Q: Why are there so many bad mental health therapists?
A: [Homeostasis preservation](https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-evidence-based-reasons-people-choose-to-remain-ignorant-and-cling-to-outdated-theories-in-the-face-of-scientific-evidence-for-their-erroneous-beliefs/answer/Dewey-Gaedcke-1 “www.quora.com”) — and this is the same explanation for so much emotional reasoning among humans in general
Longer answer: Many of us got into psych because we grew up in crazy & dysfunctional environments. And that means those licensed therapists who’ve not done really consistent emotional work, after graduation, are still carrying a lot of baggage. But despite our degree’s, our career’s and our good intentions, our (all human) UNCONSCIOUS minds are very resistant to anything that might destabilize our coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, we must break free of those same dependencies to become good therapists.
The unconscious mind has a many important & automatic programs running from our long evolutionary past. Even though we are (in most modern western societies today) no longer endangered by foreigners and “outsiders”, there is still a Xenophobic program running on your hardware (nervous system). You may say “I love foreigners” but it’s still there … it’s just currently being inhibited. In certain conditions of stress, it can gain more influence.
And one of the largest imperatives of the unconscious mind is preservation of homeostasis.
“preservation of homeostasis” means —- keep things from changing so much that it’s going to destabilize my identity or coping mechanisms.
So your question applies to ALL HUMANS … not just therapists.
Most of us will stay in therapy for YEARS if not much changes. But go talk to any senior therapist with many gray hairs, and they will tell you that it’s incredibly common for people to abandon therapy RIGHT WHEN major change is on the horizon.
Master therapists will admit they saw this frequently in their less experienced years. After seeing it so many times, the best have generally crafted tools to mitigate the problem & work around it. But this speaks to their deep understanding of your unconscious, not the absence of this visceral urge to run from threatening change.
PS Please note that an LPC commenter below has said:******************* I don’t think there is any research supporting the idea that there are more people in psychology with emotional and psychological problems. Which brings me to why I think there are bad psychologists: they forget to draw on facts and science. Ecfv though it’s a humanitarian field, research science matters more than opinion.
In doing so, she makes an overture of appearing fact-based, inquisitive & intellectual. But instead of an open dialog, when I sent her this (slightly modified at Quora’s request) very thorough, candid & transparent explanation of my fact-basis, instead of engaging in open-dialog, she reported me to Quora & deleted the comment. It seems, she’s interested in censorship, not in discussing evidence or finding truth. What motivated THAT behavior?
My response to her comment (censored at her request b4 slight mods):
I should clarify my phrasing … I’m not intending to imply that those in the psych field are MORE dysfunctional than average across the whole population. No, not even close … people from extremely bad families don’t even get into college, and thus skew the numbers heavily in favor of your argument. My point is only that, despite our white collar appearance, we have plenty of our own baggage.
And you are almost certainly right about the lack of research … what kind of masochist would do that research and become a pariah in his own field. Not only that, but there is no clear instrument or specification for measuring mental health (or developmental dysfunction) on some linear continuum. As such, this specific research is near impossible.
At the same time, my position is not some opinion I pulled from my ass. I’ve been in this field in various capacities for over 30 years. And I have at least two data-points with which to support my assertions: (addendum: her censorship of my argument adds a 3rd data-point, albeit anecdotal; see point #2 below)
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Character Strategy (The Hakomi Character Strategies | Dan Michels Psychotherapy) draws clear causal relationships between “priorities” and “behavior”. Empathy can be directed toward the Physical (medical Dr.), toward the spiritual (priest or guru), toward the financial (advisor or $ manager), or toward the mental (psychological). What theory DO YOU HAVE as to what (any common theme??) drives motivation when someone selects between those various options. It seems clear to me that for one group, they are drawn to the mental?? Any guesses why??
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Over these 30 years, being as curious and conversant as I am, I’ve interviewed probably 100 therapists, counselors & psychiatrists. It’s true that this is anecdotal, and they (the good ones) may share more about their family history than the average bear, but my strong sense is that these stories outline a clear motivation for focusing in the psych. field. Again, not withstanding the severe or poor as discussed above who could never afford or achieve such a degree or licensure.
And if you are sincere about truth, instead of haggling low-import statistics one way or the other, why don’t you take issue and undermine my core premiss about the unconscious drive for homeostasis. Or that “we must break free of those same dependencies (our baggage) to become good therapists.” (supported by the research & book called Focusing by Gendlin) Focusing: Gendlin, Eugene T.: 9780553278330: Amazon.com: Books
You can do this by sharing your own theory behind emotional reasoning, denial, dissociation and general motivated cognition. Or simply tell us why people quit therapy at key junctures?
I wonder if you have a theory of your own … a void could explain why you are picking on my statistical misstatement, instead of debating the core premise of my answer
Dewey Gaedcke’s answer to What makes it hard for some people with BPD to stick to therapy?
Dewey Gaedcke’s answer to How often do highly empathetic parents cause highly narcissistic children?