Are The Majority Of Therapists Crazy?

[Obo]

One of my pdocs was the typical silver spoon type. Family of doctors, private school, fancy car and office with a flash view of the skyline.

He saved my life. Several times. His pay is now completely irrelevant to me.

You have qualms about how much they earn? Some earn crap, others are loaded. How is that relevant?

This forum is full (to overflowing) with people whose lives were destroyed by trauma and, for a LOT of us, our pdoc or our T or our counsellor is our lifeline. They keep us alive even when we're trying our damndest to flip the switch. They teach us how to cope with our lives, past, present and future.

Knocking the entire industry because of their pay? I've got very little time for that argument. Even less for the original premise which is that the majority are screwed in the head and motivated by evil thoughta against their patients.

From a group of people whose lives depend on the mental health services industry, from nurses to doctors and everything in between, I actually find much of the content of this thread quite sickening. I've crossed paths with some pretty evil people. The T's of this world have kept me alive and taught me how to live again.

Shame on you. So many people come to this forum looking for support, in almost any form that it's available. And you put this kind of rubbish out there? That the majority of T's are, by the OP's account, as evil as the person that caused our ptsd in the first place? Really?

Shame on you. I'm really really sorry if you've bad a few bad experiences. I honestly am, because the majority seem to be all about saving lives. Planting doubt and even hate (some of these posts are extraordinarily hateful) about an ENTIRE profession that the people of this forum depend on? Shame.

Ragdoll Circus

 

[Uzu]

@Ragdoll Circus-Well spoken. I agree with you. I am very sorry the OP had such a bad experience, but do not think this is the norm. While some are more experienced than others, I have not encountered those intentionally wanting to hurt us.

That said, I suppose I am tired of hearing therapists being trashed. We are all asking for some compassion and empathy here, well how about having some for your therapist as well. They are human. This is there job and they do help us, but at the end of the day, they must go home and care for children and families, elderly parents in nursing homes, broken cars, bills, addicted family members, and many of the things that stress us over the top. Then return in the morning with a positive attitude and do it again. I feel that way about most professions though.

It was my sarcasm coming out in stating that many are a bit co-dependent, yet in my opinion, I am thankful for those who are. Not sure if it was this thread and too tired to look, but someone posted about PTA moms being so dysfunctional and made a negative comparison.

Why must we find the negative about others rather than being grateful that someone is there to do these things. Too often, those who volunteer or do things for reduced rates or low pay are spoken badly about in general.

Peace!

 

[Ofi]

I'm still shocked at this elitist attitude about salaries. Seriously. I mean what is YOUR salary and why in the world do you think that it's ok to come on a forum where many of us are either not working at all, working very little, or scraping by with far less, and act like these counsellors are all walking around in rags and sleeping in cardboard boxes? Many of us would simply love to earn anywhere near that, but I guess we should all just shut up about our job woes because we'd hate to be snubbed by the PTSD "elite".

 

[Netap]

@Ragdoll Circus-Well spoken. I agree with you. I am very sorry the OP had such a bad experience, but do...

IMHO you aren't good at being sarcastic online. It's a learned skill and I think you should just stop trying to be sarcastic because it just isn't working for you. I'm not trying to be rude but your sarcasm comes across as anything but (and actually quite rude), and certainly not funny. I don't even think that if I'd known this was sarcasm that I'd agree it was actually sarcastic. Maybe fine tune and learn about sarcasm because that isn't sarcasm.

 

[Omofi]

Someone said it earlier - but every time I read a post from someone trashing the mental health profession at large, saying 'they're all' this or that - and the poster backs it up with 'every T I've had was nuts'.....yeah. It's not the therapists.

No, not every care provider is great at what they do. But in the US, where you have a real say in who you work with, if you can't find someone you are willing and able to really work with? Sorry. It's you, not them. Insured or not.

 

[Usu]

One of my pdocs was the typical silver spoon type. Family of doctors, private school, fancy car and office with a flash v...

Whoa!!!
Ragdoll Circus!

