What if therapy is basically a joke?

[JamesC]

Hi guys,

Thought I'd pipe in with my opinion. Just joined the forum.

I overcame SA many years ago now but have only just got my head around what it was and how I did it.

I feel a lot of your comments about therapy is a waste of time. I personally went through therapy myself at some point in my journey and I found it both paradoxically helpful but completely unhelpful in a way.

Ultimately you are sitting in a room with a stranger to discuss your feelings, sometimes these are feelings that you are ashamed/embarassed about and are completely unable to tell your family or friends about. I think the benefit with therapy is this - non-judgemental space to express your feelings.

On the other hand it feels completely unhelpful because you aren't actually "going anywhere". In my experience and personal opinion (I'm not a therapist please be aware) a good therapist doesn't encourage the patient that they can "fix them".

Many patient's attend therapy feeling that the therapist can make all their problems go away but the reality is they can't nor should they.

Good therapy is just allowing the patient to realise that perhaps their beliefs about a certain situation might possible to open to interpretation - essentially injecting an element of doubt into otherwise black/white scenarios. CBT does this well. I never have had CBT formally but my little brother is, and it was certainly a key element in me overcoming my social anxiety (self administered).

Ultimately there is no black or white answer as to whether therapy is good or bad but I don't think you can really comment unless you try it. Remember we are dealing with the mind and that is completely subjective. Social anxiety is about PERCEPTION and if someone else percieves it is helping them then it will help them.

James

[jonny neurotic]

Originally Posted by GD8

Lawyers go to school for about that long (probably a little less) and all they do is lie and **** people over so what's the difference?

Way I see it therapists are pretty much the same thing as "psychics". You just pay them to tell you **** you want to hear.

Well that's great. Why don't you try to find a therapist who will tell YOU what you want to hear? I don't think you will find one that easily because you come across as a rather negativistic person and any therapist worth their salt would probably tell you stuff you'd rather not hear.

What's the difference between a lawyer and a therapist? You tell me. And while you are at it tell me what the difference is between a lawyer and a psychic. I ask YOU to tell ME because I think you know better than to ask such silly questions and I also think it would do you good to think it through a bit...

[GD8]

Originally Posted by jonny neurotic

Well that's great. Why don't you try to find a therapist who will tell YOU what you want to hear? I don't think you will find one that easily because you come across as a rather negativistic person and any therapist worth their salt would probably tell you stuff you'd rather not hear.

What's the difference between a lawyer and a therapist? You tell me. And while you are at it tell me what the difference is between a lawyer and a psychic. I ask YOU to tell ME because I think you know better than to ask such silly questions and I also think it would do you good to think it through a bit...

Lol I'm not negative, I just think therapy is bull**** and there's nothing they could possibly tell me that's going to make me have some major epiphany. I have friends as my support system, I don't need to talk to some stranger and act like he actually gives a **** about anything I'm saying.

I didn't ask what the difference between a lawyer and a therapist is either, they're two totally different professions but lawyers, "psychics", and therapists are alike in that they all get paid to lie to people.

Dunno why you're getting so mad anyway, calm your tits bro

[jonny neurotic]

Originally Posted by GD8

Lol I'm not negative, I just think therapy is bull**** and there's nothing they could possibly tell me that's going to make me have some major epiphany. I have friends as my support system, I don't need to talk to some stranger and act like he actually gives a **** about anything I'm saying.

I didn't ask what the difference between a lawyer and a therapist is either, they're two totally different professions but lawyers, "psychics", and therapists are alike in that they all get paid to lie to people.

Dunno why you're getting so mad anyway, calm your tits bro

Don't tell me to calm my tits and don't call m bro. You obviously do not understand the point of therapy and that is fine, just don't try to put other people off. You are clearly negativistic because of the things you write. That's negativistic not negaitve. Look the term up, you may learn something about yourself...

[jonny neurotic]

Originally Posted by GD8

... calm your tits bro

Negativism [ˈnɛgətɪvˌɪzəm]n

1. a tendency to be or a state of being unconstructively critical.

[TigerRifle1]

Originally Posted by GD8

Lol I'm not negative, I just think therapy is bull**** and there's nothing they could possibly tell me that's going to make me have some major epiphany. I have friends as my support system, I don't need to talk to some stranger and act like he actually gives a **** about anything I'm saying.

I didn't ask what the difference between a lawyer and a therapist is either, they're two totally different professions but lawyers, "psychics", and therapists are alike in that they all get paid to lie to people.

