9 February 2013

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Should I See A Male Or Female Therapist?

I was recently preparing a presentation for men who are training to become registered massage therapists – men being, until recently, a minority in a profession largely staffed by women. The idea was to discuss societal gender stigmas and the myths which arise from them (one, for example, being that “men are better at deep tissue massage than women” – not true).

Here are my thoughts on the matter, when it comes to choosing a psychotherapist:

First: There are always going to be personal preferences. Given the potentially long-term and intimate nature of the profession, if a client seeking a psychotherapist prefers the company of a man or a woman to seek help from, whatever that selection is based on is not mine to judge. From where I stand, for anyone seeking help, the freedom of having that choice is sacred. For some clients, being able to to make that choice is an important first step.

Second: There are some public misconceptions about male vs female abilities in a therapeutic environment which mirror the “deep tissue” myth mentioned above. Though personalities between therapists are unique, with some therapists being more empathetic or insight-driven than others, it’s important to note that competency in their chosen field is just as crucial.