Monilicious :*)

M: agical

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*** All of this adds up to become a part of MONICA!!! ***

“Have You Ever Been in Psychotherapy, Doctor?”

By Richard A. Friedman, M.D.
Published: February 19, 2008

A curious thing happened to one of my psychiatric residents not long ago. One of his patients caught him off guard with a challenging question: “Have you ever been in psychotherapy yourself?”

Throughout this article, the principal question asked was “Have you ever been in psychotherapy, doctor?” This is a fairly difficult question to answer in the doctor’s perspective, for it conveys whether or not the doctor is aware of their patients’ emotional feelings and their personal situations. If a psychotherapist has never experienced psychology, it may lead the patient to question their doctor’s words and therapy methods. This brings us to the next point, ‘Should psychotherapists themselves undergo the process of psychotherapy?’ Psychotherapists study the human mind and human behavior of their patients through vast methods: counseling, interviews, and surveys. But, in order to counsel their patients, it is essential for psychologists to have practical knowledge on their patients’ sentimental thoughts. Thus far, the best way for a doctor to understand his/her patients are by placing themselves in the same situation, which, in this case, means taking psychotherapy.

Without the experience of psychology, it is more difficult for the doctor to truly understand their patients’ state of mind, which creates a risk of doctors confusing their own counter transference with their patients’ cases. Additionally, it further extends the existing gap between the doctor-patient relationships. So it is crucial for the doctor to be aware of his own mind through psychotherapy, before helping others with their personal struggles in society and life.

Therefore, as far as I am concerned, all psychotherapists should go through the process of psychotherapy for a more accurate therapy session with their patient. Since the doctors can relate to their patients, this will provide a closer doctor-patient relationship and allow the both sides to feel more comfortable during their session. During psychotherapy, people are talkative when they feel relaxed in the environment that they’re in, so by creating a calm and pacifying atmosphere, this will encourage the patients to speak up. But, all of these factors can be fulfilled only if doctors decide to undergo psychotherapy themselves.