In the 1970s, Stephen King published a short story called “The Boogeyman” about a psychiatric session where the patient discovers at the end of his appointment that his doctor is actually a monster that was wearing a human mask.
The story came to mind because I have recently been disenchanted with both psychiatry and the therapists. It is different for different people, but recently I have decided religion, asceticism, and good nutrition and exercise are best for me. There is a pretty good TV series called In Treatment with Gabrielle Byrne playing a therapist who meets with one or two clients in each episode. Byrne’s character is basically just a good listener, which I think any counsellor should be.
I understand that many therapists and psychiatrists now focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which, as I understand, focuses on a person’s present and future rather than their past. But I am also a Freudian in the sense that for some people past trauma or emotional/physical disturbance needs to be addressed. Yes, a counsellor cannot alter someone’s past, but if that past isn’t acknowledged, it is difficult for some to move on.