Posted by pseudoname on February 28, 2006, at 11:08:25
In reply to Re: Best type of Therapy?, posted by kodi on February 27, 2006, at 17:15:43
I think the degrees or affiliations a psychotherapist has don't say much about their philosophical orientation. Lots of psychiatrists, with medical licenses, are still pretty Freudian and dismissive of psych meds, for example. And the curriculums of all the various graduate & professional programs are very diverse. PhD / PsyD programs have been all over the map: Jungian, generically "psychodynamic", behavioral, cognitive, mixed, etc. Some social work schools are cognitive; some are psychodynamic. Some schools offer both tracks (but students have to choose ONE!).
Plus, a lot of therapists modify their approaches over time, as they get experience or exposure to new ideas. Some go from one extreme to another. Albert Ellis *PhD* (founder of REBT) and Aaron Beck *MD* (a CBT eminence) both started out doing psychoanalysis.
So, I would say, consider any licensed therapist, but check their current advertising & affiliations, ASK them (on the phone) what their orientation or philosophy is, and be explicit up front about what you want. In my experience, however, they will likely agree to any preference you express at first...
poster:pseudoname
thread:613990
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060225/msgs/614260.html