[ilikedesifem]

My psychiatrist and I arranged for me to go to psychotherapy. However, I am pensive, due to past bad experiences.

I reckon the person will:

- Judge my interests, beliefs, hobbies and goals and thus I won't be completely honest with the person.

- Mock my personality, or say that I don't "deserve" things due to my personality.

My psychiatrist seems like a decent guy, he is non-judgmental and always offer support/advice in issues I face. But in the past, therapists have questioned why I don't believe in God (this is due to most in my uni long ago and generation not doing so), or like regular sex (well I'm human and don't deem sex as "dirty", again this is a common attitude).

I guess I am literally fearful the person will say or do something to put me off/offend me. I don't want reassurance, but then do psychotherapists usually judge persons for their thoughts and attitudes, even those that are not pathologies or causing harm to others or oneself? I think incidentally one reason I am not fully healthy is that I let others subjective beliefs/thoughts affect me. I think I need to be my own perso more, and if others don't like it, that's their business.

I haven't found my therapists to be judgmental or make fun of my personality. Sounds like you've had some bad experiences with therapy in the past. Have you discussed your past experiences and current fears about therapy with your current therapist? It might be good to get that out into the open so it doesn't continue to nag at your mind.

I strongly believe that a therapist should not be judgmental or question their clients' beliefs, likes, or personality. In fact, a therapist who judges their client shouldn't be a therapist. (There was a recent article in a major newspaper in my country, about a therapist who had basically told a female client that she would never be able to have a happy and fulfilled life unless she had children, since that's the Meaning of Life. That therapist should not be allowed to practice psychotherapy, in my opinion.) I've seen three different therapists; the first two were not particularly well suited for me, but none of them judged me, made fun of me, or expressed any kind of negative opinion about me or my hobbies or anything like that.

A therapist who questions your lack of religious belief sounds particularly dodgy. I think (and hope!) that you're very likely to find a much less judgmental therapist, but it might be a good idea to bring all this up with your psychiatrist before you see the therapist.

[ilikedesifem]

Originally Posted by Mastodon

I strongly believe that a therapist should not be judgmental or question their clients' beliefs, likes, or personality. In fact, a therapist who judges their client shouldn't be a therapist. (There was a recent article in a major newspaper in my country, about a therapist who had basically told a female client that she would never be able to have a happy and fulfilled life unless she had children, since that's the Meaning of Life. That therapist should not be allowed to practice psychotherapy, in my opinion.) I've seen three different therapists; the first two were not particularly well suited for me, but none of them judged me, made fun of me, or expressed any kind of negative opinion about me or my hobbies or anything like that.

A therapist who questions your lack of religious belief sounds particularly dodgy. I think (and hope!) that you're very likely to find a much less judgmental therapist, but it might be a good idea to bring all this up with your psychiatrist before you see the therapist.

Thank you for your comments.

Well, yes, I have had some bad experiences as some therapists in the past have told me that I am "bad" for living per my own values. I guess it's confusing since I'm simply living like how many others in my society do, so it's weird then to here it's a "pathology".

[ilikedesifem]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

I haven't found my therapists to be judgmental or make fun of my personality. Sounds like you've had some bad experiences with therapy in the past. Have you discussed your past experiences and current fears about therapy with your current therapist? It might be good to get that out into the open so it doesn't continue to nag at your mind.

Thanks. I've been told this by others in real life too, so I will do this.