Hello all,

I am seeing a therapist again and it has not been a great experience.

The other day I vented some frustration about abusive people on distress lines and abusive people in therapy. I brought up the issue surrounding Empathy Burnout and Compassion Fatigue on distress lines. Told my therapist I have been hurt many times by people who are condescending, demeaning and like to hang up on me. I mentioned that those people either should stop working on distress lines or take a break so they can come back and show more empathy and compassion for those in need of help.

Her response was, "It's sounds like you lack empathy."

WHAT?! This was a BIG RED FLAG! Lack empathy?!

How the hell does my frustration and anger towards abusive distress line workers mean I have a lack of empathy for them?

Luckily I caught this and made sure to include the word, "projection," because she was totally projecting this onto me, but even still, if I didn't know about projection I would have actually believed her!

Is this something a therapist should say to someone? To come to that conclusion so quickly and considering I was the one who brought up a lack of empathy from the abusive distress line workers, seems convenient for her to project it back onto me!

Since when is having anger towards abusive people a lack of empathy? I could not believe she would say this! Absolute hogwash.

I will be terminating therapy with this therapist immediately and letting her know this was the deal breaker - never have I been told I have a lack of empathy for venting about abuse! UNBELIEVABLE.

Thanks,
HD7970ghz