Comments on: How to decide if you need a therapist

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:15:34 +0000

I am in therapy, and I have probably needed to go for a very long time. But, I was ready now, and I went. At the same time, I don't think I am especially interesting. So, nice try. ;)

By: Howard

Howard — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:56:18 +0000

Ms. Trunk is a bunch of hogwash. She is self-congratulatory, and seeking only money, notoriety, and bragging rights.

Just listen to her radio bits or read her "stories", and you'll understand what I write this. Her attempts at being humorous are no more than some rip off of Howard Stern the shock jock.

I listen to two radio shows that offered nothing close to any career advice. It consisted of only bathroom humor, and some other non-sense about her needing a date.

I felt cheated of my time, and I hope to inform readers here that if you are seeking career guidance, go elsewhere.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:06:14 +0000

I am always trying to figure myself out, then I go through long periods of not wanting to know anything. Therapy unless you're really sick and hanging from the chandelier seems like a narcissistic endeavor. It's like, "I'm paying someone to listen to me. It's my hour and only mine"

Probably because everyone else is tired of listening to you. I was beat up and ridiculed by neighborhood kids when I was a child. I've never really gotten over that. Do I really want a therapist to ask how I feel about that. I feel bad, so now what?

"Let's explore how you are feeling bad, and how that might connect to your current situation of having no job, no wife, no kids, and no family to speak of."

Boy, I just saved 300 bucks. I should just end it now. Say I do come to terms with why I am feeling bad. Now what? There's now a line forming of all the other people I'll need to solve my problem. Why not just line up cash registers in a row? Better, is there anyone I can pay one lump sum to and problem solved.

I say do some work at a food bank ladling out soup…and certainly before you're IN that particular line. I can make a argument that life is all about lines. And which one you're in. Excuse me, that's what the therapist is for.

By: Alfred

Alfred — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:02:10 +0000

Well to be honest, I hope I wont need therapist in the future.

By: The Plot Thickens… | MayDecember Secrets...

The Plot Thickens… | MayDecember Secrets... — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:40:15 +0000

[...] How to decide if you need a therapist (penelopetrunk.com) [...]

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:59:16 +0000

If you are reading this article, you need therapy, and I do NOT mean that facetiously. I believe that there is not a person on this planet that couldn't use therapy. But of course the majority of them would deny that and therefore therapy wouldn't help them. One must be open to it. So if something drew you to read this article based on the headline, and you are open enough to be reading it, then try some therapy.

By: blandspace

blandspace — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:32:29 +0000

I actually check myself into emergency room for depression 3 days after daughter born. I then went to doctor 4 times got meds. Quit going to doctor. Don't want to be on medication. Took direct action to systematically work on the problems affecting me. Use blog as the couch. We normally know what we need to do to fix our problems sometimes.

By: Pavi

Pavi — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:51:13 +0000

I am so sorry this happened to you. I am a student in college, training to become a counselor. I work very closely with a young girl who has Asperger's and I know how difficult it can be. But there are so many things that could be done to help you. You won't ever get rid of it, but you could be trained to understand facial cues and social interactions better using social scripts. I am lucky enough to have a professor who is an AMAZING behavioral therapist. She works mainly with kids who have autism spectrum disorders, but also with adults and she has seen a lot of success and growth in many of her clients. You should try to find a therapist who works specifically with autism spectrum disorders and whose background is behavioral therapy. They could probably help you a lot. Most counselors are trained to just listen and guide the exploration of emotions. This is important, but sometimes it is not what a person really needs and it just doesn't cut it.

By: Raina

Raina — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:36:35 +0000

Some of my friends swear by regular therapy as 'maintenance' (which is great) while others, like myself, have trouble opening up to a stranger about personal issues. It's obviously just an individual preference. There have been times when I needed to manage my stress or overcome negative emotions, particularly during my divorce. A friend recommended the book It Can Be Done to me during the breakup with my husband and I've found it to be very helpful in rebuilding self-esteem and maintaining mental stability and good mental health. For those of you out there who might need some help but aren't comfortable booking time with a therapist, this book might help you out too.

By: sfordinarygirl

sfordinarygirl — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:34:05 +0000

Therapy helped me overcome my fear of men, dating and gave me the tools to become a strong, happy and healthy adult.

Before starting therapy I lived clouded in fear and suffered from mild-PTSD. I couldn't let go of the violence I witnessed in my family. It took 2 years of opening up about those fears, allowing myself to let go and free myself did I start to really become happy and more aware of my environment.

A therapist provides you with a neutral unbiased opinion. Who else can provide an honest assessment of your flawed thinking? A best friend even as close or trustworthy can't provide the same guidance.

I'm a savvier, smarter and better person for therapy. It's knocked some sense into my brain while I dated the wrong men for quite some time. I would've stayed in aggressive relationships if therapy didn't question or ask me if that's what is defined as "healthy."