really drag you down so much deeper.

 

[StarsAbove]

I'd like to be a mental health professional in the future and am kind of studying with that goal in mind, but I'm concerned that because of my mental health issues, I won't be able to do a good job. I know typically you have to see a therapist and whatnot so that you take care of yourself at the same time, but I feel that progress in therapy can be slowgoing sometimes (and depends on your compatibility), so I'm worried that won't be enough.

And it's funny you say therapists are some of the most judgemental people you've ever met. Sometimes I also worry that I'll be judgemental or inefficient or bad at helping people (even though I haven't even started yet).

Do you have any advice or experience to share with me? Will it help once I start studying for it/a degree and get some experience?

It is a good idea to be seeking support, even therapists need therapists. It is okay if you do not find the right fit at first, it can take time, but the stronger the rapport you have with your therapist thr better your success will be in therapy.

As Twisted alluded to, you dont have to be 100% healed to be a therapist. my post is about my own insecurities, please dont worry too much if this is something you truly have a passion for. Some people recommend working with a population that is not triggering for you. Like if you have a lot of unresolved trauma, you may want to hold off on working with that population to start off with.

In school, you will be trained to examine your own biases which everyone has. The awareness of them is the most important part and if there is a group of people you know you will be unable to serve due to your biases, it is okay not to work with them.

You will get a lot of experience along the way. In school you learn about the theory of it all, when you start doing your clinical hours you will put it into practice. Only thing I would say is make sure you are well-niched when you go our and practice on your own. You can of course specialize in your passionate are but you may also want to choose a specialization that is in high demand.

My sister in law is a psychologist and has been one of my biggest supporters.

She always comforted me by reminding me of how I always help my friends when they are going through rough times mentally. That I'm not just a person in need of help, but also a person trying to help.

She said "The only real difference sometimes, between mental health professionals and the patients, is who gets to go home at the end of the day and who sleeps in the hospital."

It really hit me then that she is struggling too, that she's not only my lifeline to cling to but she herself also needs a lifeline. It doesn't make her an impostor nor does it make her ingenuine.

It brought on a certain kinship between us that no doubt strengthened our bond. Certainly did not make me feel like she was a fraud.

That said: She, and likely you, have limits as well. And it's important to realise those, especially in such an occupation. It can really drag you down so much deeper.

Haha, that is funny I might have to steal her quote.

Thanks for saying that, I really appreciate your perspective as someone close to a mental health provider and who sees her as a human first <3

 

[TransilvanianHunger]

I feel like a fraud all the time. I worry what other therapists would think of me as a therapist because of how bad my mental health can be. Seriously, therapists are some of the most judgmental people I have ever met in any profession I have ever been a part of. I never thought it would be that way.

This caught me off-guard at first. For some reason, I assumed that people who work in this field would be, if not more "put together", at least more self-aware and honest about their own limitations. I have met some who are, and they have been very inspirational and great to deal with, but a whole bunch of them are blinded by hubris, judgmental, and incredibly self-absorbed.

A while ago, I read Janet Malcolm's Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession, and an exchange between the author and the analyst she was talking to, about the politicking and backstabbing in institutional psychoanalytic circles, made me laugh. It's a good read, even if you're not in our little corner of the profession.

When I expressed some of my surprise to Aaron that analysts, who are supposed to be wiser and more reflective than the rest of us, conduct their organizational life in such a demented manner, he shook his head in vigorous disagreement.
"Analysts aren't wiser and more reflective than other people," he said. "They're no different from other people."
"But they've been analyzed. Doesn't that give a person some edge, a little extra power over his emotions and impulses?"
"Very little," Aaron said. "And such small edge as analysts have they exercise in only one situation in life—namely, the analytic situation. In that most unnatural, highly artificial, stressful situation, the analyst's small advantage of self-knowledge and self-control comes into play. But when you take him out of his consultation room, his advantage recedes and he becomes just like everyone else—he begins to act just like other people."

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Our training applies to a very specific function we perform—being a therapist, in a therapeutic relationship, with a patient. Someone who is naturally more introspective will probably take on some of the things they learn in training, and at least try to keep them in mind as they pertain their personal life. But even that doesn't mean they can somehow overcome or work around the pitfalls of human existence. Our mental health is affected by internal and external factors, just like everyone else's. We're not immune to any of it. At best, we have a bit of additional insight into how these things work, generally, and so we can try to address them in a way that isn't detrimental to our lives, relationships, and work. It doesn't exempt us from anything.

