3 June 2021
Pre-Summer Update
We are getting our vaccinations, slowly (in some places) but surely. And this is good. I’m really hoping that, as COVID transmission rates continue to arc downward, along with the continued upswing of vaccinated individuals, we are allowed to re-enter the world…perhaps not entirely as we left it (I think that would be somewhat naive), but at least to the extent that we are able to do things that we haven’t been able to do over the last 15+ months:
- visit our relatives
- hug our friends
- travel beyond our municipal boundaries
- sit our butts down at cafés and restaurants, and at outdoor patios
There is so much to reflect upon. I hope you give yourself a chance to do so, as there are many things that have transpired over the last while that should give us pause for thought.
I am thankful to have received my second vaccine shot recently, which allows me to feel more comfortable to allow more individuals who are seeking in-person therapy to do so.
I wish you the best summer.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
filed under: anxiety• change• general info• parents• self• socialization• society
1 February 2021
What Becomes a Therapist Most?
There are a lot of therapists out there, and I think, because of this, there is a temptation amongst certain quarters of the psychotherapy community to market themselves commercially in such a way as to stand out from the pack. This is completely understandable since, from the client’s perspective, it can be hard to distinguish the person who is the therapist and their presumed role. I think there can be a risk when therapists stick their neck out to market themselves, insofar as making it about the therapist and not the client (or what exactly, wonderful personality aside, that therapist’s role is). I blame Dr. Phil.
As I say elsewhere on my site: you don’t want your therapist to be the star of the show. This might initially sound like fun, but not if you’re paying for it, and especially not if you are seeking help and understanding.
Trust me, I get where the temptation to distinguish oneself comes from. Some days I’m tempted to put an ad out there whereby I promise to never offer unattributable “Native American sayings” or adorn my office with purple satin drapes. And while, for those of us who have seen certain therapists do those very things, we might find some smirky amusement around such dated therapist/New Age stereotypes, the fact is that I think it can ironically only serve to drive some people away, right? I totally want to speak with that overly-opinionated therapist, said no one.
It reminds me of a very common question I’m asked: what (kind of client) is my specialty? My first reaction to this was pretty much the very same reaction I’ve used ever since: I don’t have one. I’ve been doing this going on 9 years and my feeling is that by specifying a type of person/background I would essentially be missing out on some wonderful clients whose lives and backgrounds I haven’t yet been exposed to.
In the end, it has to be about the client.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
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