Therapists. The good and the bad.

[CarlaWestin]

While writing in a recent thread about counseling, it dawned on me that in earlier posts, I lambasted therapists as evil yet I was elevating the joint counseling experience as a great opportunity.

My first encounter with the psycho-babble industry was terrible. My gender rocking activities were discerned as unnecessary baggage to carry through life that I was burdened with by my doting overbearing mother. Typical Freudian garbage.

Now, once or twice a year, I'm invited to accompany my wife to her therapist. The MD is trained in and handles clients with gender concerns. Many arrive emulating their gender of choice which makes for an interesting waiting room. Anyway, these sessions are fabulous. There's an air of acceptance and understanding and balance. Our relationship benefits from the encounters.

So, do you have a good therapist, bad therapist story?

[Beverley Sims]

I do not feel I have a use for a therapist of any kind.
Others may disagree. :)
Therapy is helpful in all sorts of ways.
Stress related problems are prolific out there, bad debts, family problems, trouble at work and entanglements with the law to name just a few.
Some of us race of to a therapist at the drop of a hat and expect them to come out with a hat full of bunnies and cure you.
All they really do is set you at ease,give you guidance, where you can't see the wood from the trees.
There is nothing wrong with this and they do the job well.
I think too many expect too much from therapy.
If you have a need then see someone, don't be disappointed if they do not cure you overnight.
They need to establish what your problem is and help you overcome it.

Carla gives a good example where her MD is also a therapist.
Many do a psychology degree to handle the variation of patients they see.
Psychology as a subject is in their degrees anyway.
One I knew many years ago studied chiropractic and alternative medicines.

[makin' it real]

I've received counseling to good effect off and on over the past 20+ years. My early experiences into gender and sexual identity issues helped quiet the crazy-making, self-judging voices in my head. Two therapists during those early years tried convincing me my crossdressing meant I was gay and that I should just accept that. Still, besides that basic ignorance about CDing, they did help me function better in the world and with less internal pressure.

Now with a PhD in Psychology, I have even more experience with therapists. Seeing my classmates and colleagues in clinical settings, I can tell you there are some really good therapists out there and some really bad ones. Most practicing therapists can help deal with recognizing and changing problematic beliefs and communication patterns. A good number can help work through gender and early life issues. But very few have the courage and skill to address core life issues and life transformation.

For a while I worked with a therapist specializing in sex and gender issues. She was brilliant in helping people discover more of who they are. Because of her experience and training, she could quickly identify patient blind spots. Just simply naming things that had been overlooked allows people to start coming up with their own solutions. She is a good example of why most people on this forum seeking therapy would do well to find a therapist specializing in sex and gender issues.

If you're driving a specialty vehicle, do you really want to take it to your corner gas station/repair shop for maintenance? Or would you rather take it to someone experienced in that specific model. Now think of how much more complex people are than things. Isn't it worth seeing a specialist?

~Rachel

[docrobbysherry]

My first counseling experience was with my ex. That was good. My ex was the issue. I saw the same therapist on my for awhile. That was good. We discussed my dressing which was in it's infancy back then. And, moved on when she saw it caused no issues in my life. Wonder what she would say now?

My daughter and I recently visited a counselor a few times for comunication issues. I would give her a so so rating. I think we both benefitted from it. But I received no incites from her. She wasn't near as talented or as experienced as my first one tho. Still, she did help us in an around about manner.

[Sarasometimes]

Like most fields, there are good and bad carpenters and therapists. Also, just like carpenters, you need to find one that can handle "your" job. I want to many therapists who weren't trained in gender issues and I spent a lot of my money teaching them. Then I found the place I've been going to on and off for several years and what a difference. I think you get out of therapy (if you are going to a good one) what you put into it. Honesty is critical and for many of us it takes time to build that trust. If you try therapy and your gut says not with this or that one follow it and try someone else. Those in NJ looking for a good place, private message me, I'll share.