4 ms·

Most therapists can't help you, but mean well and don't know it, so if you're not seeing dramatic improvement after 6-8 sessions, find a new therapist. If you f

Most therapists can't help you, but mean well and don't know it, so if you're not seeing dramatic improvement after 6-8 sessions, find a new therapist. If you find it hard to break up with your therapist, that means they're really doing a bad job, and you should definitely find a new therapist. Also, don't be impressed by credentials (PhD, MD, etc).

notananthem 8y ago
Hey incredibly rude, self-centered internet comment troll, if therapy doesn't work for you please don't try to spoil the experience for someone else. Evidence based research into efficacy of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) shows its response rate is higher than alternatives and especially beneficial for: anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress. AKA, all your bullshit! It is true that you need to click with your therapist- ask trusted friends who they see. Don't disclose to coworkers/bosses/work about seeing a therapist because its still stigmatized, case in point the idiot who posted the comment I'm replying to. Credentials are important as to how/where therapists received training- and the difference between PHD, MD and other titles are CRITICAL to differences in psychiatrist vs psychology, etc. Some prescribe medicine, some don't, some shouldn't, some are quacks. Find them based on reputation and perform your own checks to satisfy your concerns. Therapy is really healthy :)
- Osmium 8y ago
  Your own comment would have been a lot better without its first sentence and that "idiot" clause :) I didn't find the parent's comment rude or trollish. It seems clear that therapy can help people. It also seems clear it is not a panacea, and that it can depend on both the person seeking therapy and the therapist, as well as the reason for therapy. It sounds like the parent was sharing their own experiences, which are just as valid as your own. If we elevate therapy and therapists to be beyond criticism, all we end up with is a cult. Take the parent's comment on credentials and licensing: I'm sure that we want our therapists to be licensed, using evidence-based techniques, but that doesn't mean all credentials are created equally, or that because someone has credentials automatically means that they can be helpful to you personally.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- mettamage 8y ago
  According to the guidelines [1]: > Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say face-to-face. Don't be snarky. Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. > When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. "That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3. > Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith. > Please don't use uppercase for emphasis. If you want to emphasize a word or phrase, put asterisks around it and it will get italicized. (so put asterisks around the words critical and aka) --- I only cited the guidelines that I believe you're in violation of. Your comment does show substance and it'd be more of a joy to read if you show that substance through editing your post so these guidelines violations aren't applicable anymore. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
mikec3010 8y ago
>Most therapists can't help you, Who made you the expert to make this determination? The people it doesn't help are the people who put no effort into the process.
- Osmium 8y ago
  > The people it doesn't help are the people who put no effort into the process. I’ve heard this repeated a lot. I have no doubt this is true for some people (maybe even the majority of people for which therapy doesn’t work, I don’t know). However, I wouldn’t want to claim this is the only reason. Especially since it’s a great effort for many people to even make it to therapy in the first place. They are making an effort. And it’s disheartening to then turn around and tell them they’re the problem if it doesn’t work.
  - mikec3010 8y ago
    If merely getting someplace is a great effort, they are in need of medication from a psychiatrist. They aren't candidates for therapy if that's the extent of their participation.
    - cm2012 8y ago
      That's so untrue I literally dropped my jaw. Any therapist that treats anxiety can tell you it's extremely hard for some therapy needing patients (who, yes, are on medication) to make appointments. My wife included.
      - jschwartzi 8y ago
        Speaking from experience it was incredibly hard to start. I waited 6 months between when I knew I had a problem before I made a concerted effort to find a therapist. Talking to another human being about my internal state took a lot of effort. I had to push through it.
      - mikec3010 8y ago
        Cut the theatrics. Showing up and sitting there isn't going to do a damn thing. She might as well pray.
jschwartzi 8y ago
OP probably didn't mean most therapists can't help anyone. They mean most therapists can't help you. As in part of what you have to do is find a way to connect with your therapist. It's impossible to connect with most people you meet.
bitmadness 8y ago
This is complete bullshit. Therapy usually takes way more than 6-8 sessions before seeing results.
saryant 8y ago
This mirrors my experience. After some false starts with other therapists, I was lucky to stumble on to one who focuses on short-term intensive treatment for anxiety—he specifically avoids long-term talk therapy. His belief is that two-thirds of patients who seek treatment for anxiety are ill-served by long-term treatment or medication. I'll say this: he managed to get me stable in a fairly short amount of time. The sessions were so mentally taxing I often just went home instead of going back to work for the rest of the day, which is probably a sign they were working.

