I have found these topics very difficult to read through because of my own insecurities around my methods of therapy with my T and so I have only dipped in and out and I honestly do not wish to get into debate, I can't, for my own sanity. But I just felt urged to say something.

Even as one who is trying to foster a very close, intimate (horrible word) relationship with my T in the hope that a positive experience will help me in the long run, I can now see what people have been saying about the very nature of therapy itself. I am sure that many people went into the process vulnerable and uninformed and the profession does not explain its methods or success rates as I now feel it should do.

If I was to undergo an operation I would want to make sure I knew as much as I could and that would include how it would be performed and what my chances were, what the possible outcomes were. I guess people may just want the same from the mental health profession and that should be made available where possible. But I do also see that the mind is not as cut and dry as the physical body, we just don't understand it well enough at this point in time. What works for one may not work for another and that is just the nature of the beast. It is hard and it is horrible but it is a fact of life I suppose. Relationships, human tendencies, preferences, tolerances etc are all so vastly different that how is it possible to categorise therapy, to analyse it and make it accountable for its successes and failures? I think it is a game of chance in the end.

But my point is that at the very least THAT should be explained to clients. Enter at your own risk. This may not work for you, etc etc. I also believe that Ts should be closely regulated and that supervision should be mandatory. A high level of training should be required and it should not be as lax as it does seem to be. This is important stuff. Peoples lives are being messed with in ways that are not explained and they have no way of knowing how what they have entered into will affect them. I don't think it is possible to tell people how it will affect them but surely we can explain that, at the very least.

I hope what I have said makes sense. I know I am in this therapy malarky for the long haul and I am willing to accept whatever happens but I am lucky that I consider myself not completely vulnerable and at least able to educate myself on this 'artform', to be able to read up and make up my own mind on what I am entering into. I think I am luckier than some in that respect and I think the profession should do more, for those that are vulnerable and who may not be able, for whatever reasons, to find out what they are getting themselves into before it is too late.