It really depends on the therapist and on the patient's goals. I went to therapy to sort through a depression. At first, my therapist helped me feel better about all of it. But he didn't just do that - he held up a mirror to me so that I saw my own role in dysfunctional relationships. And then we worked on ways to change how I dealt with that.

Was it hard work for me? Yes. Did it help me overcome a deep depression? Yes. Do I recommend therapy? Absolutely. It also made me a better, more empathetic parent. Fifteen years later I still use those tools.

If I had a less confrontational and provocative therapist (and I do not mean those words as pejorative at all), I'm sure I would have felt temporarily soothed. And ditto if I had been resistant to change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

It’s “differently FROM.”

Actually, correcting myself, it’s “you see it as different from.”

You should talk to someone about why you feel compelled to (in)correctly correct others. A good therapist can help you learn to manage your impulses.

Lol. Keep swimming.

Are you the therapist? You sound possibly narcissistic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

DP. When I go to a doctor or a dentist, they usually come up with a very finite plan: we'll do X, it will take Y visits, this is how we'll know it's working. Now think about people who go to weekly therapy for years with no measurable goals other than "one day I'll feel better", and that "better" isn't quantified either. The data on those long term interventions, as opposed to structured 12-16 weeks programs, isn't as good as most think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

It’s “differently FROM.”

Actually, correcting myself, it’s “you see it as different from.”

You should talk to someone about why you feel compelled to (in)correctly correct others. A good therapist can help you learn to manage your impulses.

Lol. Keep swimming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

It’s “differently FROM.”

Actually, correcting myself, it’s “you see it as different from.”

You should talk to someone about why you feel compelled to (in)correctly correct others. A good therapist can help you learn to manage your impulses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

It’s “differently FROM.”

Actually, correcting myself, it’s “you see it as different from.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

It’s “differently FROM.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

Classic no-responsibility response by a therapist. Yes, turn a valid critique into a personal attack on the questioner. Very productive!

Anonymous wrote:I don’t entirely agree with you about the “bad” thing but most therapy is a racket and it creates the same kind of narcissism in society that social media does. You’re basically paying someone to make you more miserable and self obsessed.

+1 there are a lot of therapists out there who just listen paraphrase support and validate without getting at root causes or problematic behaviors by the patient. A lot.

Anonymous wrote:I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!

I'm the therapist from above. It's interesting to me that you frame therapy as paying someone to engage with you. You see it differently than going to a doctor or a dentist. Do you often feel as though you have to pressure or bribe people into engaging with you? Is that something you're insecure about?

I don’t entirely agree with you about the “bad” thing but most therapy is a racket and it creates the same kind of narcissism in society that social media does. You’re basically paying someone to make you more miserable and self obsessed.

Therapy has been referred to as the talking cure. I have cptsd, which I don't believe can be cured, but talking to a therapist has helped me thrive despite living through horrific abuse. I wanted to end my life, now I want to live it. If it's not for you, that's okay. Enjoy whatever gets you through life.

I'm a therapist. This is not what we do. You should try therapy!

Uh, what the hell kinda shady therapists are you going to where you can confess to doing something bad and they'll make it seem okay?

I think it can be helpful but does anyone also acknowledge that you are paying someone's salary to talk to them? Meaning, if you are doing something "bad", sure they will talk to you all day and make it seem okay as long as your paying!