"Stereotypes and negative expectations play a powerful role in bad psychotherapy"

Oh, what an insightful blog post:

"The Power of Expectations" by Dr. Ravin

And a heartbreaking reality:
"The therapist tells the patient that she must unravel the roots of her problems, and that it will take many years for her to recover. It does. "

The ending is profound:
"Bad therapy is not just ineffective – it has the potential to be every bit as harmful as a surgical error."

Now, for a moment, imagine the power of GOOD therapy!

Comments

  1. I have been recovered from anorexia and bulimia for nine years. I just loved this post.

    After a twelve year battle cycling between overeating, anorexia and bulimia, I had truly hit my rock bottom. I was physically, emotionally and spiritually at my absolute limit with nowhere left to go but the grave.

    Somehow I opted for therapy. But to my discouragement I was told right up front that this was something I would struggle with for the rest of my life.

    I left feeling hopeless and after much thought returned with a purpose.

    I said, "It seems to me that if you say that I am going to struggle with this for the rest of my life, I will. In fact, if the best I can hope for is controlled behavior with the unseen yet very real battle of ED, then in the end, I will be left with what I began with, struggle."

    I went on to say that if this, in her opinion, is the best any ED patient can hope for, then she needed to keep those thoughts to herself, because I needed her and the only way I could muster the strenghth to venture into the very hard road of therapy was to have hope; hope that on the other end of it, I would be free.

    Consequently, I am nine years free from struggle. Truly, honestly free.

    Good therapy does so much more than analyze life, it gives life. For that I am truly grateful.

    Jenny
    jennyharrop.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jenny,

    This is so, so wonderful. I celebrate your recovery and insight and caring!!!

    ReplyDelete

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