I don’t think that being a therapist is anything like being a priest and should not be. We are simply not that smart or dedicated. That kind of thinking is often what confuses the public and gets displayed in television and movies. Our role diffusion comes off as flakey and weird. Actually, much of it is. Simply put, We just don’t know what we are and if we can’t control our own ethical practice boundary definitions (by being consitent in our practices and limiting our services to what we are licensed to do) the public will do it for us.

The whole concept of helping others with emotional and mental problems has been highly diffused with an abundant amount of resources and providers. The public can get a great deal of very good help without a “tour guide” called a therapist. The lack of consistency in our treatment approaches drives people to what they onsider are more reliable and often free sources of help. The public does not want to be exposed to crazy, weird, unorthodox, or just plain hocus-pocus non-scientific “care”. I know we are trying to make a buck here – but expanding our practice boundaries into odd or culturally popular areas is not the answer to our identity crisis. that lack of identity is the opening Hollywood exploits in the media. They, not us, are crafting our public image. Is that what we want?

The costs of therapy are drastically reduced from what they were a decade ago and my wife’s manicurist makes more than most therapists I know. (she is from Vietnam and does not have a high school education). It’s a different world that we have let the hollywood crazed public define for us. Its our own fault becasue we do not protest incorrect descriptions of the therapeutic process in the media and we even applaud the commercialization of it (i.e Dr. Phil). Does anyone think that an OB/GYN or Urologist would consider hosting a TV show! Probably not.

Providers of mental health care, once licensed by some state or provence, seem to think they can do anything they want and call it “therapy”. Just look at the very big list to the right of this blog. Interesting, the term “Marital” does not even appear. How many of these techniques were on our licensing exams? Are we truely sanctioned to do this under our licenses or are we exceeding our practice boundary, legally and ethically? While the word “Marital does not appear, “Focalizing” and “Yoga Therapy” does.

The public is increasingly disturstful of any licensed group who make claims and market services cloaked in mythopoetic terminology, eastern/native american religious jargon, or the ever reliable “touchy-feelee you are wonderful” philosophy. It looks often like what it is, a sham. That gives the media an perfect opening to make us look like clowns … or worse, dangerous people to stay away from!

The images displayed in movies and television are representative of how the public views us… not so good it seems to me. Whether we like what we see in the mirror or not- it does not make the image any less real for the average movie-goer. Unless we change our ways we can expect this to continue.