The "fix your shit before you get out there" thing is, I feel, not as cut-and-dry as it may appear, or even as it may be presented in some training programmes. At least in psychoanalytic training, the point is that we ought to know what it is like to be a patient in analysis, doing the work, before we can expect to be on the role of analyst for someone else. You can't know what your patient is going through and doing, if you haven't gone through your own analysis first. But there is no expectation that you'll be "done", "fixed", or "cured" before you start working with others. Psychoanalysis acknowledges the realities of the human condition, and so imposing such a requirement on budding analysts would have condemned the profession to extinction from the beginning.

To your particular concern—feeling like an imposter, and worrying about how other therapists might perceive you—I would say two things. First, that feeling of being an imposter is probably more of a character trait than an actual reflection of your competency as a therapist. I don't know how experienced you are, but I have met analysts with decades-long careers who will openly tell you that, every session, they continue to feel underprepared and wonder whether they are capable of actually doing what they do. In a sense, that is a good sign—you don't go into a session feeling like you're ready for anything, and you have all the answers, and that is good, because that is the reality of this line of work. There are no certainties, because every person you work with is an individual, and every time they come to see you, they bring a new and (to you) unknown life experience. Let that feeling be an asset, instead of an obstacle or a source of worry. Do the best work you can do, keep learning and preparing, and just do the work.

The second thing is that, in the end, what other therapists think of you is not particularly important. It might be useful to be well-liked in the sense that you might get more referrals from colleagues, or be invited to participate in professional events or join associations and groups. But the core of your work—that is, the work you do with your patients every day—is unaffected by the opinion other therapists have of you. The one and only thing that matters is whether the work you do is beneficial to your patients. Of course, you won't be able to help everyone who comes into your office, that's part of the profession. But those patients who come to you, and keep coming back week after week, no matter if your modality is focused on 12-session treatments or long-term therapy, are they benefiting from the work you do together? If so, whatever your colleagues think of you as a therapist is of little significance.

 

[StarsAbove]

@TransilvanianHunger
Thanks, I will check out the reading suggestion.

Although therapy is valuable, I feel it helps in an intellectual level which may be enough for some, but I think healing needs to happen at the holistic level, targeting mind, body and spirit. Even though I enjoy the work I do, I am jaded about it in other ways.

No. They didnt really say fix your shit, that was my simplified summation.

How other therapists see me is mainly a concern about being in therapy myself.

That is cool that you are trained in psychoanalysis. How did you come upon it? Not sure where you are from but It is hard to find a practitioner here, they barely touch on it in school and promote other modalities over psychoanalysis. But I think that goes back to treating clients through intellectualization and I feel like there is a place for psychoanalysis because it offers healing at the root

 

[infinitanocte]

It is a good idea to be seeking support, even therapists need therapists. It is okay if you do not find the right fit at first, it can take time, but the stronger the rapport you have with your therapist thr better your success will be in therapy.

As Twisted alluded to, you dont have to be 100% healed to be a therapist. my post is about my own insecurities, please dont worry too much if this is something you truly have a passion for. Some people recommend working with a population that is not triggering for you. Like if you have a lot of unresolved trauma, you may want to hold off on working with that population to start off with.

In school, you will be trained to examine your own biases which everyone has. The awareness of them is the most important part and if there is a group of people you know you will be unable to serve due to your biases, it is okay not to work with them.

You will get a lot of experience along the way. In school you learn about the theory of it all, when you start doing your clinical hours you will put it into practice. Only thing I would say is make sure you are well-niched when you go our and practice on your own. You can of course specialize in your passionate are but you may also want to choose a specialization that is in high demand.

Just wanted to reply and say thank you for your thoughtful response & sharing your advice!!

I feel relieved to hear that you don't have to 100% healed to be a therapist. That's something I've always been worried about. But I hope like you said, if I go into therapy again that'll also help me. It also makes sense that if we realize we have biases, we may not be able to serve certain groups as well.

I haven't started thinking about specializations yet, so that's a good thing for me to keep in mind.

Take care!!

 

[StarsAbove]

Just wanted to reply and say thank you for your thoughtful response & sharing your advice!!

