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Was your second session your last because the prayer suggestion made you not want to go again?

rquantz 11y ago
It was a little more than that - he was talking about the HAARP conspiracy theory as well. It just became clear he didn't approach the world rationally. I'm sure for some people he would be a great therapist, but not a good match for me.
- AnkhMorporkian 11y ago
  Wow, that's and extremely weird thing to come up from the therapist in a therapy session.
  - a3n 11y ago
    That, and the bit about prayer, sounds like the therapist was focusing on his own needs rather than the needs of the client.
- eropple 11y ago
  So I'm a sucker for conspiracy theories, and this one's a new one on me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_R...
  - rquantz 11y ago
    Yeah, I hadn't heard of it either. He started talking about it and I said, "that sounds like a conspiracy theory," and then ended up looking it up in the session because he wouldn't let it go.
japhyr 11y ago
Being told to pray is pretty much the antithesis of good therapy.
- Dylan16807 11y ago
  How so? Seriously praying is an involved, focused mental state. It's not flippantly wishing.
  - clsec 11y ago
    Being asked to pray is not the right way to go. But, gaining a spiritul practice of some sort and learning/practicing mindfulness can be a tremendous help to someone suffering from major depressive disorder, such as myself. It has helped me quite a bit. Though I am still depressed, as I have been my entire life. It's a good tool in my toolbox of things that I have to help myself.
- learnstats2 11y ago
  I am not religious but I can see the value of prayer. In this case, the therapist could have understood that prayer was not a helpful suggestion - but in general, it's a valuable tool.
  - hessenwolf 11y ago
    When used with caution, perhaps. Separation from a god-belief coincided with the start of my depression, so prayer would be super-not-helpful.
    - judk 11y ago
      This is why prayer is better as a preventive measure, not a treatment. Keeping faith feels healthier than trying yo regain it.
- a3n 11y ago
  Not necessarily. I haven't researched it beyond what my doctor told me, but "studies have shown" that for people who have prayer as part of their life to begin with, prayer can be very helpful. Not for the GP commenter, so that suggestion wasn't helpful, but certainly for people already open to it. And doesn't that make sense? We're not merely bodies and brains, a biological machine built to specification, arriving at a particular day exactly like each other and exactly like we were born. Besides differences in brain mechanics and chemistry from each other and from our birth, we are also each the various experiences of our history. We have as much in difference as in common with each other. Quite apart from the question of whether prayer and what's prayed to is reality or not, people do believe in prayer and what's prayed to. If that's an effective part of their therapy, I see no reason to question it. If it lifts them out of the horror of depression and keeps them alive, I'm very happy for them, and for me if they're in my life. -- Signed: a non-partisan, small "a" atheist.

It was a little more than that - he was talking about the HAARP conspiracy theory as well. It just became clear he didn't approach the world rationally. I'm sure for some people he would be a great therapist, but not a good match for me.

AnkhMorporkian 11y ago
Wow, that's and extremely weird thing to come up from the therapist in a therapy session.
- a3n 11y ago
  That, and the bit about prayer, sounds like the therapist was focusing on his own needs rather than the needs of the client.
eropple 11y ago
So I'm a sucker for conspiracy theories, and this one's a new one on me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program#Conspiracy_theories http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_R...
- rquantz 11y ago
  Yeah, I hadn't heard of it either. He started talking about it and I said, "that sounds like a conspiracy theory," and then ended up looking it up in the session because he wouldn't let it go.

japhyr 11y ago

Being told to pray is pretty much the antithesis of good therapy.

Dylan16807 11y ago
How so? Seriously praying is an involved, focused mental state. It's not flippantly wishing.
- clsec 11y ago
  Being asked to pray is not the right way to go. But, gaining a spiritul practice of some sort and learning/practicing mindfulness can be a tremendous help to someone suffering from major depressive disorder, such as myself. It has helped me quite a bit. Though I am still depressed, as I have been my entire life. It's a good tool in my toolbox of things that I have to help myself.
learnstats2 11y ago
I am not religious but I can see the value of prayer. In this case, the therapist could have understood that prayer was not a helpful suggestion - but in general, it's a valuable tool.
- hessenwolf 11y ago
  When used with caution, perhaps. Separation from a god-belief coincided with the start of my depression, so prayer would be super-not-helpful.
  - judk 11y ago
    This is why prayer is better as a preventive measure, not a treatment. Keeping faith feels healthier than trying yo regain it.
a3n 11y ago
Not necessarily. I haven't researched it beyond what my doctor told me, but "studies have shown" that for people who have prayer as part of their life to begin with, prayer can be very helpful. Not for the GP commenter, so that suggestion wasn't helpful, but certainly for people already open to it. And doesn't that make sense? We're not merely bodies and brains, a biological machine built to specification, arriving at a particular day exactly like each other and exactly like we were born. Besides differences in brain mechanics and chemistry from each other and from our birth, we are also each the various experiences of our history. We have as much in difference as in common with each other. Quite apart from the question of whether prayer and what's prayed to is reality or not, people do believe in prayer and what's prayed to. If that's an effective part of their therapy, I see no reason to question it. If it lifts them out of the horror of depression and keeps them alive, I'm very happy for them, and for me if they're in my life. -- Signed: a non-partisan, small "a" atheist.