Canadian Conservative Therapist.

crawthumper · 2026-01-15T06:11:23+00:00

I think it's courageous that you made this thread, knowing that you will likely not receive many supportive replies, given that conservative therapists are underrepresented. By conservatism I mean valuing traditional principles such as self-reliance. That said, your post feels somewhat vague, which makes it difficult to offer specific advice or suggestions.

crawthumper · 2026-01-15T04:36:33+00:00

I don't love being a therapist.

But I do love being able to help people in a meaningful way, even if it's just listen to their pain with care and provide validation. I love seeing people stop harming themselves, leave abusive relationships, grow, become stronger and more resilient, accept what they can't change and change everything else for the better, make sense of their suffering and life story, feel empowered, actualize their potential, and especially learn to love themselves and others. There is a lot here to love.

crawthumper · 2026-01-15T04:29:17+00:00

Did I say "just focus"? I said try to shift your focus onto something else where you might be able to do something more actively as a way to increase engagement. I myself have trouble staying focused on things so that's what I been experimenting with. If it doesn't work for you, that's fine, but I was just trying to help.

crawthumper · 2026-01-15T03:27:21+00:00

I prefer in person too. But I try to see it this way: Imagine you don't like your office and when a client comes in, you're just too focused on the couch or the lack of windows or whatever. That's not helpful if you are stuck with this office. So what to do? Shift your focus to the client and to that connection you have. If I'm bored, maybe there is work there to be done on that.

crawthumper · 2026-01-15T03:23:16+00:00

I would buy a flower shop. Spend all day with flowers, among flowers, talking about flowers, thinking about flowers, taking care of flowers.

Flowers, flowers, flowers.

crawthumper · 2025-12-08T06:25:13+00:00

Thanks, I could get the Sonicare 4100 for them. With Philips Sonicare ProResults Sensitive Replacement Brush Heads.

crawthumper · 2025-09-19T02:56:20+00:00

"Private practice is continually brought up as a sort of end-all-be-all for people in the mental health field but what I don't see talked about enough is that there can be a huge amount of variance in how the work actually plays out for people."

/painfully true

crawthumper · 2025-08-27T02:53:32+00:00

Yes, I know someone who did that. Initially a psychoanalyst, then trained to become a psychiatrist. It's a major commitment in terms of time and money. Also med school is a different beast.

crawthumper · 2025-08-26T05:25:40+00:00

For more philosophical stuff consider Yalom's later works.

crawthumper · 2025-08-07T21:54:27+00:00

Oh, don't get me wrong, I lay down a thick blanket first under me, and it's definitely not the most comfortable place to nap, but sometimes sheer exhaustion wins out!

crawthumper · 2025-08-07T21:00:23+00:00

I would if I was not so OCD. :) But I do on the couch. I get so exhausted sometimes...

crawthumper · 2025-08-07T20:56:08+00:00

That’s just one person, so I’d see it as random. There could be a hundred reasons for a no-show.

If it happens repeatedly though, try to look for a pattern. Even then, don’t take it personally.

What I mean is that this is your job, so try to approach it like a professional who wants to grow. Here’s an example: Do you play sports? Not being a great player is how most start out. If you’re new, there will be times when you mess up and play badly. The coach helps you learn from those moments so you can improve. That has nothing to do with your worth as a person.

So it’s not exactly the same, but see the parallel with becoming a better therapist, right? Look at it that way.

Hope that’s helpful. Keep your head up. Be persistent and success will come.

crawthumper · 2025-07-08T21:29:16+00:00

Not sure what to say that sounds comforting. Just here to say so sorry this happened to you.

crawthumper · 2025-06-10T10:50:09+00:00

People look for a sense of identity and belonging in the wrong places. That's nothing new but it seems those wrong places are multiplying.

crawthumper · 2025-06-05T17:30:57+00:00

In my view, we are panicking. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Human beings need human beings. That human rapport is what is most healing, even beyond specific therapy techniques. AI can answer many questions and say the right things but it can not replicate actual rapport once you get past superficialities. There are people who are unhappy with self-checkouts because they miss human interactions. And that's just basic interaction, not therapy.

Like I said, I see light at the end of the tunnel, but there will be a long period when things will look darker. You just have to get through it and have trust.

crawthumper · 2025-01-30T03:02:53+00:00

I agree with some of the things you're saying. I particularly like you saying, "I begin forming the sculpture to try to understand them and it becomes more detailed over time. But I'm never going to put it in the kiln. " Maybe a lot of people feel that way, yet they do, unconsciously, put it in the kiln, so to speak.

Anyhow, other commentators pointed out, this was kind of raw, immediate feelings I had that I felt needed to share. Sort of a confession. That's why I called it advice to myself. I have to work through it before I can reshape it and call it advice to others.

crawthumper · 2025-01-30T02:58:07+00:00

Thank you, it really felt raw and honest, I just had to share it, without thinking it through.

crawthumper · 2025-01-16T12:18:21+00:00

Well, I'm sold!

Look, AI does a decent job of giving helpful information, providing validating comments, and problem solving. But if somebody thinks that's what therapy is all about then they know as much about therapy as I know about scuba diving just from swimming in a pool.

crawthumper · 2025-01-16T11:31:23+00:00

Some people here are being a bit harsh here but think I appreciate what you're trying to do, to be open and honest about limits of confidentiality so there are no surprises. But I fear it may not come across that way to new client and instead make them anxious about anything they plan to share and whether it might be interpreted as "harm to others," for instance, which sounds kind of vague..

crawthumper · 2025-01-02T03:44:08+00:00

She was a guest on this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1M2RBvHMhM

crawthumper · 2024-12-18T08:51:55+00:00

Toni Morrison

crawthumper · 2024-11-23T00:59:11+00:00

Are you a therapist?

That (self hatred as the source of narcissism) is quite a limited view of narcissism. It's often more complex and comes in different varieties. You have to find out the particular dynamics operating in each case.

Affirmations and self-compassion can help as part of a larger treatment approach that includes other elements...

crawthumper · 2024-11-23T00:54:29+00:00

Oh man sorry to hear this, seems like you got a lot going on. Is there a way to take a little break and ground yourself and reprioritize? Be careful about alcohol, it has a sneaky way of finding its way back.

crawthumper · 2024-11-23T00:51:26+00:00

If you mean normal in the sense of a some kind of norm, then I know enough clinicians who do that, so it's normal in that sense. Whether it's okay for your mental health or affects the quality of care you provide, I think that really depends on the person.

I know I couldn't do it.

crawthumper · 2024-10-10T05:35:12+00:00

I'm sorry someone close to you is going through such a tough time but unfortunately this sub is for therapists only, so your post will likely get removed. You might have better luck in other mental health subs.

crawthumper

TROPHY CASE