Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox
My questions were mostly rhetorical, and meant to challenge the idea that a therapist's skill or sanity or effectiveness is in proportion to the amount of therapy they've had. I think it could well be the opposite. I do think all therapists should have done their own therapy, just so they have tried out the product before selling it, but I don't think it's a reliable indicator of anything.
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Well, I do. I personally wouldn't see anyone who hasn't gone through their own long-term therapy.
As much as I've read other's experiences (and I've read a lot) then the most common problem with therapists who haven't had their own therapy is that they tend to get entangled with their patients. They don't understand what's theirs and what's coming from the patient. Then they start taking things personally and then the possibility to do any therapy is already gone. T's own long-term therapy is precisely such a thing that enables one to get to know themselves, so that later in their work with patients (especially difficult patients) they are able to recognise what is projected by the patient and what comes from the therapist and then are able to put their own stuff aside and work with the stuff that comes from the patient, without taking it personally.
So, although someone's own therapy doesn't obviously guarantee a great outcome with a random patient then it most certainly minimises the chances for many problems that just prevent doing any therapy at all.