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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do you have borderline personality disorder? [/quote]

No, I don’t think so. Although I think I have several symptoms - primarily intense anger at times that feels inappropriate. [/quote]

Underneath that anger is a set of core beliefs that need unpacking. Usually a core fear of not being good enough.

And it’s possible that therapy can makes things temporarily worse before they are better. Think of wound that’s healed badly and inhibiting your ability to use a limb. To fix the wound you have to go in and remove the scar tissue, which will make the wound more sensitive for a time while it heals properly.

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I’ve stuck with therapists for years with little improvement [/quote]

Wrong therapists then.

I am training to be a therapist and I get it. I’ve had many bad ones but the good ones are great. [/quote]

Seems like you are fairly biased, no? Since this is how you will make $ [/quote]

DP here, who also trained to be a therapist. I spent two years in grad school, 4.0 GPA (which was shockingly easy to attain, compared to my engineering undergrad), completed 3 internships with glowing reviews, and was 95% done with the program. However, a little reading is a dangerous thing. I read the text books, but I also read lots of unassigned journal articles on psychotherapy research, on bioethics, and related topics.

Finally I had to admit that there was nothing behind the curtain. Sure, people are helped by a sympathetic ear. Until 100 years ago, that kind of person was called a "friend" in English. Probably similar terms in other languages, I can't help but guess. For spiritual issues, someone could go to a priest, minister, rabbi, imam, etc. For medical issues, someone could go to a medical doctor. You get the idea.

The difference between me and a lot of the other students is that I had an existing low six-figure career I could return to. For a lot of them it was either finish this or work at Whole Foods. And for some, it was finish the program AND work at Whole Foods.

Of the people I saw in internships, 70% just needed to speak honestly with a friend, 20% needed to talk to a spiritual advisor, and 10% needed a physician.[/quote]

Friends, spiritual advisors, and physicians are not equipped to provide ongoing support for people going through major life changes or recovering from trauma.

Given how you view the profession and clientele, it’s ideal that you chose not to pursue being a therapist after all. [/quote]

They definitely are. All three of those categories have their place in adjustment to change and trauma recovery.

What are you going to offer? Tapping their knees during EMDR? Unserious.[/quote]

No, friends/spiritual advisors/physicians are not able to provide ongoing, weekly, one-on-one support. That is unserious. No one has said they can’t serve an important place in others’ lives - but that’s not therapy.

Therapists are far more likely to be able to work with others regularly and effectively - and do so, per multiple up-to-date studies indicating the efficacy of psychodynamic therapy.

If you dislike EMDR, then make that specific case.[/quote]

I see a friend every week. I also go to church every week, and during times of crisis, our minister has met with me on a weekly basis for a few months. The therapeutic relationship developed naturally in these cases and neither my friend nor my minister had to Dx me with GAD after the initial Adjustment Disorder Dx timed out so that they could bill insurance.  In turn, I also make myself available to friends and fellow parishioners during difficult times. Funny how that works.

Regarding studies, you know as well as I do about the replication problems in psychotherapy "research".

EMDR is a particularly bad offender in this area, with the shallow research and certification program pushed by its founder. And now brainspotting is piggy-backing on the charlatanism of EMDR. In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess. 
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I’m glad for you, and yet, you are consistently denigrating other professionals, and their clients who deeply benefit from seeing a therapist. Your experience does not mean everyone else must do the same as you, nor that they can or would have the same benefits or experience.

Therapy is often about learning to let go of trying to control others, which you seem unwilling to do. I’m sorry you’re discounting quality research and trying to speak for me, and I disagree with your conclusion.

I have no opinions on EMDR, as I’ve been referencing psychodynamic therapy throughout.

Take care.
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