[Fuzzybear]

I was wondering if people here think therapy is “fake” - as in “fake” caring...

I’ve found that the worse I feel, the less helpful they (therapists) are ... in this forest

And the more i have to censor what I say

[Daonnachd]

I know my therapist cares. One time I couldn't get a ride to ECT. It's a drive of two hours each way, plus the waiting time while I'm undergoing the treatment. My therapist offered to be my driver for that day. That is caring.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My therapist genuinely cares. We're coming up on 13 years together and he's gone above and beyond many times, from scheduling me after his usual last appointment to cutting my fees to calling me when he was worried about me a couple of times. It's taken hard work on both of our parts (I'm not the easiest patient sometimes and sometimes he's not the easiest therapist) but there's never doubt that he cares.

[captaineo]

I don’t think is fake caring at all. I have found great people here and have supported me through tough times. Their words are strong healing vehicles

[TishaBuv]

I’m sure they went into the profession because they genuinely care and want to help people. Yet, there has to be an element of that they are doing a job and experience burn out, focus on their own problems, and fake empathy for their clients.

When we walked into the funeral home for my grandpa’s funeral. I was first in. I saw all the funeral directors standing there joking boisterously. Then, as soon as I walked in, they changed their posture with their heads down, like they were so sad! It was the phoniest thing ever! A job’s a job.

[Victoria'smom]

I had 3 that cared for me. Meaning if something happen to me they'd be upset. The others couldn't care less. I've never had a therapist over 3 years.

[downandlonely]

I don't know if I've ever had one that genuinely cared. I'm not seeing one currently though.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I work in an office full of Ts and they all would be upset if a client harmed themselves!

[Wild Coyote]

My therapists have also been pdocs. Every single one of them (over 30+ years) has been deeply concerned and very loving in words and deeds.

I feel very fortunate this is the case.


WC

[Travelinglady]

Yes, I think mine have cared. I guess there are a few who don't, but it's not a profession people go into because of the money, that's for sure.

[TheSeaCat]

I've had three therapist since being diagnosed in April.

The first one I loved to pieces I could tell she just generally cared about me and her job. We were coworkers so it made things a little awkward in the beginning; but my last session it felt like we were old friends and if she saw me struggling with work she would always kidnap me for a quick walk to get me calm.

The second therapist basically said I was to intelligent for therapy and since I didn't show massive signs of distress she said she would be unable to help me. I left mid session because she just did not care about me, her office also refused to return my co payment.

The one I have now generally seem to care, he just graduated with his Bachelor's and is currently in medical school to become a pdoc. He has found several issues that I knew I potentially had but he found them all and is generally trying to help me. He's also Bipolar so he understands a lot of my issues.

I think overall there are good and bad people in the world, which translates to bad therapists, and doctors. For one good therapist there are probably five bad ones.

First one, no. She double booked me and then abandoned me. She was leaving the practice and had 4 months left, but once she double booked me, she literally wouldn't set up another appt. I had to report her to the office so that I could get a new therapist. Don't know if she was blacklisted or not, but I hope she was.

Second one, yes, but he was an immature douche.

Third one, my current one, cares, I think.

[mogwai]

I thought that until my current T. But I'm sure now that it's a genuine human connection, real care and empathy. Sadly I sense more care and warmth coming from her than I do from my parents. Just because it's in a therapeutic relationship and just because it's their job doesn't mean it's "fake." I've felt fake "care" coming from all sorts of people in my life, but not my T.

If a particular therapist is consistently faking having compassion, and their patients can sense that they're faking it, then they're not doing their job properly and they should take a vacation to get their **** together.

[captaineo]

Yes my T also cares about me, but I find him a very busy man and have little or no time to have long conversations with me. Which I need at times. He is very pragmatic I believe.

[Tucson]

I think respect from my pdoc is much more important than feeling cared for. As long as they do their job and do it well is all that matters for me. Everything else is irrelevant. If I need to be cared for, I get a cat or a dog. This is if I do not have anyone in my life, like a friend.

[Fuzzybear]

Respect is essential I agree. And has been very much lacking in the providers I’ve consulted (many) ....

[wiretwister]

I had one who my wife said was crazy ... she was ... I just sent her for a second opinion ... had one fall asleep on me ... had one that all she would do is hand me a paper ... we would not even discuss it ... went to a psychologist who told me there was nothing he could do for me ... I have no way of knowing if this is normal or not ... thankfully my pdoc gives me about 20-30 minutes each visit ...

[Blueberrybook]

I have had quite a few. I don’t know if I would call them fake exactly, distanced maeybe? But you’re looking at the person who kept going in and out of therapy for 20 years. Sometimes bad luck, a bad fit, they don’t like EDs, I am fixing to move, insurance is suckier than ever.

I find it is helping me now, with a therapist I relate to much better than all the ones before. She’s casual in appearance, office, etc. Not that she is sloppy, just put together in an approachable way.

I don’t think any of the others really cared beyond the fact that it would suck to have a patient harm themselves? My last pdoc cared more, and so did a nutritionist I saw while in grad school. Though my current therapist would care, I think. I have just had so many put me at such a distance. Maybe to them it was professional, but it was honestly more distanced than even my PCP or optometrist or dentist put me. I found that very off-putting.