Posted by Penny on March 10, 2004, at 15:59:24
In reply to does age matter in therapy?, posted by CareBear04 on March 9, 2004, at 19:52:53
Without having read the majority of the other posts to this subject, I will take a second to give my own input (and only a second, as I have no business being on babble at this time of day!!!). I think that the age of the client doesn't matter - life is a journey (yes, I know that's cliche, but true!), and it's all about learning. We will never reach the point where we've learned all we can or need to. If someone feels they've learned all there is to know, well, I would have to say that person needs to take a long hard look at their version of reality...
Anyway - to keep this fairly short - I think that *whenever* you are in therapy is the right age. I think that therapy at different ages serves different purposes. I am 27 and gaining a great deal from therapy now. I don't foresee the end of my therapy experience at any time in the near future, but I suspect/hope that what I gain from therapy will change as I change. I've had two primary therapists - the first for 3 years, the second for a little over a year so far - and the things I've learned from each of them have been different, but suitable for that part of my life.
In other words, when it comes to the client, I don't think age has anything to do with how effective therapy can be in helping you. Though what it helps you with might certainly change. Or not.
However, I've been in therapy with a fairly young (late 30s - early 40s woman who had a baby while I was seeing her) therapist, and my current T is in her mid-50s. My first T was wonderful at the time, but I must say that I think more of my current T, just in her level of experience. Not that the first T didn't have years of experience - she did - but my current T has a different take on the world.
In general, I prefer young physicians. My pdoc is 51, and that's fine, as he's totally up-to-date on all the latest research, but my gp is in her 30s. So I'm not biased against young practitioners. But when it comes to therapists - I'm sure there are many fantastic young therapists, but I think that being a therapist is almost like an art, and after working with such a variety of patients, assuming the T is able to keep an open mind and up-to-date on clinical practices, etc., the experienced T has more to draw upon (other than classroom lectures, books and his/her own life experience) with which to help his/her patients. There's an air of confidence that has been earned.
Mind you, that is a generalization - certainly doesn't apply across the board, as we all know.
So much for keeping this short! :-)
P
BTW - I've had many folks tell me how wonderful they thought it was that I wasn't waiting until I was in my 30s or 40s to start getting help. Again, I believe that therapy is helpful to you when you are ready for it, and whatever age that happens to be is the right age. But after suffering for a number of years from depression and social problems, I feel sort of like had I waited, well, I might be dead right now.
poster:Penny
thread:322592
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040308/msgs/322989.html