Dunno why you're getting so mad anyway, calm your tits bro

What happens when your friends aren't around anymore, in say 4 or 5 years.

[GD8]

Originally Posted by jonny neurotic

Don't tell me to calm my tits and don't call m bro. You obviously do not understand the point of therapy and that is fine, just don't try to put other people off. You are clearly negativistic because of the things you write. That's negativistic not negaitve. Look the term up, you may learn something about yourself...

I'm not trying to turn people away from getting help. The OP asked what if therapy is a joke and in my opinion it IS a joke. What's wrong with that? Maybe don't read a thread titled "what if therapy is basically a joke?" if you don't want to see people talking **** about therapy.

Originally Posted by TigerRifle1

What happens when your friends aren't around anymore, in say 4 or 5 years.

they've been around most of my life so I don't see them going anywhere any time soon

[Quinn the Eskimo]

I believe therapy can help in some cases

is it basically a joke? in my opinion, yeah pretty much, therapists are not going to give you the full picture, and can not give you the full picture

[wxolue]

You can call therapy inefficacious. You can even call it pseudo science. Calling therapy a joke however is insulting to the hundreds of thousands of medical professionals out there that are legitimately concerned with the well-being of their patients. Therapy is a terrible way to make money, if that's the only thing you're interested in.

[JamesC]

Originally Posted by GD8

I'm not trying to turn people away from getting help. The OP asked what if therapy is a joke and in my opinion it IS a joke. What's wrong with that? Maybe don't read a thread titled "what if therapy is basically a joke?" if you don't want to see people talking **** about therapy.


they've been around most of my life so I don't see them going anywhere any time soon

What therapy are you talking about here? All therapy or just certain types?

[Minipurz]

Originally Posted by GD8

Therapy is so fake and stupid imo. How is sitting in a room talking to some uptight idiot who doesn't give a **** about me supposed to help? You're just dollar signs to them really, they tell you what you want to hear so you keep coming back. It's bull****.

Do you have any experience with any kind of therapy at all ?

Ive been in group cbt therapy, and its like 7/8 patients who gained alot out of the sessions and the methods we've learned.

The therapists have been very helpfull in identifying negative thoughts and making new alternative thoughts.

At no moment have we sat and been told what we want to hear, lol, more like the opposite, trying to motivate / push us to do exposure therapy and socialise.

And at no moment have I thought they dont give a ****.

Sounds like you are talkin **** about stuff you dont know **** about tbh.

[jonny neurotic]

Originally Posted by GD8

I'm not trying to turn people away from getting help. The OP asked what if therapy is a joke and in my opinion it IS a joke. What's wrong with that? Maybe don't read a thread titled "what if therapy is basically a joke?" if you don't want to see people talking **** about therapy.

What experience do you have of the theraputic process? You clearly know nothing of it and you comments are in no way helpful to anyone. If you had a good reason not to like it then that would be acceptable but you are just BSing. You can't even decide on an appropriate analogy. Are therapists like lawyers or psychics? What are you even talking about? The OP asks a reasonable question and, I imagine, was looking for something approaching an intelligent discussion on the matter and the best you can offer is some half baked aspersion based on nothing other than the first thing that popped into your head. You are "dissing" therapists as a whole and so, in turn, I am "dissing" you(only I have more panache and are more disposed toward writing something of consequence).

[jonny neurotic]

Originally Posted by GD8

...in my opinion it IS a joke. What's wrong with that?

Answer these posts while maintaining this attitude...

Originally Posted by trendyfool

I'm in CBT. Without my therapist I might have stopped cutting, and probably wouldn't be going to school or leaving my house much. He has made me not just work on changing my beliefs but also on changing my circumstances and way of life. I still have quite a ways to go but CBT and my therapist's support has been crucial in getting me to where I am today and I will always be grateful to him for that. CBT changed my life.

Originally Posted by peril

Therapy has helped me understand the things I'm going through. Although, having someone (other than me) talk about makes it more real. My therapist also makes me accountable for things that I have to do to change my life and although she's not forcing me, I don't want to disappoint her so I try my best to actually do something. I'm a procrastinator so this takes huge effort from me but I know that I have to do it...for me.

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________

Originally Posted by GD8

What is a therapist supposed to tell me that I don't already know?

I can think of a few things you could be told about yourself but my post would be deleted...