I feel relieved to hear that you don't have to 100% healed to be a therapist. That's something I've always been worried about. But I hope like you said, if I go into therapy again that'll also help me. It also makes sense that if we realize we have biases, we may not be able to serve certain groups as well.

I haven't started thinking about specializations yet, so that's a good thing for me to keep in mind.

Take care!!

Much love to you

 

[bagel12]

Anyone? I know we are human too but I feel ashamed. I feel like an imposter. When I was in school they told us to fix our shit before getting into the field. I thought I did but it was not a long term fix. I am trying to navigate this path the best I can.

i am not a mental health professional, so i hope it's ok if i comment something here. in your responses to other people's comments in this thread, you are kind, validating, and reflective--it makes sense to me that you are a mental health professional! i know you said you feel like an imposter, but it is apparent that you are a caring person, and in the comments of yours that i've read, you have the ability to make others feel heard and cared about, which is very valuable in your line of work (and just as a human in general). the judgmental therapists you described earlier probably don't have this skill, or if they do, it probably doesn't come across as genuine. (i can tell when a therapist is silently judging me, it doesn't inspire trust or vulnerability!) but due to your experiences, you are probably less judgmental and your clients surely benefit from that.

is it possible that these experiences that you feel like an imposter about, might actually make you a better mental health professional in some ways? can you think of potential strengths that these experiences give you?

for me, from the perspective of a client, i think it can be really beneficial to talk to a mental health professional who has been through the things i'm going through, or who has been through mental health issues more generally. even if they don't self disclose, some mental health professionals just "get it" in a way other mental health professionals don't. i just think it's easier to connect with and be vulnerable with a mental health professional who understands what it's like to really struggle with mental health, someone who truly understands how difficult it is. your experiences, as painful as they are, may also give you a depth of understanding, empathy, and connection with clients.

also i know someone whose therapist lost their license because they seduced a client. in comparison, i guarantee you are doing an amazing job! maybe there is a database of mental health professionals who had their licenses suspended, so whenever you feel like an imposter, you could look at the egregious shit they did and feel better about yourself.

i don't know if you use reddit, but there's a subreddit on there called r/therapists. i'm sure there are therapists on there who have dealt with or are dealing with similar issues--maybe it would help to search the subreddit or to make your own post on there?

you are a mental health professional so im sure you already know about this strategy, but it helps me a lot. when i have difficulty treating myself with kindness, i find a picture of myself when i was a kid and i just spend a couple minutes looking at it. i remember that my childhood self is within me, and even if i don't want to take care of myself, i want to take care of her. you wouldn't berate a kid and say they're an imposter or that they should be ashamed for struggling, would you? no, you'd give them a hug, listen to and validate their emotions, reduce external demands being placed upon them, and look for someone who could help them.

if you need to seek additional professional support, reduce your caseload, take a break, look into other opportunities--i hope you have the opportunity to do so. you are a human being first and foremost, and like all human beings, you deserve support and care.

 

[StarsAbove]

i am not a mental health professional, so i hope it's ok if i comment something here. in your responses to other people's comments in this thread, you are kind, validating, and reflective--it makes sense to me that you are a mental health professional! i know you said you feel like an imposter, but it is apparent that you are a caring person, and in the comments of yours that i've read, you have the ability to make others feel heard and cared about, which is very valuable in your line of work (and just as a human in general). the judgmental therapists you described earlier probably don't have this skill, or if they do, it probably doesn't come across as genuine. (i can tell when a therapist is silently judging me, it doesn't inspire trust or vulnerability!) but due to your experiences, you are probably less judgmental and your clients surely benefit from that.

is it possible that these experiences that you feel like an imposter about, might actually make you a better mental health professional in some ways? can you think of potential strengths that these experiences give you?

for me, from the perspective of a client, i think it can be really beneficial to talk to a mental health professional who has been through the things i'm going through, or who has been through mental health issues more generally. even if they don't self disclose, some mental health professionals just "get it" in a way other mental health professionals don't. i just think it's easier to connect with and be vulnerable with a mental health professional who understands what it's like to really struggle with mental health, someone who truly understands how difficult it is. your experiences, as painful as they are, may also give you a depth of understanding, empathy, and connection with clients.

also i know someone whose therapist lost their license because they seduced a client. in comparison, i guarantee you are doing an amazing job! maybe there is a database of mental health professionals who had their licenses suspended, so whenever you feel like an imposter, you could look at the egregious shit they did and feel better about yourself.

