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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
.....working in the field?
Just to throw this out there.....
Years ago, when I first started college I majored in Psychology with the intent of becoming a therapist (I wanted to help people, decorate my own space, and work for myself). After a couple of semesters, however, I developed an eating disorder with related depression and anxiety, and went through some trauma issues. I left school, thinking that T's had to be "perfect" and I'd never get into a grad program or wouldnt be allowed to work with clients if I was "mentally flawed." After a few years I went back to college majoring in English (very nonspecific, but reading was/is an interest of mine). I recently earned a Master's degree in Library Science and while I do love libraries and books, and I do have an interest in fusing computers with special collections and archaeology, I often think back to my prior ambition of working in mental health. I have developed an interest in Bibliotherapy. Unfortunately, there's no hard and fast path or certification for bibliotherapists (although there is for poetry therapists, go figure that one), but I was toying with the idea of getting a second Master's and PhD in Psych and then fusing the two into some sort of blbliotherapy practice/consultation.
But, while I am getting better and determined to recover, I'm still not 100%.
Do you think all T's should be mentally perfect, or can T's have problems like everyone else?
Would others look at me (those who know of my struggles) with a raised eyebrow and say "SHE's going into psych?"
Sorry if this is confusing....I'm confused....Just batting around some ideas in my head.
Thanks,
sv
Posted by sleepygirl on May 24, 2006, at 20:58:22
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
No......but supervision and therapy is essential (for any T in my opinion)
best to you,
sg :-)
Posted by Dinah on May 24, 2006, at 21:03:00
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
I think it might make for a more sensitive therapist, actually. Someone who isn't likely to believe that someone should just hoist themselves up by their bootstraps.
I think the key is to make sure you're well aware of your own stuff, and do what you need to do to keep it from affecting the therapeutic relationship.
Posted by madeline on May 24, 2006, at 21:07:24
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
Oh wow! If you had to be perfect, the no one could be in psychiatry at all!
And I absolutely agree with the above poster, psychotherapy and supervision are the key to any sucessful practice.
Posted by orchid on May 24, 2006, at 21:27:10
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
Hi SV,
Though I think for being a therapist you don't need to be perfect, there are some points which are perhaps important and which you should consider personally before becoming a T.
Being a T is an extremely emotionally draining and many times emotionally confusing job. Even for a very mentally health person to start with, it might be difficult to cope up with all the demands of their patients and their unburdening of their stories onto them. So if we are mentally challenged to start with, coping up with the stress would probably become lot more difficult.
The reasons why you want to become a therapist might end up not being satisfied. I feel and have read that many patients end up becoming therapists in the hope of becoming somewhat special to their own Ts. Also, I think it could be because of your still unresolved feelings for your T and your own emotions around it. Also it might be a subconscious attemtp to set right what failed in your relationship with your T. And also, it might be an attempt to imitate the Ts rather than follow what your original hearts desire. When we like someone, we want to be like them, so we tend to imitate their profession.
True love of the subject and the patience to deal with the rigorous and monotonous and boring nature of the therapists job is kind of difficult I feel.
Above said are only my guesses and questions. However you know best what you want for you in your life. Maybe look at what you want really from being a therapist. And envision yourself sitting hour after hour with difficult and demanding patients, and see if you will be able to cope up with that without losing your mental balance.
If you still think that is the right decision after thinking it over throughly, then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't become a T.
I don't know if this post sounds offensive - if so, then that is not the intention. I put it as best as I know how to.
Posted by Jost on May 24, 2006, at 22:22:12
In reply to An alternate opinion on patients becoming Ts » shrinking violet, posted by orchid on May 24, 2006, at 21:27:10
Shrinking Violet,
It's really the other way around: most therapists are people who have had emotional conflicts. They also had an intellectual interest in the subject and (presumably) the feeling of an ability and a desire to help people who have emotional problems, struggles.
If you have those things, and get good training--which is a matter of showing some aptitude and also sticking with the schooling, the internships and the working-through of your own issues to the point of at least understanding what they are, and how they affect your work-- there's no reason you shouldn't do it.
