Now here’s some thoughts and words you probably never expected to hear a therapist talk about. Dr. Barry Lubetkin sounds off on his profession!
Personality and Psychotherapy – John Dollard and Neal E. Miller (Photo credit: Gwendal_)
” The experience of psychotherapy and mental health counseling is such a potentially life changing period in so many peoples lives that it should require the practitioner to proceed with the highest degree of professionalism , intelligence and creativity. And yet several times each month new patients to my practice complain about past therapists who they feel let them down in one significant way or another. Therapists are imperfect human beings of course,but some of these “errors” seem way beyond the pale.
The therapist who insists that you MUST continue with sessions even though you are quite certain you need to take a break.
The therapist who charges you for missed sessions when you are on vacation.
The therapist who never discusses explicitly the goals of therapy.
The therapist who often seems distracted,sleepy or disinterested during your session.
The therapist who gossips about other patients or about the celebrities they have treated.
The therapist who is so stuck on one theoretical orientation,that they won’t study the literature about other approaches which might help you.
The therapist who NEVER gives advice and ALWAYS asks “what do you think”
The therapist who gets defensive when you say you want a second opinion from another therapist.
The therapist who belittles you.
The list could be much longer! You have the right as a patient to question your therapists behavior and skills. DONT accept laziness,indifference,or NON constructive criticism. There are many many wonderful,compassionate and skilled therapists out there. Find one and celebrate your own growth!”
You can reach Dr. Lubetkin to obtain more information or to ask a question at: The Institute For Behavior Therapy at IBT104@AOL.com
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
I had one so bad I helped him one visit and he did not charge me for the visit.
But I had a fantastic one here who helped me. So don’t stop looking.
Hugs, Lynne
I’ve had my fair share of disappointing therapy experiences, but reading this made me realize that I’m not alone in feeling let down by lazy therapists. I’ve even had therapists who seemed completely disinterested or distracted during our sessions, which left me feeling unheard and invalidated. It’s reassuring to know that there are compassionate and skilled therapists out there who genuinely care about their patients’ growth. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue!
Wow, reading about Dr. Barry Lubetkin’s perspective on lazy therapists really struck a chord with me. It reminds me of a time when I felt completely let down by a therapist who seemed more interested in their own agenda than in helping me. Finding a compassionate and skilled therapist truly makes all the difference in one’s journey towards mental well-being. Thanks for shedding light on this important issue, Pbenjay.