do you think psychotherapy helps? at all?

[Christ_empowered]

I"m considering adding a psychology minor to my history major. Won't take a whole lot, but...it begs the question...do you think talk therapy actually helps? Sometimes, I think just having somebody listen to you on a regular basis is what does the trick. But I dunno.

 

[Brother Mike]

I"m considering adding a psychology minor to my history major. Won't take a whole lot, but...it begs the question...do you think talk therapy actually helps? Sometimes, I think just having somebody listen to you on a regular basis is what does the trick. But I dunno.

It only helps if people do what you tell them to do.

 

[Christ_empowered]

yeah...there's that, too, lol.

I dunno. Counseling is one of the few jobs I can think of where you can be accepted and work even if you were "crazy." I mean, I doubt I could work around here, but...oh well...

There is the potential to help people, but I wonder how much counselors help. I don't want to be hurting people who already hurting, and I also don't want to be in a position where I"m "affirming": obviously harmful, sinful lifestyles. Ugh.

 

[KevinK]

Can't just listening to somebody itself be considered a valid form of psychotherapy? It wouldn't work for everyone, of course, but for some.

 

[Eugene]

Is submitting to it a part of your probation? If so, it helps a whole bunch!
Having talked to psychologists as to their abilities, one major thing comes forth and that is listening, and then having questions to lead the patient to discover the cause/effect of their problem, and hopefully the solution.
E.g.,
Patient : Doc, my hand continues to be sore and red.
Doctor: What have you been doing?
Patient: I've been checking to see if my stove is the right temperature.
Doctor: Is it?
Patient: I don't know; I can't hold my hand on the burner long enough.

One of my favorite examples is the following Bob Newhart satire.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I do have to do easy, breezy therapy as part of my probation deal. I see the man (M.Divinity, solid Christian) every 6 weeks or so. I enjoy talking to him, and he's helpful in some respects, but...if I wasn't a Christian, I don't think it'd do me much good, even if he pulled out all kinds of advanced techniques or whatever. Or maybe it would. I dunno.