View Single Post
 
Old May 29, 2016, 08:42 PM
Lauliza's Avatar
Lauliza Lauliza is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Member Since: Nov 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 3,231
Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox View Post
In terms of what the biz talks about and promotes, seems it is almost exclusively the good news. In books and blogs and in person, therapists seem to largely avoid the whole topic of therapy harm. Out of sight, out of mind.

I read a book by a Psychologist where he discusses his theories about why therapy works, in the language and context of neurobiology. He argues that neuroplasticity can be leveraged in therapy because the brain is a social organ that responds relationally. Maybe he's right, not sure, but not once in the whole book did he broach the subject of whether therapy could harm in the same manner, if it goes wrong. He just did not go there at all.

This quote is interesting, in terms of what might be at stake:
"Many of the clients who come through my door have never had a safe enough relationship. Repetition compulsion has compelled them to unconsciously seek out relationships in adulthood that traumatically reenact the abusive and/or abandoning dynamics of their childhood caretakers. For many such clients, we are their first legitimate shot at a safe and nurturing relationship; and if we are not skilled enough to create the degree of safety they need to begin the long journey towards developing good enough trust, we may be their last." -- Pete Walker MFT
There are people in the field who know the inherent risks in therapy, you just don't hear from them. My own psychiatrist warned me of this when I was looking for a marriage counselor. He said there are a lot of terrible therapists out there, and that bad therapy is more harmful than no therapy. If this were common knowledge, no one would go to therapy. So, unfortunately, discussions on the topic aren't encouraged.

Last edited by Lauliza; May 29, 2016 at 09:18 PM.
Thanks for this!
BudFox, junkDNA, missbella