Holy crap! I'm genuinely thrilled on your behalf that you've had the kind of experiences that generate a fierce defense and loyalty that way, but you have been very very fortunate.

No one is dissing the entire field as greedy lunatics with nefarious intentions but you have got to be aware that its a very poorly controlled industry in some areas.

These people have enormous power to both help and harm and they are human, often hiding behind or simply afraid to reveal their issues based on their professions.
The amount they charge is HELL YES an issue.

Wasnt someone here wondering if they should kill themselves in the UK yesterday?
Someone in Australia wanted to fake it for the help they need but cant get because of money the same day?

I owe my life to some great therapists, Ive also been let down , abandoned from lack of funds and manipulated by asshole weirdos with med degrees for a chat and felt victimized by it.

ALL. of those experiences are valid.
Questioning the human that you give that much power to is also valid.

You used the words SHAME ON YOU for questioning that? Wow.

I'm tempted to post links on industry exposure but I know it wouldnt serve the greater good here.

 

[Vokew]

Well, I for one am also incredibly grateful to those willing to do this work. Don't know where I'd be without that support. But j have never expected a therapist to be perfect, just grateful to have someone listen to me and help me sort it out,
You would have to pay me more than even the top therapists receive to do that job - sit there and listen. Put myself to one side, be abused for not being good enough at it, having clients suicide )-;
listen listen listen to everyone who walks through the door.
I have a mutually respectful relationship with the woman I see. Even in therapy relationships are not a one way street.
Think a lot of people get that wrong

 

[Ifum]

Yeah, actually. Shame. That's exactly it.

I live below the poverty line. As far as I'm concerned, people who are in the business of saving lives - what should that person earn? And I'm not just talking me, I'm talking all of the hundreds of people who I've crossed paths with in acute psych care - they're lives are, in the most literal sense, being saved. By their doctors, by their nurses, by their social workers.

So tell me, honestly, what is the "right" salary for someone who goes to work and saves peoples lives?

Whether or not people can afford the treatment they need is a seperate issue.

So my doc? Keeping me alive. Turning my life from a complete horror, into something worth living. What pricetag do you put on that?

As far as I'm concerned, she deserves every damn cent she earns. She saves lives. Every day. That's what she does. Give her a goddamnn mansion as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Uwus]

Off-I certainly feel bad for you in that you think it is my fault that you are not working or others are making little wages, scraping by with less. I did not create your problems and I sure can't correct them I refuse to feel shame for not being destitute-sorry, my choice. You don't know my circumstance and I do not owe you any explanation. Not my monkey, not my circus. I am not sure what you think the elitist is, but I really don't think it is qualifying for free lunch programs. I have nothing else to say to you about this.End of discussion. I agree to disagree.

 

[Nujik]

Well, I for one am also incredibly grateful to those willing to do this work. Don't know where I'd be without that support. But j have never expected a therapist to be perfect, just grateful to have someone listen to me and help me sort it out,
You would have to pay me more than even the top therapists receive to do that job - sit there and listen. Put myself to one side, be abused for not being good enough at it, having clients suicide )-;
listen listen listen to everyone who walks through the door.
I have a mutually respectful relationship with the woman I see. Even in therapy relationships are not a one way street.
Think a lot of people get that wrong

Therapists know what they are getting into. They don't go into this field for the money, they do it for people like you. They do it because they genuinely care (most do anyway). They are some of the most compassionate people.

Yeah, actually. Shame. That's exactly it.

I live below the poverty line. As far as I'm concerned, people who are in the business of saving lives - what should that person earn? And I'm not just talking me, I'm talking all of the hundreds of people who I've crossed paths with in acute psych care - they're lives are, in the most literal sense, being saved. By their doctors, by their nurses, by their social workers.

So tell me, honestly, what is the "right" salary for someone who goes to work and saves peoples lives?

Whether or not people can afford the treatment they need is a seperate issue.

So my doc? Keeping me alive. Turning my life from a complete horror, into something worth living. What pricetag do you put on that?

As far as I'm concerned, she deserves every damn cent she earns. She saves lives. Every day. That's what she does. Give her a goddamnn mansion as far as I'm concerned.