Therapists are anything but "perfect" or even perfectly-analyzed, people--
Jost
Posted by orchid on May 24, 2006, at 22:54:11
In reply to Re: An alternate opinion on patients becoming Ts, posted by Jost on May 24, 2006, at 22:22:12
Actually the subject could be argued both ways, and each person would be the best judge for themselves.
I feel, no matter how much healed I become, I am always at a higher risk for depression and emotional problems than one without the history of mental illness. So knowing one is prone to it, attempting to work fully in that field might become disastrous. There is a reason why suicides are the highest amongst Ts. Too many people choosing the wrong profession for the wrong reasons. And if one has been suicidal in the past, I think there is a very high likelihood of risking their lives if one takes up emotional stress and trauma voluntarily. It is like a person who has low immune system to start with, wants to work in the most contagious diseases ward. The analogy may not be appropriate 100 %, but the risk of getting thrown into an emotional roller coaster is much higher for people who have had emotional problems in the past.
And also, one should be aware of the greatest downside to the profession - yes one will be able to heal other persons, but also one has to constantly let go of other persons from your lives. If you have helped someone, the natural tendency is to be in contact with that person forever or for as long as possible. But you have to terminate at some point, and I think terminations put tremendous strain on the Ts too (atleast in a few cases). Also willingly or unwillingly you end up hurting patients also when you forbid post therapy contact etc - so it is not all helping and the rewards that you get out of this kind of limited artificial helping minus the hurt that you induce on your patients might not be that much at the end. A better option would be to do social work or do some other work where you would help, but not be emotionally drained yourself or have to hurt other persons emotionally. Especially when dealing with Children, I cannnot ever comprehend asking a child who has developed a bond with you to stop seeing you for whatever reason. IT is just brutal, and many times Ts have to do it. The consequences can be devastating to the T as well.
Knowing SV and how she had been attached to her Ex T, and how painful she found it to let go, I think it will be very very hard on her to repeat it even from the other chair.
My 2 cents.
Posted by sunnydays on May 25, 2006, at 8:57:57
In reply to Re: An alternate opinion on patients becoming Ts » Jost, posted by orchid on May 24, 2006, at 22:54:11
I just wanted to say that I know that my T has been in therapy, so obviously has had some sort of problems in his life. I don't think it necessarily precludes one from being a T if one has been in therapy or has been depressed. I think that any profession is going to be hard if you care about what you are doing, because it is the caring about what you do that invests you in the job. And it would probably be important to have supervision, but in any profession one needs support for times when things don't go exactly as planned. Just my thoughts on the matter...
Posted by shrinking violet on May 25, 2006, at 10:02:23
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
Thank you all for your opinions and insights.
You've all given me lots to think about......If I did persue this career in some form, I don't really envision myself working as a traditional clinical one-on-one therapist. I do think it could be disastrous emotionally for a lot of reasons, not to mention the schooling and training are something that I cannot afford (in more ways than one) to endure. I was thinking more along the lines of working with other therapists in collaboration to involve them and guide them to using bibliotherapy with their clients. Also, if I were to see clients individually, it would be in conjunction with their own therapists for "traditional" therapy and my end would be the bibliotherapeutic side of things. It's still a little fuzzy, even to me.....
GIven my struggles with anorexia, and my involvement with various therapists and nutritionists and doctors, etc, I find that unless they have had an ED themselves, they can never truly understand what it is like and I find the most comfort and help when talking in a group setting with other sufferers. I would like to bring my experience and knowledge to others suffering with EDs, to give them hope and understanding in a way that most professionals in the field cannot do.
Thanks again for all of your advice and input. I'm still chewing on the bone, so to speak, and it probably isn't a decision I could make right now. Perhaps it'll be an option for me down the road.
Thanks again,
sv
Posted by Jost on May 25, 2006, at 13:45:24
In reply to Re: An alternate opinion on patients becoming Ts » Jost, posted by orchid on May 24, 2006, at 22:54:11
> Actually the subject could be argued both ways, and each person would be the best judge for themselves.
>
>
> Knowing SV and how she had been attached to her Ex T, and how painful she found it to let go, I think it will be very very hard on her to repeat it even from the other chair.
>
> My 2 cents.Every case is different, I totally agree. It really depends on so many factors-- on elements in one's psychic structure (to be sort of abstract about it)-- that would have to be understood and worked with, for anyone who's interested in being a therapist.
