> Things get even more puzzling if you consider the sheer number of therapies on offer and the conflicting methods that they often employ. Some want you to feel

> Things get even more puzzling if you consider the sheer number of therapies on offer and the conflicting methods that they often employ. Some want you to feel more (eg, psychodynamic and emotion-focused approaches); others to feel less and think more They all share being heard, raw, and I believe that is key. I spent time talking with a consoler years ago to work through some personal issues, and I genuinely feel having someone there to listen in a way where I knew judgements on their part would never threaten our relationship was the true value. Being able to just tell someone how I felt about things, clearly and honestly, without the need to self censor or sugar coat - particularly in the way I would with a friend - helped more than anything else.