Psychotherapies My Ass
Rant time!
So I’m taking a really cool class called Psychotherapies this semester. I am learning A LOT. The materials are interesting and I’m getting a lot of info for my senior project ^_^ But there’s one negative: the class discussions.
Now, I normally don’t vocally participate in my classes anyway. I’d much rather listen (though I am vocally participating more now than I have been in years.) Anyway, some people in that class can be REALLY aggressive. And in all honesty, it’s really pissing me off. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good debate. We’ve had very enthralling debates in that class, and some people have given me a new perspective on certain topics (like today for example.) But there’s a difference between debating and being completely disrespectful. There have been classes where people interrupt each other, don’t listen to others opinions, are always on the offensive, etc. I mean, what the fuck, this is a fucking Psychotherapies class!! Most of us want to go into the social work/psychological field someday. Most of the reading we’ve been doing emphasizes the importance of listening to your clients and making them feel comfortable. I mean, shit, I find the behavior of some of the kids in my class really ironic. Oh well, maybe I’m just annoyed because i’m a senior, I dunno. Disrespect is just one of my biggest pet peeves.
Also, I’d like to talk about Albert Ellis a little bit, since that was the whole debate today. Ellis created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT.) In my opinion, the technique is, to put it bluntly, complete bullshit. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are a few positive ideas in the techniques, but for the most part, I think REBT is a horrible way to conduct therapy. The therapist is basically the dominating parent to a client’s submissive child. The client talks about her feelings (ex. my father criticized everything I did so now I’m critical of everything I do and feel horrible about myself) and the therapist basically dismisses all of her feelings. He tells her she’s wrong in her thinking process and that her feelings are worthless and arbitrary. And no, I’m not exaggerating, that’s what REBT is. I think it’s a poor way to conduct therapy. No empathy is involved, which I believe to be the most important part of the therapeutic alliance. I think that dismissing a client’s feelings could lower her self-esteem and alienate the client from the therapist. This is really detrimental to the client’s well-being, especially since the main reason somebody goes to therapy is because she wants to help herself. Granted, sometimes “tough love” is a good approach for certain people. But not everybody, and I sure as hell wouldn’t use it on someone who I know doesn’t need to hear something like that. It’s really insensitive and unhelpful.
I also don’t like that Ellis ignores (unless it’s REALLY necessary) childhood experiences and family of origin. Childhood plays a VERY key role in many problems clients are having and it’s important that they be looked into. I know Ellis wants to stay in the present, but if something from the past is preventing you from moving forward in the present, then the past NEEDS to be revisited. Sigh…
I have a paper due for Creative Psych tomorrow. I finished it, but it’s a piece of shit that needs to be edited. It probably won’t be that great once I’ve edited it though, b/c I didn’t really have passion for the assignment and I’m still confused as to what the assignment was really supposed to be. Oh well, I can only do my best…
My dad’s coming on Saturday for parents day! I’m soooo excited! I’ll get off campus, have food that doesn’t suck, and relax from schoolwork for a while (I’ve been really stressed honestly o_O) I really can’t wait for the weekend 
