Psychotherapy: Myths And Reality. Part 1

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

It is probably difficult to find another profession that is so full of prejudices and legends. Starting from the image of the therapist as a stern Soviet woman in a white coat with a syringe and ending with his superhuman abilities, including mind reading and fortune telling.

It is not surprising that therapists are intimidated and in no hurry to make an appointment with them. Therefore, I propose to try to understand the most popular folk myths and fairy tales on the topic. And finally to understand which of them is true and which is false.

• Psychotherapy is only for sick people … From there, the idea arises that it is a shame to go to a therapist and “God forbid someone will find out that I am going there”. Not at all. In part, psychotherapy in its modern form grew out of medicine (Uncle Freud was a doctor, yes), but has long gone wider. Most clients of psychotherapists are healthy people who, for one reason or another, are not satisfied with their quality of life. Improving the quality of life of clients - this is precisely the key task of psychotherapy. And not prescribing antipsychotics and electroshock treatment - completely different specialists are engaged in this. Pies: therefore, if suddenly your psychotherapist after the meeting decides to prescribe pills for you, be sure to ask if he has a medical education. If not, run.
• It is worth going to a therapist only when it is very bad … In our culture, it is really customary to seek help from specialists only when someone bites for something. We carry colds on our feet for a long time and come to the doctor with severe complications. We do not like physical education at school and we run to the gym after a ton of Olivier and a promise to the chiming clock “be sure to throw off 10 kilos by summer”. And, of course, it is not customary for us to observe psychological hygiene. That is why I believe that the more psychotherapists there are in the world, the better. Because therapy is your own hour a week for yourself and your needs. This is a legal opportunity to cry, laugh, be afraid and receive a sincere response to all this from a truly living person. This is a chance to touch your desires and follow them, improving your life. Therefore, the sooner you get there, the sooner you start living your own life.
• A psychotherapist is an experienced specialist who gives advice … And the older he is, the better, of course. Probably everyone has seen the picture that recently went online. There, a Ukrainian media outlet decided to make an infographic about who a psychologist is. And it turned out that a psychologist is necessarily a woman, middle-aged, in a business suit and glasses, with her husband and children (we are similar only in that women - that is, for me, not everything is completely lost;)). And necessarily - RICH LIFE EXPERIENCE! In fact, psychologists in the last century conducted real research on the effectiveness of therapy. And it turned out that it is mainly influenced by two factors - the professional (!!!, not life) experience of the therapist and mutual personal sympathy. Therefore, take a close look at the experience of a specialist and in yourself when you look at his photo or talk to him on the phone. And, of course, if your therapist is strenuously telling you how to live and how to act, run. A professional therapist does not give advice; he helps you find answers to questions on your own.
• A psychotherapist is unreasonably expensive … “They just rip off your money,” says my friend. “The psychotherapist just sits, listens, nods his head and gets paid for it,” says an acquaintance. Recently I thought that for the amount I spent on training psychotherapy, I could buy an apartment in Kiev. An apartment, Karl! Also, in total, my psychological and psychotherapeutic education took 10, 5 years of my life. Why is it so expensive and much? Because this is one of the few professions in which you are the key tool of work. In the process of learning, you not only study laws, master and practice techniques, but also continuously work on yourself, going through hundreds of hours of training, supervision, personal and group therapy. And already working, the therapist faces tons of other people's pain every day, while remaining alive and sensitive. The therapist should always keep the focus not only on the client, but also on himself and their relationship. He must deal with all the complexities of relationships, staying in them and constantly sorting out the peculiarities of his work with colleagues. Therefore, if suddenly your therapist works with you for free, think and take a closer look.

Pies: Of course, this is just my subjective vision of the issue, based on my own observations, discussions, conversations with colleagues and the prism of the approach in which I practice (gestalt therapy).

Pieses: I found so many myths and legends that they did not fit into one post. That is why CONTINUES FOLLOWS.;)