[percyblueraincoat]

Deleted

[norad]

I think those who had success with therapy were simply lucky and found a good therapist but overall I cannot take psychotherapy seriously or maybe I simply always came across therapists who sucked. But what already pisses me off is the underlying premise that when you're depressed or have a problem you're not clever enough to solve it and a therapist can always help you deal with it. This would mean there could never be such a thing as a depressed therapist how ridiculous is this? I am sure therapists are as messed up as ordinary people they simply sit in their chairs and act like they got it all figured out. I could do the same. Playing a smartass and giving smart advice isn't that hard. Putting it into practice and making it work is hard.

[srschirm]

You will never improve as long as the whole basis of your thinking is negative. You could have the best therapist in the world but end up construing things negatively.

[norad]

How am I supposed to stop thinking negative when all therapists I come across suck? Kinda hard to think positive when nothing positive happens.

[rubyruby]

Some people need medication along with therapy. sometimes when you are on medication you are less irritable and sort of open to looking at things from another perspective.

[GD8]

Originally Posted by Minipurz

Do you have any experience with any kind of therapy at all ?

Ive been in group cbt therapy, and its like 7/8 patients who gained alot out of the sessions and the methods we've learned.

The therapists have been very helpfull in identifying negative thoughts and making new alternative thoughts.

At no moment have we sat and been told what we want to hear, lol, more like the opposite, trying to motivate / push us to do exposure therapy and socialise.

And at no moment have I thought they dont give a ****.

Sounds like you are talkin **** about stuff you dont know **** about tbh.

I'm talking about my experiences with therapy, not yours. I'm not saying therapy CAN'T have results but I personally think it's a joke and it hasn't done anything for me in the past. I have no experiences with CBT therapy either so I won't comment on it.

Originally Posted by jonny neurotic

What experience do you have of the theraputic process? You clearly know nothing of it and you comments are in no way helpful to anyone. If you had a good reason not to like it then that would be acceptable but you are just BSing. You can't even decide on an appropriate analogy. Are therapists like lawyers or psychics? What are you even talking about? The OP asks a reasonable question and, I imagine, was looking for something approaching an intelligent discussion on the matter and the best you can offer is some half baked aspersion based on nothing other than the first thing that popped into your head. You are "dissing" therapists as a whole and so, in turn, I am "dissing" you(only I have more panache and are more disposed toward writing something of consequence).

Why do you even care so much? I've tried therapy before and it did nothing for me whatsoever, that's reason enough imo so get off my dick. I could care less about your experiences with it, if it actually worked for you then you wouldn't be on this site.

No one says dissing anymore by the way, is this 2004 or some ****?

Originally Posted by jonny neurotic

I can think of a few things you could be told about yourself but my post would be deleted...

So PM it to me. I'd really love to hear what you have to say about me.

[Pam]

Originally Posted by norad

I think those who had success with therapy were simply lucky and found a good therapist but overall I cannot take psychotherapy seriously or maybe I simply always came across therapists who sucked. But what already pisses me off is the underlying premise that when you're depressed or have a problem you're not clever enough to solve it and a therapist can always help you deal with it. This would mean there could never be such a thing as a depressed therapist how ridiculous is this? I am sure therapists are as messed up as ordinary people they simply sit in their chairs and act like they got it all figured out. I could do the same. Playing a smartass and giving smart advice isn't that hard. Putting it into practice and making it work is hard.

I have also come across several who seem to have no idea what they are doing, including breaking rules and being unprofessional, nevermind not understanding me (and I'm really good at explaining myself.)

But if you provoke, you have to expect (and I assume you actually want) a response. And yeah, it'll probably be negative! Are you familiar with transference and counter-transference? Sometimes I have seen that negative transference will bring on a negative, inappropriate, or unempathic response from a therapist. This will inevitably happen because they aren't perfect, BUT you just HOPE that they are professional enough, and sensitive enough, and smart enough to be able to straighten this out with you. A lot of them are not self-aware enough to even know themselves what has really happened so they can work on repairing it with you. THAT is something I've been lacking with mine. Sometimes our standards are very high for them and they will one day mess up. I have a hard time myself forgiving them, but it really should be the goal, to mend the break and continue on.

If you feel the need to provoke etc, I would think they would ask you questions about why and what you really feel, how this is related to your past, etc, and get you to feel your feelings rather than act them out. But if you are seeing someone who is not used to being in depth like that, then they won't be able or willing to do that (I'm thinking of CBT therapists are not too keen on doing this) and it will just end up being a negative experience for you of retaliation on their part. A never-ending argument....

Just my opinion based on my education, stuff I've read on my own, and experiences as a patient.