Posted by JahL on March 31, 2001, at 9:37:08
In reply to Re: Meds AND therapy valuable tools!, posted by pandora on March 30, 2001, at 22:35:58
> > I have to join Noa in disagreeing that therapy is useless and especially to the statement that "All psychotherapists are intrinsically 'wrong' since their thinking is fundamentally flawed".
OK. I'm projecting a v. polarized view. My anger at the way psychotherapy frequently intrudes upon the serious business of treating biological mental illness is breaking through & making my statements a little rash. I feel obliged to make something of a stand.
I did not mean to imply that psychothereapy is inherently 'wrong'; it has its uses. However the popular claim of psychotherapy to be able to somehow 'cure' mental illness *is* fundamentally wrong. Sure therapy might be useful in helping the patients deal with problems arising from the depression itself, or with resolving conflicts which may have precipitated the depression (thus preventing reoccurrence). But psychotherapy *does not* address the core physical disturbances which give rise to the depressional symptoms. IMO psychotherapy is no answer, just an aid, a bolster for the meds (which is no bad thing).
Of course people say they find psychotherapy useful; who wouldn't jump at the chance at unconditionally dumping all their problems on a complete stranger? But is this medical treatment or professional comforting? And is lengthy, costly & questionably effective psychotherapy the most cost & *time*-effective method of treating mental illness?
In conclusion, I think p.therapy does have it's indications, particularly where there are *issues* involved. However it needs to drastically reappraise its scope of usefulness.
In my experience psychotherapists are all too ready to offer false hope, even where the individual concerned is clearly well-adjusted & has no enviromental origin to their depression. I have highly-regarded psychotherapists *guarantee* to 'fix' me in 3-6months! The arrogance of it! The guy who gave me this specific promise, who was also a pdoc, told me he'd 'never' had a case he hadn't been able to turn round. When after a year of abject failure, I asked him if he still made these claims to new patients, he declined to answer!The other thing that concerns me about psychotherapists is the potential lack of subjectivity when it comes to prescribing their treatment; an extended course of p.therapy is a very lucrative proposition. The guy above squeezed (unethically IMO) just under $10000 out of me, 10K I most certainly do not have (& he knew this).
J.
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As a trained psychotherapist, as well as a person who suffers from depression, I wholeheartedly believe that meds are a lifelong need for some and that a lot, if not the majority, of depression/anxiety/OCD sufferers have chemical imbalances that cannot be fully corrected with therapy.
>
> However, depending on the individual, there is great benefit to psychotherapy! As one who takes an eclectic approach, I generally don't rely on stereotypical "Freudian" psychoanalytical therapy, which is the face of therapy that many people think of when hearing the word "psychotherapy". Depression, anxiety, OCD, and even psychotic disorders to some extent can be alleviated with appropriate therapy. In many cases, therapy can augment meds, not the other way around. Take the person who has suffered for years with anxiety or depression. He may find the "miracle med" that takes all his symptoms away and corrects whatever chemical imbalance started the illness, but there are years of learned behavior (defense mechanisms, avoidance, poor social skills, etc.) that, if not dealt with, can lead to other problems.
>
> The bottom line is, don't discount therapy, especially if your social support system is limited. Even if you simply need someone unbiased to talk things out with as you find your way to the right med combination, it can be a valuable tool for recovery.
>
> Erin
poster:JahL
thread:5334
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010324/msgs/5424.html