tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6996743797035746961..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: The shrink is in...cyberspaceLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51807886630761507542013-01-07T10:33:59.393-05:002013-01-07T10:33:59.393-05:00I wonder if sex therapists share this sentiment fo...I wonder if sex therapists share this sentiment for when they recommend clients to take drastic actions (like buying <a href="http://www.directpharma.net/" rel="nofollow">viagra online</a> or something).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81123365384902808732012-10-20T17:42:23.537-04:002012-10-20T17:42:23.537-04:00Oops, one error above: I meant to say "traini...Oops, one error above: I meant to say "training analysis". In most psychotherapies, having been in therapy yourself is not a formal requirement, but I'd be wary of a therapist who hadn't. Wouldn't you?Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-49603441796351283942012-10-20T17:35:01.697-04:002012-10-20T17:35:01.697-04:00Fran, I do text-based therapy. Can a person under ...Fran, I do text-based therapy. Can a person under hypnosis read or type? I have no idea. <br /><br />Dix, let's start with the South's version of why the Civil War was fought: states' rights. This issue is alive and well today in the helping professions. The licensing of professions, including mental health professions, is determined state by state and discipline by discipline (psychiatry, psychology, etc.). Psychiatrists are indeed MDs. They are trained in diagnosis and treatment via medications, so yes, they're the ones that prescribe drugs, and they are also able to sign a patient into a hospital. Psychologists are trained in the way the brain functions and in assessment, ie testing. In some states, I believe licensed psychologists can prescribe, and I know that in at least one state I'm aware of, master's level nurse practitioners can also prescribe. Social workers, my own discipline, are trained in dealing with the interface between the individual and the community or society at large. None of the above makes any of us a psychotherapist. Today, there are many, many therapies, of which psychoanalysis is not the most important or effective. Psychoanalysts spend years studying at one of a variety of analytic institutes and undergoing their own training therapy. There are institutes that train clinicians in some other psychotherapeutic approaches (some of which are based on, for example, different schools of psychological theory). Many psychotherapists, like me, learned our skills while practicing clinical social work (in my case) under professional supervision and gaining experience before getting licensed to do it alone in my home state (New York). It varies widely from state to state. California licenses what they call marriage and family therapists, and that's what a lot of California psychotherapists are. In many states, the majority of practicing psychotherapists are social workers. New York recently created a license for counselors with its own education and experience requirements. LCSWs like me have to have a master's degree in social work. What's generally called "talk therapy" is not the only kind available. Google "EMDR" if you want to learn about a set of physical techniques that have proved very effective for PTSD along with appropriate talk therapy. EMDR is one kind of therapy that I doubt could be done online, though I know some highly experienced clinicians who work online with abuse survivors and have skills in dealing with moments of abreaction or flashback. I wouldn't try it without long experience and terrific and very specific supervision. The few times I've dealt with someone with dissociative identity disorder (aka multiple personality) another severe post-traumatic condition, I've asked for collegial help to make sure I knew what I was doing.<br />On top of this, what a particular therapist brings to the table besides the basic skills and experience depends on his or her experience and interests. If you or someone you love are dealing with alcoholism (or think you are but aren't sure), I'd be as good a therapist as any to consult. I also have a lot of experience with dysfunctional families, people in bad relationships, and survivors of abuse, and after 25 years I feel confident that I can really help that kind of client. Dix, email me if you want more help with your particular character with PTSD. Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66160462472546006512012-10-20T16:33:17.354-04:002012-10-20T16:33:17.354-04:00Re: Earlier reference to "online" murder...<br />Re: Earlier reference to "online" murder. How about online teaching of self-hypnosis? Could the person be subject to post-hypnotic suggestion?Fran Rizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655783035179620991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80172961658773997982012-10-20T16:09:11.451-04:002012-10-20T16:09:11.451-04:00Dix, As I often say to clients, there's no sho...Dix, As I often say to clients, there's no short answer to your question. I'm going to take my run before the sun goes down first. I'll get back to you before the end of the day. :)Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84598491855777796322012-10-20T14:06:59.749-04:002012-10-20T14:06:59.749-04:00"psychotherapist" has no legal meaning
...<i>"psychotherapist" has no legal meaning</i><br /><br />You know, I've always wondered about that. <br /><br />And, I’ve been working on something, over the past several months – on and off – with a protagonist who has PTSD, so I’ve been wondering about this question more and more lately (in order to flesh-out the V.A. shrink the protag’s been seeing). <br /><br />My (poor, I’m sure) understanding is that a psychiatrist is an M.D. with some other training tacked onto it. (But, I’ve never been sure exactly what that training is.) A psychologist is (it’s always seemed to me) essentially a guy with the psychiatrist’s “tacked-on training” but no M.D. (which is why s/he can’t dispense meds). I’m sure that’s a grossly pedestrian explanation of two very complex educations, but I’m still left wondering: <i>Then what makes a person a “therapist”?</i> <br /><br />I assume there’s some level of education and certification involved, but have no idea what that would entail. I seem to have heard that most psychiatrists and psychologists are required to undergo (or perhaps they only “usually volunteer to undergo”) psychoanalysis prior to hanging out their shingle. Is this required for therapists also? Additionally, there seem to be many more <i>types</i> of therapists than there are psychologists or psychiatrists—sex therapists (what in the world is the curriculum for that course of study!?!), therapists who deal with alcoholism, etc. My kids’ schools even have special therapists in the offices. <br /><br />Can you give me an idea of what’s involved, here? I’d really like to know, so I can work some of it into this story I’m working on.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />--DixDixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-5538383817300279232012-10-20T08:46:35.233-04:002012-10-20T08:46:35.233-04:00Dix, I'm a licensed clinical social worker and...Dix, I'm a licensed clinical social worker and a credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor emerita ("psychotherapist" has no legal meaning), so two codes of ethics insure confidentiality, which I consider a sacred trust no matter how the client and I are communicating. I have two different secured chatrooms on my site. Could I be hacked? Sure, but it's never happened. No one ever barged into my office with a gun when I had a f2f practice either.<br />Online murder? I invite you to try to come up with a method. Online conspiracy, on the other hand...and of course online fraud and theft are rife in the 21st century. Have you had good news from any Nigerians lately? (BTW, I recently had to decline to treat a Nigerian potential client who really wanted help because Paypal will not do business with anyone in Nigeria, thanks to the ubiquitous scams.)Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-52688774860918051002012-10-20T02:22:17.847-04:002012-10-20T02:22:17.847-04:00Oh, and by "protections" I meant confide...Oh, and by "protections" I meant confidentiality. I didn't think you were trying to run a protection racket. lolDixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37825951875871582942012-10-20T02:20:38.917-04:002012-10-20T02:20:38.917-04:00Are your online clients covered by the same protec...Are your online clients covered by the same protections a walk-in client would be? I assume so, but wonder.<br /><br />This was a fascinating post. And, um, as to your question ... you made the meaning beautifully clear in a way I hadn't considered before. Thanks!Dixon Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11220791609338404147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51671967598211484622012-10-20T00:16:09.182-04:002012-10-20T00:16:09.182-04:00Very interesting… I had no idea. Do you have an on...Very interesting… I had no idea. Do you have an on-line murder worked out that way too?Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.com