My Psychologist is a great, compassionate person. Even though he has been practicing for 30 years in the field, I get the feeling that he has little life experience in some of the things that I and other clients experience.

He grew up in a close knit ultra-conservative christian background, went to christian college, and has remained in ministry his entire life. He is very compassionate about what I have been through but even he admits that he is still often a little taken aback by things that have happened to some of his clients.

I think what's important to me more than anything is if someone has had a bit of personal experience with some of the horrible things that have gone on in my life. Kind of like how most drug counselors are recovering addicts themselves.