Wow, I detect some real defensiveness and possibly projection here. When you chose a doctor, did he graduate at the top or bottom of his/her class? There are certainly some therapists that lack knowledge, and a few who are in it for the wrong reasons such to exploit clients, such as with boundary issues including sexual behavior. Yet, for the most part, therapists are like any other field, (teachers, nurses, etc) which chose a helping field. Some teachers are much better than others, no different than therapists. Teachers may become teachers because they value education, and most T's become T's because they are hopeful that with the right care, others can overcome life obstacles.
The only generalization that I can even make regarding therapists is that they are often somewhat co-dependent themselves. Why else would they work for peanuts with a masters degree. (must have at least masters to be a therapist) A single mom with 2 children, a masters in counseling, social work, or psychology is eligible for free lunch in most states. A hundred thousand dollar education earns them about $32,000 in most states as beginning wage per year. I know therapists that went from a receptionist job and for the next 10 yrs of repaying student loans, made several hundred dollars less per month. Waitresses and nail technicians make more money and are not responsible for errors in preventing a suicide. Much of the time, they never know if they did a successful job since the appearance of happiness by clients upon closing is not a sign of success. Often, one therapist plants some ideas or provokes thoughts and works with a client quite briefly. The client returns to practicing what they have learned, later returning to the T or another one depending on their circumstances. The T must re-license bi-anually, and to do so must complete CEU's that are timely and costly. They have to be insured. Some employers assist with this, but not usually the licensing fee. They have to cancel their day for a suicidal patient all too often, and attend a mental hygiene hearing at any given time. Their documentation has become ridiculous, particularly for Medicaid patients. Every career therapist that I know has lost someone to suicide during their many years, and always suffer with guilt.
Now days, many have to go into homes to see kids or do family counseling, where they are exposed to everything from lice and scabies to a bi-polar unmedicated parent who may stick a shot gun up their arse. Parents are not happy when the T has to report them to CPS.
Speaking of crazy, which is not the word I would choose, a large percentage of clients just want to hear themselves talk. Some are there due to legal or work problems or pushed into it by a partner-and many other reasons. When dealing with mental illness, there is a lot of negative clients, who of course will be critical of the therapist, he/she is not exception to the skewed view of the world. They are usually the same ones that are the can't do's. They shoot down every suggestion the therapist makes. Those that are willing to do the work, sincerely attempting a trusting relationship, open to suggestions, attempting to understand themselves honestly, not there to argue, have enough pain to want change, will find a therapist genuine, empathetic and competent . Unfortunately, there are some just not competent or qualified-very unfortunate.
Everyone is not a good match for a variety of reasons. That does not mean the client or the therapist is defective, things just do not click for a variety of reasons.
I find that most therapists are somewhat colorful people. They have experienced things out of their control as children, and made poor choices from their own choosing. They are often very analytical. Personally, I would not want to see a therapist that had some kind of "normal" history. How could someone that did not have some serious challenges relate to my challenges. While they do not have to be the same, they need to have made mistakes and over come.
When I first read the OP of "crazy", I thought of the song , were all crazy. There have always been jokes about psych people being a bit crazy, lawyers being dishonest, computer people being boring, etc. After I read what the original poster defined to clarify the term "crazy", I see this much differently. For the OP, I am sorry to say that it is possible that the therapists have not wanted you to come back. I hesitate in saying this because nobody likes rejection, but if you keep encountering T's that you think are jacking you for entertainment, it sounds like you suffer a significant amount of paranoia and there is really nothing they can do to change that. I know many T's, socially, professionally, and through my own treatment, and I have not encountered what you are speaking of.
Now if we were talking about psychiatrists, who are MD's, I could better understand. They are not usually there for counseling, or listening to your circumstances. They are notorious, in the 10 minute appointment, to ask about sleep, eating habits, and bowel movements, and do a lot of silent staring. Generally, they will cut you off if you start telling them about an argument with your significant other and hand you a prescription and tell you to return in 3 months. Even then, that is a generalization, though common one, that I have experienced and heard the same from many others. Yet I know they are all about brain chemistry and don't take it personal or as a defect-its just what they do.
