How To Choose A Mental Health Care Provider

[matt_arnold]

Several years ago, The Road Less Traveled suggested to me the idea that everyone could benefit from therapy, regardless of whether a crisis situation has developed to force them to consider themselves "sick." From observing the human race, I agree with the author that mental health is always a matter of degree. I'm dubious of the claim that a

Comments

Sounds somewhat familiar. (:

[treebones]

The first therapist I had was trained in a method where it was, apparently, his job to just sit there and provide a silent reflecting wall for me. I got tired of this, and eventually left. From this, I learned to a) place a value on my money and my time, and b) exercise my right to vote with my feet, even at the risk of hurting another person's feelings.

I don't give him credit for these revelations, though. (:

[wulfthestampede]

very interesting. and helpful. ive never been to a therapist, but i had always figured that if i did go, i would get something out of it. i should pay you for the lesson learned!! (:~ <----i just invented a new smiley! thats me when i had my mohawk!

[matt_arnold]

Just ask things upfront in the first phone call. First, what you will get from him? In other words, what techniques does he employ? If he states up front he never gives advice, you need to know that. How about analysis? Or personal growth "assignments"? Second, how it is that supposed to give you the result? Third and most important, how can you tell when to end it? In othe words, is this like one of those private investigators who keeps claiming he's hot on the trail of your kidnapped daughter, and it's only weeks away if you give him more money to follow up on a contact in the slave trade on a beach in the Bahamas.

Better yet, just read a lot and talk about it with others who do.

Re: You've a right to your opiniion

[matt_arnold]

OK, let's apply my comments to the ones who are charlatans and not apply my comments to the ones who are not. The same right that you have to characterize my point of view as a fundamentalist religion, I will excercise to characterize belief systems however I wish, with absolutely no regard to favoritism because of friends I happen to make, including you or anyone else. I have given up entire social circles before and I'm just glad I don't think it will need to come to that again. We have now characterized each other, which I've learned is inevitable, and having spoken where we are simply at during this moment, we hopefully can forget it and move on. From the day I met you I saw it coming, and I'm comfortable with it. After all, it's "my truth" isn't it?

Re: You've a right to your opinion

[matt_arnold]

Thanks for the clarification. It's important to consider each person in parts. I value you very much.

If it's really as you say, that each person's truth is whatever works for them, then the afterlife will be for each person whatever they believed it would be in life. So I would not exist at that time, while the Vikings are in Valhalla, and the Christians are in heaven with no gay people, and the Satanists are having orgies on speed, and you are wherever you expect to be.

Just as there are things that you're sick of, there are things that I'm sick of as well, as I partially explained in "Is That God In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See Me," and "Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz." But I mostly reserve my harshness for authority figures, and only part of it for the followers that support them and then only if they give me a hard time. And even to the nice ones I just don't tell them what I really think. It's long past overdue that people stopped respecting credulity as a sacred cow. I make no demands that everyone has to respect

Therapist

[cosette_valjean]

I'm so glad I had a good therapist in my first experience. He gave me so much feedback and observation into my own mind. He practically preached at me sometimes. He also gave me specific mind goals to attain. I knew when I no longer needed his guidance and was quite capable of applying the mind tools he taught me, although I had grown attached to him and was rather sad never to see him again. It is quite comforting to have somebody who completely understands you and is helpful.

[anonymous]

I've been to therapy off and on throughout my life, but this is the first time I've stuck with it for more than a few sessions. (Still, it's only been about two months