(November 23, 2022 at 9:57 pm)Uberpod Wrote: There are plenty of therapists in the area, and the therapist came recommended by a professor. Finding a new therapist was not that difficult. You are right it would be not so easy in a smaller community. And, now online therapy is a thing. You can match on worldview quite directly.
How high a priority should worldview be balancing with specialty areas?
I'm glad your friend could find a new therapist right away. Sad to say, it doesn't surprise me that the first one or two may not be suitable. I wish people were more professional overall, but I guess we're not there yet.
I hadn't thought of online therapy. I am kind of old-fashioned that way, and have refused to switch any of the classes I teach over to Zoom. But it increasingly makes sense.
As for worldview, that's an interesting question. You'd certainly want any counsellor who had strict religious convictions to make that known up front. And the issue the analysand is facing would make some difference, too. For example if they're dealing with gay or trans issues (or some other thing traditionally disapproved of by religion), it would make all the difference, whereas with eating disorders it might be less concerning.
But it's all fuzzy.... My other niece goes to a very progressive church where they are welcoming of gay and trans people. Strange as it sounds, there are gay Christians who want that flavor of counseling.
Long ago I did therapy with a Neo-Freudian who said almost nothing. This was the practice in the old days -- instead of asking for advice, the analysand did all the talking and gradually became aware of himself that way. It cost a fortune, of course, but I got a lot out of it. Hearing about the bad advice that other types of therapists have given, this makes sense to me more and more.
(As for this forum: this is not a place where we can generally expect sympathy. Scolding is more the norm.)
