Can psychologists help themselves?

A psychologist can be a helpful tool in your proverbial health kit. By helping you keep a clear mind and manage any stress, anxiety, phobias, and other problems you face, a psychologist can help you get the most out of life and keep you free from symptoms of depression and other mental health problems.

Why do mental health professionals need therapy themselves?

Since therapists have to keep their lips tight most of the time, it is very important to set aside some time for self-care and gain neutral feedback to process their own thoughts and feelings. Engaging in personal therapy, allows the therapist to gain more perspicacity. It creates an environment of support and trust.

Do therapists have to compromise themselves in therapy?

If you are a therapist, both points are going to be true. Counselors, regardless of their personal values, are neither expected to, nor do they by by practice, compromise themselves in therapy. But does (a) having personal values, and (b) not compromising values equate to (c) imposing values?

Is there a conflict of values between a therapist and client?

There is no obvious conflict of values, client makes an appointment. Client invests money, time and energy into therapy, and only later learns, over the course of therapy, that the therapist has strong beliefs in direct opposition to their personal beliefs.

Should a therapist be emotionally present during therapy?

If Laura’s therapist were to stay aloof and closed-off emotionally, then the therapy wouldn’t feel helpful or be effective. And for a therapist, being emotionally present will mean that your clients affect you. You have real feelings in response to them and to the material they bring.

What happens when the values of the therapist leak into therapy?

The values of the therapist then “leak” into therapy over time, and the client discovers, over time, that the therapist’s values are polar opposite, and the client may feel defeated and give up counseling or go back to the search for a new therapist. Which scenario is better for a client:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJkGRt0BZPQ