i don't know if you use reddit, but there's a subreddit on there called r/therapists. i'm sure there are therapists on there who have dealt with or are dealing with similar issues--maybe it would help to search the subreddit or to make your own post on there?

you are a mental health professional so im sure you already know about this strategy, but it helps me a lot. when i have difficulty treating myself with kindness, i find a picture of myself when i was a kid and i just spend a couple minutes looking at it. i remember that my childhood self is within me, and even if i don't want to take care of myself, i want to take care of her. you wouldn't berate a kid and say they're an imposter or that they should be ashamed for struggling, would you? no, you'd give them a hug, listen to and validate their emotions, reduce external demands being placed upon them, and look for someone who could help them.

if you need to seek additional professional support, reduce your caseload, take a break, look into other opportunities--i hope you have the opportunity to do so. you are a human being first and foremost, and like all human beings, you deserve support and care.

Seriously, thank you for the kind words! I am fortunately feeling better than when I made this post, but want to take the time to respond since you took the time to write something so thoughtful.

I think it can help in some ways to understand what my clients have been through. I think I have real empathy, not just sympathy. I could just use some more self esteem, I worry that clients might be able to pick up on that and I think clients want to feel like they are being held and empowered, but I fear a client might not have confidence in me to do that if they can sense my insecurity. I am going to work on it. I am actively looking for my own therapist. Yay for having decent insurance again!

HAHAHAHAHAAAA! We are setting the bar pretty low if I just have to make sure I am not seducing my clients

I am on that subreddit occasionally. Usually to ask treatment or business questions....IDK about talking about what I mentioned here, I know it is anonymous, but again.....therapists are judgy. You should see the FB group I am. Most of the posts get the comments turned off by mods because of how unruly they get.

I am really glad inner child healing is so helpful for you! It sounds like you found a really good tool.

Thank you again

 

[bagel12]

Seriously, thank you for the kind words! I am fortunately feeling better than when I made this post, but want to take the time to respond since you took the time to write something so thoughtful.

I think it can help in some ways to understand what my clients have been through. I think I have real empathy, not just sympathy. I could just use some more self esteem, I worry that clients might be able to pick up on that and I think clients want to feel like they are being held and empowered, but I fear a client might not have confidence in me to do that if they can sense my insecurity. I am going to work on it. I am actively looking for my own therapist. Yay for having decent insurance again!

HAHAHAHAHAAAA! We are setting the bar pretty low if I just have to make sure I am not seducing my clients

I am on that subreddit occasionally. Usually to ask treatment or business questions....IDK about talking about what I mentioned here, I know it is anonymous, but again.....therapists are judgy. You should see the FB group I am. Most of the posts get the comments turned off by mods because of how unruly they get.

I am really glad inner child healing is so helpful for you! It sounds like you found a really good tool.

Thank you again

i'm glad you're feeling better, and i wish you the best of luck with improving your self esteem and finding a therapist! and congratulations on having decent insurance again!

i'm sorry to hear that they're so judgmental! that's wild that mods have to turn off the comments in FB posts :0 they must be pretty bold if they're willing to act that way with a FB profile connected to their name/identity!

i was actually thinking of looking for a therapist soon--if it's ok for me to ask, do you have any recommendations for how to find a therapist? i have seen some people recommend psychology today, but when i search psychology today and filter by the specialty i want to address (adhd and autism), most of the therapists who come up have EVERY specialty listed. which makes me a little skeptical that they actually specialize in neurodivergent clients. and the rest seem to be outside of my price range i guess i was wondering if there's a different tool/database i should use, or if it's best to go with psychology today?

 

[StarsAbove]

i'm glad you're feeling better, and i wish you the best of luck with improving your self esteem and finding a therapist! and congratulations on having decent insurance again!

i'm sorry to hear that they're so judgmental! that's wild that mods have to turn off the comments in FB posts :0 they must be pretty bold if they're willing to act that way with a FB profile connected to their name/identity!

i was actually thinking of looking for a therapist soon--if it's ok for me to ask, do you have any recommendations for how to find a therapist? i have seen some people recommend psychology today, but when i search psychology today and filter by the specialty i want to address (adhd and autism), most of the therapists who come up have EVERY specialty listed. which makes me a little skeptical that they actually specialize in neurodivergent clients. and the rest seem to be outside of my price range i guess i was wondering if there's a different tool/database i should use, or if it's best to go with psychology today?

