One of the common fears of #psychotherapy is that it will quickly devolve into self-obsession.
This is a criticism often leveled against #therapy, especially by those who might benefit from it, but feel anxious about whether or not it would help. I appreciate these concerns. After all, the ego is powerful, and it’s tempting to get consumed by our own suffering and lose track of others.
But what people who haven’t tried therapy might not know, is that any effective treatment will involve a courageous and challenging process of turning toward the very things we have pushed under the proverbial carpet. It is not easy to face our personal suffering, revisiting experiences that may have caused overwhelming confusion, pain, and feelings of inadequacy. Doing so requires the inner strength to not run when something comes into the mind we’ve learned to shut out. Therapy involves re-opening parts of our history we may have tried to forget or push back into the recesses of our mind.
Most of us will need someone else to accompany us on this arduous journey. And if we’re willing to give it a try, the unexpected gift is that we’ll likely emerge as someone who can show up for others – our family, partners, dear friends – with greater emotional honesty, receptivity, and the ability to learn more about the human condition.
For these reasons and many more, I encourage you to consider the ethics of pursuing therapy. We all deserve to suffer less, and help others do the same.
Why Pschotherapy is an Ethical Act
