My point was not what her specialty is. And I was responding directly to the OP, not the mini off-topic debate that has ensued since she opened the discussion. Did the OP mention anywhere in her first post anything about PTSD? 'Related' is not the same as on-topic or directly discussing it.

My point is that this is a successful, recognized individual with a doctorate who has actually experienced for herself what her clientele goes through. Obviously some people would disagree that people don't truly understand something until they've been through it themselves.

Reading from textbooks made for classroom settings for four years meanwhile of then 'gaining experience' in a university lab or by being in the same proximity with people in emotional crisis for a grad school recommendation is not true understanding. Being driven enough to 'want to help people' because 'my parent/sibling/grandparent/friend/cousin/celeb idol - whoever - goes through it/went through it' is not true understanding, just the same as 'I saw it on TV/in ___ movie/read it in ___'s book on ____' isn't either. 'I regularly read/visit ___ specialty website/news/magazine/blog on the field/client experiences won't give them true understanding. Attending grad school seminars and completing fieldwork for credit and/or an income around emotionally distressed clientele is not true understanding. Lying to clients before and/or after they get licensed to practice that they've been through the same battle to provide false comfort, confidence and/or a feeling of kinship will not give them true understanding. None of these things will give a professional/professional candidate true understanding. Years of being in practice with a masters or doctorate degree with licensure while seeing countless people who have gone through/are going through the pains of emotional/mental disorder won't give these professionals true understanding.

Going through the pain of feeling, being treated and/or told they're 'different' by family, partners, friends, strangers, co-workers, colleagues, professionals and/or neighbors for themselves will give them true understanding. Being failed and/or helped by the system will give them true understanding. Going through the similar pain of having similar experiences as the millions who struggle with emotional and/or mental disorders will give them true understanding.

Not simply sitting in a classroom, not simply being in a university lab, not simply being in a hospital 'for exposure', not simply being in a clinic/center 'for exposure' and for d**n sure not simply being in a private practice office.

Until these people experience the pain first hand for themselves, they will not truly understand. Going through 'similar' but not the same pain will not give them true understanding either. To them, it's all theory from that academic journal/textbook by colleagues being applied to 'cases'. We're not just 'cases', we're people. People with importance, even if some us don't see it or never will see it.

If you're reading this and you didn't know any of this before reading it, then you have a s**t load to learn about the true nature of this field.

The most important thing is not just understanding: what I'm talking about is genuine understanding. Deeper than sympathy. Empathy. True, genuine empathy. What else are you in treatment for? You wouldn't be there if you didn't want that. It's essential for making progress. No one is wrong for not wanting to go to a professional who hasn't been through the struggle themselves; many people have very valid reasons for that.

However there are those that don't mind or would actually prefer it. So no, my point has nothing to do solely with PTSD and it doesn't have to. If that's what you think, frankly you're way off the mark. The OP's first post had nothing to do with PTSD. Know now that my point to posting Dr. Serani's name and this long ***** essay is to tell all who read it that the individual with the clipboard and master's or doctorate with licensure doesn't necessarily fully understand or empathize.