Thank you!

You can post anonymously, most of us do in that group

PT is usually my go-to, it is the largest data base, but there is also Good Therapy and Mental Health Match. You are right to be skeptical. When I was working for a therapy center chain they had us list all the populations that we were willing to work with under specialties, not that we had training for. However, some of them are legit. For the therapists on PT, if they offer free consultations, you can ask them about their background and training. Also, if you see the cost at the bottom right side of the page, that is the out of pocket cost, not what you pay with insurance. I always worry that will throw prospective clients off. Otherwise, I did not know of any specific place personally, but I found this: https://www.prosperhealth.io/therap...043&gbraid=0AAAAApXJWw8dptBW6SAWNa97FqsVf2HmL

Happy hunting!

 

[bagel12]

Thank you!

You can post anonymously, most of us do in that group

PT is usually my go-to, it is the largest data base, but there is also Good Therapy and Mental Health Match. You are right to be skeptical. When I was working for a therapy center chain they had us list all the populations that we were willing to work with under specialties, not that we had training for. However, some of them are legit. For the therapists on PT, if they offer free consultations, you can ask them about their background and training. Also, if you see the cost at the bottom right side of the page, that is the out of pocket cost, not what you pay with insurance. I always worry that will throw prospective clients off. Otherwise, I did not know of any specific place personally, but I found this: https://www.prosperhealth.io/therap...043&gbraid=0AAAAApXJWw8dptBW6SAWNa97FqsVf2HmL

Happy hunting!

thank you so much for your help! i really appreciate it. that's good to know that the price listed is out of pocket not with insurance. i will check the other databases too and when i narrow down the list i'll see if any of them do free consultations.

thank you again for your help, and good luck with everything!

 

[SchizoPolyGymnast]

I am a mental health professional. Six years of experience in crisis intervention, two years of addiction recovery, and two years of harm reduction and homeless services. Not strictly related but I also work one on one as a job coach, and that requires me to really get into people's heads.

 

[StarsAbove]

I am a mental health professional. Six years of experience in crisis intervention, two years of addiction recovery, and two years of harm reduction and homeless services. Not strictly related but I also work one on one as a job coach, and that requires me to really get into people's heads.

Thanks for commenting! Helps me feel a bit less alone. Those are such needed services. How do you like the work you are doing?

 

[TransilvanianHunger]

Although therapy is valuable, I feel it helps in an intellectual level which may be enough for some, but I think healing needs to happen at the holistic level, targeting mind, body and spirit. Even though I enjoy the work I do, I am jaded about it in other ways.

Completely agree. And, if by "jaded" you mean you don't believe it's the supreme, perfect solution for every problem, then I'd have to say I agree as well, and I wouldn't call that position "jaded" so much as "realistic". Therapy can be amazing, and extremely helpful for so many things, but it is not the only thing that is needed for real healing to take place.

How other therapists see me is mainly a concern about being in therapy myself.

I know it is a real prejudice in some areas, but to me this seems backwards. A therapist being in therapy doesn't tell me "this guy's a phony, he can't fix his own life, how could he ever hope to help others?". That's an absurd way to look at it. Being a therapist doesn't exempt you from the vicissitudes of human existence—we have a personal history, relationships, professional lives, we deal with our patients' conflicts, we live in a society (pardon the meme). All of this takes a toll, regardless of what we do professionally. A therapist who is in therapy strikes me as a therapist who is aware of their limitations, of the need to work on themselves constantly for their own sake and for that of the people they work with, and the people in their lives. I'd be infinitely more suspicious of a therapist who believes they don't need therapeutic support, or that they have no conflicts or issues worth dealing with, and are perfectly fine as they are.

That is cool that you are trained in psychoanalysis. How did you come upon it? Not sure where you are from but It is hard to find a practitioner here, they barely touch on it in school and promote other modalities over psychoanalysis. But I think that goes back to treating clients through intellectualization and I feel like there is a place for psychoanalysis because it offers healing at the root

Came upon it completely by accident, to be honest. I was in the depths of a long-running mental crisis, and feeling more suicidal than I'd ever been before. Seriously looking into methods, the whole thing. But, before I committed to that path, I decided to ask a friend, who knew all sorts of people, if they knew any therapists. She knew only one, and gave me her number. I call set up an appointment, without knowing what to expect.

