[growlycat]

Has your T been though his/her own therapy?

I think I'm going to ask my CBT T this question next week. He seems to have little understanding what it is like to be a client, which surprises me.

Yes, my current T has. My counseling lecturer has emphasized the need for therapy as good self care.

I seem to remember complaining to my T about another T who trampled all over me, but my T seemed to understand. He said he had done his share of sitting on the other (client) side

[Leah123]

Yes, my therapist was in therapy for 15 years, 5 with one T, 10 with the other. I asked her recently whether she did it because she wanted to, or mostly because she was in practice, she said it was both.

I was really glad to hear that, though I'll tell you the truth- sometimes when she talks about her therapy, they sound so darned enlightened it's irritating, lol.

[stopdog]

They both have said they did it.

The one caution I have is that if he was in cbt and liked it and stopped there as believing all his problems were fixed by the exercises or changing his thoughts/behaviors, he still may not know what you are talking about.

[Coco3]

I forgot to ask when I was still in therapy, so I'll never know.

[ameliaxxx]

Mine said yes, and that's why she became one... She had a dysfunctional family and her mom was mentally ill... I didn't get much details other than that therapy really helped her. Doubt she stills sees a T. That was pry many many years ago. I ask her, why she became a T and this is what she told me.

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[ThisWayOut]

I'm not sure. I've never particularly asked any of my t's this question. However having friends who are t's, I know a large portion of them have been in t before themselves (Some required by schooling, others because they wanted it for themselves).

[iheartjacques]

Thanks for the reminder, I need to ask. Psychologists here have to have two years under supervision (their own psychologist). Psychiatrist? Who knows?

Yes both of mine did, and it's compulsory on many (if not all) T courses in the UK.

[brillskep]

Yes, my therapist has been in therapy for many years and he still is.

When I started therapy with him I was pretty new to this world, even though I was an undergrad student in psychology so had a little bit of knowledge in the field. Now I wouldn't see a therapist who hasn't been through their own therapy. It's not something I would ask right away, but in my experience, I can tell if someone has had their own therapy or is otherwise emotionally well and prepared for this profession or not.

Yes, T has been in therapy themselves--BUT as someone who has seen some really really weird therapists over the years and has had some really really weird professors and supervisors while studying psychology, I know all too well that "being in therapy" doesn't mean that one is "cured"

I think the best indicator of whether or not one has benefited from their own therapy is a therapist who demonstrates all the great qualities we all discuss here on the forum: a good listener, compassionate, consistent, infinitely calm and unflappable, empathic, adaptable, own their own part in the relationship and nonjudgmental . . . and even then, it doesn't mean that we'll all be able to connect and find therapy a productive undertaking. Also, I truly believe that there are people who demonstrate these qualities and who have never even needed therapy--they were raised in a manner that instilled those qualities in them from childhood and they possess a genetically unflappable temperament (lucky dogs!)

I honestly haven't the foggiest idea. I've never needed to ask and he's never offered the information. Whatever the case, he's a darned good therapist, so whatever he's done has resulted in him being an effective one.

[ruh roh]

Yes, she has. I think she still does. Whatever it is she does for herself, it's working for me.

[brillskep]

Originally Posted by iheartjacques

Thanks for the reminder, I need to ask. Psychologists here have to have two years under supervision (their own psychologist). Psychiatrist? Who knows?

Supervision means seeing a supervisor (more experienced psychologist) for feedback and guidance in working with clients. Supervision is not therapy. The process and relationship is (or at least it's supposed to be) different in several ways. It's a good idea to ask about both supervision and personal therapy. I personally wouldn't really trust a therapist who has gone through the mandatory supervision hours but didn't go through his/her own therapy and all that intensity and honesty of personal work and looking within before working with others.

I put other because yes she has, and she still is. She has said that she talks to her own t every 2 weeks by phone because he's in a different state than her (sound familiar? lol) and travels to where he lives once a year I think she said because she has friends there she visits also, then has a couple sessions in person with him to reinforce the connection. She reminds me of this fact (her having her own t still) every time I want to quit lol.

[musinglizzy]

Yes, I haven't asked to what extent, but she did say it was part of her training.

[junkDNA]

he told me recently he was in therapy long term

[atisketatasket]

Yes, for, as she described it, "my stuff." I don't think it changed my opinion of her for better or worse.

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[Ellahmae]

Yes. She has. Off an on for a little bit and then mandatory self paid for one of her degrees. She also has T horror stores which are fun to hear...

[growlycat]

Originally Posted by Ellahmae

She also has T horror stores which are fun to hear...

oooh … like what for example?

No and I wouldn't be interested in seeing a therapist who has been in therapy.

[stopdog]

I would not see one who had not been subjected to it.

Where I live it's not optional - they have to go through psychotherapy in order to get a licence to practise. I don't know if my T has been in therapy since he got his licence. I do know that he thinks it was valuable to find out for himself what it can feel like to be in the client's chair, though he has too much good sense to presume that it gives him any insight in what it's like for his clients.

[RedSun]

Yes, lots, and I think it's what inspired her to become a T.
As others have said, to become accredited as a psychotherapist in the uk you have to have therapy, every year in training. Unfortunately, there's lots of people out there who have taken unaccredited courses and have not had therapy who can still advertise as therapists...

Counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists do not have to have therapy.
Personally I would only see a t who's had therapy. Why should I go through all this crap if they're not prepared to?