I was in ICU last year and had different nurses. A couple of them were really extraordinarily wonderful. They work really hard in ICU and they save lives. I agree with you, give them a fair wage. People think they make so much money, and some think they only have to work 3 days a week, ya three 12 hour days. They are on their feet constantly, running constantly. It was so difficult for me to be in that helpless position, and they never made me feel like a bother. They are responsible for giving me the right meds in my IV, they make the difference between life and death. I don't want them worrying about not being able to afford a babysitter when they are filling that IV. Treat them well. They were really wonderful.

 

[Vuba]

@Ragdoll Circus-Well spoken. I agree with you. I am very sorry the OP had such a bad experience, but do...

I am PTA mom comparison poster.

It wasn't negative, it wasnt meant to be derisive.

I was stating the obvious fact that you are dealing with someone who has put himself in the role of ' helpful responsible adult' but you still must your own instincts.

Id rather have used a Catholic priest analogy, frankly, but I didnt want to offend anyone.

If you've never known , a patient, client or friend or family member, or a person that was in the mental health field, that you felt was not serving his clients, then you are fortunate.

That does not give you the right to sing the praises of your good fortune by shaming people who haven't had that experience.

I've known great therapists - do you know what they all say?

" I cant stand therapists myself outside of work."

All of these testimonials from you guys about the lives saved, yeah, like I said , my life has been rescued by some great ones, but this type of blind reverence and shoot down over expense of healthcare is totally unwarranted.

18 yrs ago a psychiatrist in an exclusive beach town stalked his wife, killed her three houses down from me and kidnapped his 3 yr old son, then left him on a street alone and flew to France where he was arrested.

I can give a few more examples like that, not from watching the news, from my own life experience.
More of them are good, a few are great.

But when you get into a -

"How dare you question them and whatever money they want, you're just lucky to have them " thought process - then thats just worrisome for you, actually.


The point of that, was to highlight that these people are human beings.

Yeah, actually. Shame. That's exactly it.

I live below the poverty line. As far as I'm concerned, people who are in t...

 

[Ivope]

Please provide your resources. You can absolutely not hang out a shingle and pay a license fee. Please attach your reso...

LMAO... There is no way in hell I am going to go to all 50 states licensing requirements to pull out their individual requirements for several hundred counseling jobs that don't require educational & professional oversight.

However... Here's just the tip of the iceberg

Psychology Careers That Don't Require a License | CareersinPsychology.org

And that's only looking at jobs where people with a BS in Psych can find employment counseling others without actually being a psychologist (yet /ever). Once one adds in CDPs,


My state
- requires 30 credit hours, to be a CDP. At 5 credits per class, that's 3-6mo.
- requires 5 credit hours to be certified in anger management
- has no requirements for religious or laity religious counselors (including the fee, waived, under tax exempt status).
- has no requirements for life coaches, personal wellness, holistic, eastern philosophical, and others beyond the business license.
- has no requirements for peer counselors, suicide & crisis helpline, mentorships, advisors.
- has 3 weeks training required for CASAs (court appointed special advocate for children)
- has 3 weeks training required for city social workers (both CASAs and social workers provide court ordered counseling, evaluations, & make recommendations to the court. If you want an actual guardian ad litem, or a degrees family evaluator the base fee is 4k. Per evaluation.)
- less than 10 years ago changed their requirements for receiving a license from the state to advertise yourself solely as a therapist, to having to either provide documentation of some sort of educational or professional standard as have being met (even a 60 day CDP is enough), or to bill yourself primarily as something else (wellness instructor, etc.). It's largely a joke, and was a hot button issue in psych circles around here...since over 30,000 people got their new licenses under religious credentials the same year they put forth the requirements. If you can marry someone? You can counsel them. Takes about 5 minutes to become a minister online. But, still, the state is at least trying to provide some oversight.

...and that's just one state, that is actively trying to provide oversight. And, again, hardly even scratches the surface.

If you want someone with a masters or higher? Look for those letters after their name!