At the end of our first meeting, this therapist starts laying out her therapeutic frame, and explaining to me how she works. She mentions she's a psychoanalyst. At that time, my idea of psychoanalysis was that it was an outmoded, weird form of psychology, with bizarre theories about childhood and sex; nothing worth taking seriously. In truth, it made me doubt whether a second meeting with this therapist was even worth it. But I had little energy or interest in looking for another therapist, and my alternative was going through with killing myself. So, I decided to give her a chance.

I was in analysis with her for three years, and in that time my outlook on life changed radically. One of my big conflicts was related to meaning, purpose, and a sense of dissatisfaction with my professional life that bordered on the nauseating. I was able to examine that, and eventually figure out a professional path that felt worthwhile. I dropped my old career, went back to uni for a degree in psychology, and found a university that teaches psychology with a psychoanalytic grounding.

Although I can see many shortcomings and blind spots in psychoanalysis, I kind of fell in love with it, and feel like it can be a very useful method to address psychic conflicts at the core level. I don't rubbish or discount other modalities—if you're treating addictions or other behavioural issues, CBT is probably going to be more effective short-term than psychoanalysis—but analytic work is where it's at for me.

 

[StarsAbove]

Completely agree. And, if by "jaded" you mean you don't believe it's the supreme, perfect solution for every problem, then I'd have to say I agree as well, and I wouldn't call that position "jaded" so much as "realistic". Therapy can be amazing, and extremely helpful for so many things, but it is not the only thing that is needed for real healing to take place.

I know it is a real prejudice in some areas, but to me this seems backwards. A therapist being in therapy doesn't tell me "this guy's a phony, he can't fix his own life, how could he ever hope to help others?". That's an absurd way to look at it. Being a therapist doesn't exempt you from the vicissitudes of human existence—we have a personal history, relationships, professional lives, we deal with our patients' conflicts, we live in a society (pardon the meme). All of this takes a toll, regardless of what we do professionally. A therapist who is in therapy strikes me as a therapist who is aware of their limitations, of the need to work on themselves constantly for their own sake and for that of the people they work with, and the people in their lives. I'd be infinitely more suspicious of a therapist who believes they don't need therapeutic support, or that they have no conflicts or issues worth dealing with, and are perfectly fine as they are.

Came upon it completely by accident, to be honest. I was in the depths of a long-running mental crisis, and feeling more suicidal than I'd ever been before. Seriously looking into methods, the whole thing. But, before I committed to that path, I decided to ask a friend, who knew all sorts of people, if they knew any therapists. She knew only one, and gave me her number. I call set up an appointment, without knowing what to expect.

At the end of our first meeting, this therapist starts laying out her therapeutic frame, and explaining to me how she works. She mentions she's a psychoanalyst. At that time, my idea of psychoanalysis was that it was an outmoded, weird form of psychology, with bizarre theories about childhood and sex; nothing worth taking seriously. In truth, it made me doubt whether a second meeting with this therapist was even worth it. But I had little energy or interest in looking for another therapist, and my alternative was going through with killing myself. So, I decided to give her a chance.

I was in analysis with her for three years, and in that time my outlook on life changed radically. One of my big conflicts was related to meaning, purpose, and a sense of dissatisfaction with my professional life that bordered on the nauseating. I was able to examine that, and eventually figure out a professional path that felt worthwhile. I dropped my old career, went back to uni for a degree in psychology, and found a university that teaches psychology with a psychoanalytic grounding.

Although I can see many shortcomings and blind spots in psychoanalysis, I kind of fell in love with it, and feel like it can be a very useful method to address psychic conflicts at the core level. I don't rubbish or discount other modalities—if you're treating addictions or other behavioural issues, CBT is probably going to be more effective short-term than psychoanalysis—but analytic work is where it's at for me.

I was not in a good place when I wrote this. I actually tried to delete the post but I do not think you can. Thankfully the clouds are parting and I can see a bit more clearly now. Im biased, but I agree we should all be in therapy. I will still have the worry about being judged in the back of my mind but it will not stop me from going to therapy. That is great that you had such a positive experience. I hope you. I hope it brings you much fulfillment.