Many therapists / psychologists have issues?

[user87382294757]

I mean, unresolved issues? The ones I have met all seem to. One we know has a real problem with hoarding animals for example.

Should they not have sorted their own issues, through therapy for example before being there to help others?

Have others experiences this also or is it just me?

Therapists have to be aware of as many of their own issues as they can, and they will also be in supervision.

Somebody who thinks they have no issues would be a bloody awful therapist.

Well you could argue that someone with that training is more aware of their ‘issues’ and is better aware of coping strategies.

I know lots and you’re really not unreasonable 😂

It's like loads of Community Psychiatric Nurses going off sick with depression or stress.

I know one is a fantastic psychologist and if she has any unresolved personal issues, there's no sign. She's great at her job and has helped many people, including myself.

However, by contract I know another psychologist who I definitely wouldn't want her treating anyone I care about. She's led a fairly charmed life but suddenly decided as an adult that her father had mentally abused her and cut off all contact with him (although was still happy to take handouts from him). She refused to discuss what the abuse was and her parents and sibling all say they have no idea. When questioned about it, she's gone NC with the family members asking/trying to mediate. This triggered serious depression in her mother who had a breakdown. She ignored her mother getting - and surviving - cancer. She no longer speaks to her sibling or aunt. No-one knows what the abuse is/was and the family believe she has created something in her mind so she can 'fit in' with her psychology world. That's pretty sick if it's true. Someone is lying here, or at best fooling themselves. No idea who is at fault but it's definitely one big unresolved issue. For full disclosure I should say that I knew this person before all this came out and I have never liked her from the first time I met her. I always found her fake, spoiled and selfish. It saddens me to see how much she has hurt her family.

One point of anecdata: My friend did a degree course designed for people wanting to be counsellors/therapists (can't remember the exact degree) and said most of the students had serious issues.

I expect many people across a broad spectrum of professional occupations have 'issues' and I don't see why or how Psychologists should be an exception to that rule.

Mental illness is indiscriminate.

Why do you think they get into this field? Empathy and a drive to work in an incredibly demanding, draining and challenging field. There are some highly accomplished and skilled therapists out there, I’d say a fair few have been touched by something.

All therapists and counselors have to see a therapist and counselor of equal or higher standing to them. They also have to have had a certain amount of sessions before they qualify so I’m sure she will be dealing with her issues!
In fact I Wallis go as far as to say EVERYONE should see a therapist! WE ALL HAVE ISSUES!!

Yes, we have our share of ‘issues’ too - it’s the old ‘wounded healer’ thing. As PP have said, personal therapy is usually mandatory when training to be a therapist, and supervision is also required.

There's a difference between 'having issues' and 'having issues which adversely affect your work'. As people have said, everyone on the planet has issues of some kind. So long as the therapist is aware of them, and doesn't try to work with a situation which conflicts with them, then what's the problem?

Also, you cannot qualify as a counsellor or similar without having extensive therapy yourself, and all working counsellors should be having supervision, to ensure their issues or cases aren't causing further problems.

Many join the profession to figure out how to hide their own mental illness. Lots are crap or plain greedy or with their own agenda. Good ones are like gold dust. You should do serious homework before allowing them inside your head... which isn't always poss. YANBU.

Most therapists I know decided to go into it to help people like them who had been through shit. So yeah I'd be surprised if most don't have issues

I think in lots of ways having issues of your own helps with being a therapist.

CPNs and nurses who are stressed and depressed are that way because of the pressure on mental health services though! Different issue. But I do see your point, it's a stereotype for a reason. Most humans have issues though, and that's why boundaries, following therapeutic models and supervision are important. And not everyone who calls themself a counsellor is highly trained.

Many join the profession to figure out how to hide their own mental illness. Lots are crap or plain greedy or with their own agenda. Good ones are like gold dust. You should do serious homework before allowing them inside your head... which isn't always poss. YANBU.

This is really unfair and untrue. How many hundreds of therapists have you been to in order to make such a judgemental comment?

It comes with the territory. Kids who come from stable, loving families are rarely driven to understand dysfunction and the human psyche.

As adults, I mean.

Many years ago I read an article with a pyschologist, who said that people who study psychology can be divided into three groups.
The smallest are people who actually want to help people with their knowledge. The second people who study it to be able to manipulate other people. The thirs and largest are people who have lots of issues with themselves and try to figure out what is wrong with them.

Just an anegdote, please don't take it personally if you are one, or a therapist, but from all the friends I knew who studies psychology, most had mental health problems (cutting themselves, anorexia in the past, etc) or were really manipulative themselves.

With psychologists, some of them don't believe in mental illness, but it is all a defence mechanism to circumstances. Wonder if this influences them in some ways.

To the PP who said about them being aware...well, no that isn't the case in my experience. They seem completely unaware even when the issue is totally overwhelming.

CPNs and nurses who are stressed and depressed are that way because of the pressure on mental health services though!

@EvaHarknessRose not necessarily for those reasons. The pressure on MH services and the job in general can be the bit that causes our stress bucket to overflow but we have the same reasons for mental ill health as the rest of the world.

What I mean is with that approach, you can think. well I am not mentally ill, if you see what I mean. The manipulative thing sounds like a personality disorder.

Yes, having stress related illness as a result of dealing with mental health is different to what I was meaning, which was about having unresolved issues to start with.

"CPNs and nurses who are stressed and depressed are that way because of the pressure on mental health services though!"
I have a relative who has a CPN who is utterly crap and useless. Disorganised, always forgetting appointments or says he had a meeting so couldn't come. Fails to contact relative to let them know he's not coming. Had loads of sick time when his wife was expecting a baby.

Operates by a text book. Despite not being able to look after themself he thinks relative, who's never had one, should get themself a dog or cat. (Doesn't worry that pet might be neglected). Also thinks they should move home despite them loving where they live.

Never listens to my relative. Just forces his opinions on him. He supports everything pschiatrist says in appointments and then criticises her to us afterwards.

He isn't depressed or under stress. He's Just in the wrong job. Told my relative he was training in a totally unrelated profession (coincidentally, in my profession). Honestly, he's just totally useless, crap at his job, lacks empathy and just shouldn't have been employed as a CPN.