I had a therapist for a while. While beneficial in some ways, I grew leaps and bounds from reading books, way more than I ever could face to face for an hour a

I had a therapist for a while. While beneficial in some ways, I grew leaps and bounds from reading books, way more than I ever could face to face for an hour a week. Or even 40 hours a week. Therapists can be hugely beneficial. But they are also human, and are subject to their own timidity, attitude, perspective and theories. With books, these are laid bare and are unashamed. An author is sometimes more willing to get in your face about something than a therapist ever would dare. And for me, that's what I needed most. New ideas, new perspectives, new ways of looking at myself, my emotions, and my relationship with others. Not knocking seeing a therapist, but one can get comfortable with them and not make the progress you need. Likewise, I know a great deal of people who have had repeated bad experiences with therapists, sometimes to a criminal degree.