I’m a Therapist. Not Everyone Should Be in Therapy by Harvey Lieberman, PhD

I've believed in the value of therapy my whole professional life. As I've grown more experienced, I've also come to see that it's not the answer to everything I once hoped it might be. Then, over the last year or so, I began noticing a recurring theme in films and television. Therapists were often portrayed as flawed, limited, or exaggerated, while moments of insight and personal change seemed to emerge through friendship, family or people simply showing up for one another. Had it always been this way? I found myself wondering whether those stories reflected a growing disappointment with what people hoped therapy could provide. After more than 50 years in the field, I couldn't let go of that question. This essay is where it led me. Read Article