Therapy: A PATIENT’S POINT OF VIEW:

One of my patients…a fire fighter, was describing his concept of the process of psychotherapy.  As a trauma therapist, I found his words and insight to be profound.

He said:

“Therapy is like fire fighting. There is a room with a roaring fire with intense heat. If you open the door and enter too quickly, the intense heat will come at you in a back draft.  If you go in with water, the intense heat will cause the water to turn to steam and hot water, which will only burn you.  However, if you vent the room by letting out the smoke, it will decrease the heat in the room. Then, eventually, you can go into the room to discover the cause of the flame.  If it is wood, you use water, while grease or electrical you use foam. There are different types of treatment for different causes of core problems. You can never get to these causes, if you don’t allow time for venting to reduce the intense heat.”