What is a Therapist Thinking/Feeling During a Session?

Last Session of the Day with The Psych Guys

How do therapists deal with issues that come up if those issues “poke strongly” at something they believe in?

Therapists are not robots. We have our own thoughts and feelings and beliefs about things --- just like everybody else. And therapy is a very unique relationship --- unlike any other in the world. Sometimes it takes some getting used to.

Therapists must be mindful of what’s coming up for them at all times. If we are not mindful, and those feelings color our words, then it will be problematic.

So when a client shares a potentially controversial thought/feeling/belief, we look back to the two pillars of a mental health disorder --- level of distress, and functional interference. We try to see the issue through that lens.

Let’s say a patient has very particular views about race relations and he or she is very vocal about that.

Perhaps there was anger/trauma that occurred in the past there. We’ll ask, does this view interfere with his or her functioning or distress? --- if yes, then we need to deal with it.

In a weird way, we’re able to side-step the particular view because we’re getting to the heart of the issue.

Always put your clinical hat on and think about internal distress and functional interference --- if it doesn’t reach that --- it’s more of a “non-clinical” issue. It might not be right, but it’s not up to us to make that determination.

Perhaps someone might be about to share a controversial opinion, and they might say, “well, I don’t know how you feel about this…” We always say, “what we think/believe is not relevant.”

Patients are always encouraged to speak freely.Feelings do come up for therapists, but we regulate them. What do YOU think your therapist thinks? We want to know.