Quote:
Originally Posted by atisketatasket
I was musing about how these terms often seem interchangeable to therapists and in mental health discussions in general, including on here. Maybe it seems odd to me because of my language background, but etymologically patient originally meant "sufferer" while client meant "follower/obeyer." (And yet client is supposed to be the term that indicates greater equality.)
I dislike both terms as applied to therapy actually but can't think of an English word to replace them. (There's probably a German one, though.). Thoughts?
Eta: that's supposed to be helPs in the last poll option.
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The words client and patient have shifted in meaning. I don't like patient for anything. Mostly because sufferer seems a bit over the top for anything about me. I sometimes use customer when talking to therapists just to get a rise out of them - but I think it is not inaccurate. I prefer client between the two choices and will correct a therapist who uses patient at me. I explain how the meaning of the two words has shifted to patient being the one without power in how western medicine uses the word.
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Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
Oscar Wilde
Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
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