Does Therapy Really Help People?

[Bartmanhomer]

To me therapy really help me a lot. So many years ago I used to be angry but I'm not anymore. So does therapy really helps people? I love to hear your input on it.

[MaskedOne]

If the diagnosis is correct and the therapist is competent then yes, it can be beneficial. I've seen what happens when competent therapists get a chance to work and it was pretty impressive. I've also seen the results when less than competent therapists got to work and the results were far less impressive.

[Shahaku]

To me therapy really help me a lot. So many years ago I used to be angry but I'm not anymore. So does therapy really helps people? I love to hear your input on it.

In general, if a person is committed to the effort, I feel like therapy is useful. There are some times it doesn't work out though.

For instance, I had an older, female therapist at one point in time, that when I brought up that I thought I might be asexual, she shot it down as my trauma speaking. I told her, after some thought, that regardless of whether it came about due to trauma or not, it was a part of who I am now, and I'm ok with that. She couldn't accept that, I believe because of personal prejudice, and kept pushing at buttons until I eventually stopped going, because she was becoming more annoying than helpful. I could have used help with other aspects of dealing with said trauma, and with dealing with my narcissistic mother, but from that day forward all she cared about was convincing me that I wasn't asexual.

On the other hand, I've had a few other therapists for crisis moments that were wonderful. My girlfriend had a marriage counselor who was very open and accepting when she was going through a divorce and considering a relationship with us. She also had a very good therapist who was open minded and accepting while she was going through depression in middle school.

[anunitu]

I have dealt with therapists also,and at times they think you are broke because you ae different,that puts me off very quickly,if you know my history,you know i am and was very different,and was in the mental health system for m,Major depression,and some therapists tended to not really deal with my depression but tended to be caught up with my nature,not my state of depression,and tried to tell me I was broken,when all I was was depressed.

[Hawkfeathers]

I went to a therapist years ago. She was obviously trying to categorize me, which was ineffective since my emotional foundation is fundamentally different than most people's and therefore so are my reactions. But, she really was helpful in a lot of ways. My situation resolved itself and, as I was about to stop going, she retired anyway, so it all ended well.

There are good ones and not so good ones, just like in any other profession. The bad part is that if you're seeking a therapist, you may not be in a frame of mind to clearly make those distinctions, so it's harder to tell what you're getting into.

[monsno_leedra]

When I was doing Sub Duty we had to go see a therapist as part of our Sub Screening. That was an interesting session for sure. I think most of the submariners I knew probably screwed with the therapist. Never knew if we were deranged or not to be honest. Heard tales of a few boats that had a couple of therapist that rode them to "Check" out conditions and evaluate things and the "Docs" came back and said the whole crews should be certified.

To be honest I don't know if therapy helps because many times I think the Therapist gets set in their ways and methods. I recall being told I was depressed because I though of death and dying a lot yet the therapist didn't want to hear that I was always thinking about genealogy. So death and life are something I'm always running over in my head as I ponder generations, how's buried where, where I need to look, etc. Mortality is a subject I think about. Yet in many of their minds that equates to depression.

So it's difficult to say if it is effective or not. I think it depends upon how it is approached and how the therapist works.

[Torey]

I personally feel that the effectiveness of therapy is primarily dependent upon the professional delivering it.

I have had the same therapeutic techniques explored with me by different professionals with different results. A therapist that elicits a defensive response from a client is less likely to achieve the necessary relationship dynamic to facilitate a productive session IMHO.

[anunitu]

my therapist told me on our first session,if i felt it was not working,to seek out another one,because if not working it was a waste of both our time. she was very good like that.

[ice]

A big part of therapy is your connection with the therapist. If you do not like that therapist, regardless of the technique being employed, it won't be nearly as effective as any other technique by another therapist that you do like. The "therapeutic relationship" is a big part of the healing process. Of course, that also means stuff like how that therapist responds to you, since that response might work for someone else with the same issue, but not you. Torey, you point out a very important part of therapy and I absolutely agree with you. I've had a similar experience. Think about it this way, if you don't like a therapist, are you going to open up and work on yourself the way you need to? Why would you? You are going to be much more resistant than you would be if you liked the therapist.

[faye_cat]

Therapy absolutely has helped me.

As others have said, it definitely depends on the therapist. If they are not good at their job, or not experienced with a particular aspect of your problems, then they will either do nothing for you, or add to your stress/issues.

If you get a good one, though, it can lead to much healthier coping skills, a new perspective, and a way to measure your progress. Also, I do truly believe that sometimes people are not in the right mindset to get therapy, and that sometimes they are.