Shrinking Violet seemed to wonder if this would be precluded by her history. (I presume Shrinking Violet is a woman, but this may be stereotyping). It shouldn't be ruled out, IMHO, simply for that reason, if it's something she really would want to do,. .
I respect your points. But SV may have countervailing strengths, or may grow in ways that we can't know, which argue in the other direction.
Jost
Posted by Jost on May 25, 2006, at 13:50:24
In reply to thanks everyone......, posted by shrinking violet on May 25, 2006, at 10:02:23
Hi, SV. What is bibliotherapy? I haven't heard of it.
Jost
Posted by orchid on May 25, 2006, at 13:59:07
In reply to Re: Allternate opinion on Ps becoming Ts -- orchid, posted by Jost on May 25, 2006, at 13:45:24
> Shrinking Violet seemed to wonder if this would be precluded by her history. (I presume Shrinking Violet is a woman, but this may be stereotyping). It shouldn't be ruled out, IMHO, simply for that reason, if it's something she really would want to do,. .
>
> I respect your points. But SV may have countervailing strengths, or may grow in ways that we can't know, which argue in the other direction.-----Orchid
What you have said is true. It doesn't preclude one from becoming a T. I was just trying to put emphasis that the factor of having had emotional issues in the past, needs to be given due weightage and consideration before attempting to become a T and the consequences well thought out before hand. It was a mistake if I had sounded it was an absolute no no.
Posted by happyflower on May 25, 2006, at 22:08:08
In reply to Re: Allternate opinion on Ps becoming Ts -- orchid » Jost, posted by orchid on May 25, 2006, at 13:59:07
Hi Shrinking violet,
I think it is worth looking into. It doesn't hurt to try and with good training with you will receive, I think your empathy for people will help you be a good T .
One thing I have talked to my T about is how in high school I was a mentor for many younger kids, naturally, but it didn't mean everything I did was perfect. Nobody knew my real life and the hell I was going through, but it didn't prevent me from giving good advice and helping people. People tend to see your strenghs, and if you are open to other people, people will naturally confide in you.
Well now that I am out and about, I am falling into the mentor thing again, with younger students in the university bands I play in, and with my stepkids, with some of the workers at the health club, and even some senior citizens too. It felt uncomfortable to me at firstto be giving good love life advice to some of the kids, but yet my love life has fallen apart. Well my T said I am very open (he has observed me at the gym), and people are drawn to me because of that. He said it appears people are seeking me out because I am open, friendly, and are doing some good things in my life, which makes me appear to be someone who can give good advice and support. I thought I was being a fraud, because of how my personal life is going, but my T said in a way we are all a fraud in some areas of our lives.
Plus he says therapists is like any other profession, say like a dentist can be a great dentist even though he might have problems with his teeth, or have dentures! LOL Well a therapist can be a good therapist even though their personal lives aren't perfect.
Well he told me that is 2 other siblings, who are also T's aren't perfect either. One is an achoholic and the other suffers from depression. Who know what personal problems my T has ( I know a few , like he takes beta blockers for public speaking.) So T's aren't perfect they are just like anyone else and their problems.
So don't let the fact you haven't had the perfect life stop you from doing something that you might be very good at and enjoy.
Plus you can still major in Psch and not do therapy, you could do research or teach at a college. Check it out! Go for it!
Posted by happyflower on May 25, 2006, at 22:27:35
In reply to Re: Allternate opinion on Ps becoming Ts -- orchid, posted by happyflower on May 25, 2006, at 22:08:08
Posted by pseudoname on May 26, 2006, at 9:33:41
In reply to does mental health issues preclude someone from..., posted by shrinking violet on May 24, 2006, at 20:06:30
Interesting thread.
I think institutional attitudes toward therapists’ personal problems & personal therapy have changed in the last 10-15 years.
When a friend was applying to graduate psych programs in 1987, his college psych professor told him, “Don’t tell them you’ve been in therapy!” Apparently prejudices were just as strong in psych depts as elsewhere.
I see a lot more psychologists casually mentioning their own therapy today than I ever did in the ’80s or early ’90s. I think they’re following the broader culture that way, rather than leading it.
This is the end of the thread.
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