notananthem 8y ago

Hey incredibly rude, self-centered internet comment troll, if therapy doesn't work for you please don't try to spoil the experience for someone else. Evidence based research into efficacy of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) shows its response rate is higher than alternatives and especially beneficial for: anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, bulimia, anger control problems, and general stress. AKA, all your bullshit! It is true that you need to click with your therapist- ask trusted friends who they see. Don't disclose to coworkers/bosses/work about seeing a therapist because its still stigmatized, case in point the idiot who posted the comment I'm replying to. Credentials are important as to how/where therapists received training- and the difference between PHD, MD and other titles are CRITICAL to differences in psychiatrist vs psychology, etc. Some prescribe medicine, some don't, some shouldn't, some are quacks. Find them based on reputation and perform your own checks to satisfy your concerns. Therapy is really healthy :)

Osmium 8y ago
Your own comment would have been a lot better without its first sentence and that "idiot" clause :) I didn't find the parent's comment rude or trollish. It seems clear that therapy can help people. It also seems clear it is not a panacea, and that it can depend on both the person seeking therapy and the therapist, as well as the reason for therapy. It sounds like the parent was sharing their own experiences, which are just as valid as your own. If we elevate therapy and therapists to be beyond criticism, all we end up with is a cult. Take the parent's comment on credentials and licensing: I'm sure that we want our therapists to be licensed, using evidence-based techniques, but that doesn't mean all credentials are created equally, or that because someone has credentials automatically means that they can be helpful to you personally.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
mettamage 8y ago
According to the guidelines [1]: > Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say face-to-face. Don't be snarky. Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. > When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. "That is idiotic; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3. > Please respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize. Assume good faith. > Please don't use uppercase for emphasis. If you want to emphasize a word or phrase, put asterisks around it and it will get italicized. (so put asterisks around the words critical and aka) --- I only cited the guidelines that I believe you're in violation of. Your comment does show substance and it'd be more of a joy to read if you show that substance through editing your post so these guidelines violations aren't applicable anymore. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

mikec3010 8y ago

>Most therapists can't help you, Who made you the expert to make this determination? The people it doesn't help are the people who put no effort into the process.

Osmium 8y ago
> The people it doesn't help are the people who put no effort into the process. I’ve heard this repeated a lot. I have no doubt this is true for some people (maybe even the majority of people for which therapy doesn’t work, I don’t know). However, I wouldn’t want to claim this is the only reason. Especially since it’s a great effort for many people to even make it to therapy in the first place. They are making an effort. And it’s disheartening to then turn around and tell them they’re the problem if it doesn’t work.
- mikec3010 8y ago
  If merely getting someplace is a great effort, they are in need of medication from a psychiatrist. They aren't candidates for therapy if that's the extent of their participation.
  - cm2012 8y ago
    That's so untrue I literally dropped my jaw. Any therapist that treats anxiety can tell you it's extremely hard for some therapy needing patients (who, yes, are on medication) to make appointments. My wife included.
    - jschwartzi 8y ago
      Speaking from experience it was incredibly hard to start. I waited 6 months between when I knew I had a problem before I made a concerted effort to find a therapist. Talking to another human being about my internal state took a lot of effort. I had to push through it.
    - mikec3010 8y ago
      Cut the theatrics. Showing up and sitting there isn't going to do a damn thing. She might as well pray.

jschwartzi 8y ago

OP probably didn't mean most therapists can't help anyone. They mean most therapists can't help you. As in part of what you have to do is find a way to connect with your therapist. It's impossible to connect with most people you meet.

bitmadness 8y ago

This is complete bullshit. Therapy usually takes way more than 6-8 sessions before seeing results.

saryant 8y ago

This mirrors my experience. After some false starts with other therapists, I was lucky to stumble on to one who focuses on short-term intensive treatment for anxiety—he specifically avoids long-term talk therapy. His belief is that two-thirds of patients who seek treatment for anxiety are ill-served by long-term treatment or medication. I'll say this: he managed to get me stable in a fairly short amount of time. The sessions were so mentally taxing I often just went home instead of going back to work for the rest of the day, which is probably a sign they were working.