• 

  After hugging my therapist twice (I asked), he had told me that he can’t hug me anymore because it’s forbidden in therapy. Did he act professionally?

After hugging my therapist twice (I asked), he had told me that he can’t hug me anymore because it’s forbidden in therapy. Did he act professionally?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-30T03:56:05+00:00 April 30th, 2019|

While there isn’t one way to act professionally as a therapist, setting appropriate boundaries is essential. Some therapists will disclose more personal information [...]

Read More

• 

  My new therapist doesn’t like me, I am unperturbed. However, he suggested that I don’t need therapy and am using it as a crutch. I disagree, how do I handle this with him?

My new therapist doesn’t like me, I am unperturbed. However, he suggested that I don’t need therapy and am using it as a crutch. I disagree, how do I handle this with him?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-30T03:54:33+00:00 April 30th, 2019|

I don’t know exactly how or why you’ve determined he doesn’t like you. This sounds like a projection/distortion. If he’s done something overtly [...]

Read More

• 

  Therapists, do you think of your clients when therapy has ended? How do you draw the line between thinking about them too much and (sorry for this) being human?

Therapists, do you think of your clients when therapy has ended? How do you draw the line between thinking about them too much and (sorry for this) being human?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-30T03:50:16+00:00 April 30th, 2019|

Yes, I often think of clients after therapy has ended. This question can be read different ways. You may be referring to when [...]

Read More

• 

  What can I try when CBT and DBT therapy didn’t work? Yes, I put in 100% several times and over many years. I’ve tried talk therapy with several different types of mental health professionals and always get the same advice.

What can I try when CBT and DBT therapy didn’t work? Yes, I put in 100% several times and over many years. I’ve tried talk therapy with several different types of mental health professionals and always get the same advice.

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-09T21:49:13+00:00 April 9th, 2019|

Advice is rarely helpful. CBT and DBT are more focused on changing the behaviors, as opposed to addressing the underlying issues. I recommend [...]

Read More

• 

  Will my therapist be annoyed when I tell her that I’ve been feeling depressed lately? She’s asked me about it before but I told her I’ve been feeling OK. It just took me a while to connect the dots between the symptoms.

Will my therapist be annoyed when I tell her that I’ve been feeling depressed lately? She’s asked me about it before but I told her I’ve been feeling OK. It just took me a while to connect the dots between the symptoms.

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-09T21:46:28+00:00 April 9th, 2019|

A therapist getting annoyed by a client telling them they are depressed would be like a medical doctor getting annoyed at a patient [...]

Read More

• 

  If only my therapist sees my childhood as traumatic and emotionally neglectful, did it happen or did I just make all that pain up?

If only my therapist sees my childhood as traumatic and emotionally neglectful, did it happen or did I just make all that pain up?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-04-09T21:36:52+00:00 April 9th, 2019|

While our memories are constantly revised and recreated, it doesn’t matter if things happened exactly in such and such a way. The truth [...]

Read More

• 

  As a therapist, have you ever snapped at a patient for what you believe(d) to be a valid reason? What was it?

As a therapist, have you ever snapped at a patient for what you believe(d) to be a valid reason? What was it?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-03-26T01:19:57+00:00 March 26th, 2019|

I don’t really think there is a valid reason for “snapping” at a patient. That said, I’ve definitely found myself in some sessions [...]

Read More

• 

  During the last session with my therapist I felt weird, like we were somehow distant emotionally and I had this feeling that I can’t say anything right and that I was boring. I am very attached to him and feel so bad right now. Why did I feel this way?

During the last session with my therapist I felt weird, like we were somehow distant emotionally and I had this feeling that I can’t say anything right and that I was boring. I am very attached to him and feel so bad right now. Why did I feel this way?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-03-26T01:17:23+00:00 March 26th, 2019|

While I can’t know what you feel, what you are describing sounds like a common example of someone who has a poor sense [...]

Read More

• 

  As a therapist, what do you do if you think your client is just generally a bad person?

As a therapist, what do you do if you think your client is just generally a bad person?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-03-26T01:13:13+00:00 March 26th, 2019|

As a therapist, I do not think of people as “bad” or “good” people. I think of them as complicated individuals, with complex [...]

Read More

• 

  Is seeing a therapist for moderate depression like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

Is seeing a therapist for moderate depression like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

Jonathan Schnapp 2019-03-26T01:04:20+00:00 March 26th, 2019|

Not at all. I’m going to let you in on a little known secret about therapy: you don’t have to be depressed, anxious [...]

Read More