PsychPsyte.com Newsletter March 5, 2011
"A certain degree of neurosis is of inestimable value as a drive, especially to a psychologist."
Sigmund Freud
Why would dear Sigmund say something like this? While on its face a rather simply expressed idea, the quote above reflects some very deep deliberation on the nature of psychotherapy and those of us who provide it in a professional context. As readers well know, the basis of Freud's most important theories involves speculation regarding the continuous action of unconscious drives and urges on human behavior. He and those trained in his traditions always wonder what the underlying cause and function of any observable behavior might be. Freud spent a great deal of energy considering work and the personality structures that determine how each of us ends up making our living in the world, attempting to match outward actions and work-choices to the likely unconscious pressures that led the individual to that work. So when he observes that a "degree of neurosis is of inestimable value as a drive" he is telling us that it is exactly our areas of weakness, longing or hurt that push us toward our accomplishments. Freud famously noted that the surgeon may well be channeling her aggressive, destructive urges into healing, only unconsciously deriving pleasure from cutting through flesh as demanded by the job while striving to do no harm. So what similar urges drive the talk therapist? If I were to guess, I would say that most of us do indeed have some need to both nurture and punish within the therapeutic context. We are all likely to unconsciously react to our clients in ways that mimic our own earlier relationships. The very nature of the therapeutic relationship necessarily contains some aspects of all other intimate relationships. However, as the therapist we are instantly given (or take for ourselves) a special role, defined by our own conscious and unconscious urges and fantasies. If we have been able to benefit from good supervision and training, we are able to recognize and become aware of some portion of these drives, hopefully aware enough that our neuroses do not cause more harm than good in our treatments. Freud's quote above suggests that in fact, a good therapist is likely to be driven by exactly these types of needs. One who is not so driven will lack the urgency and investment necessary for the work, which can easily become draining and demoralizing. The real challenge of course, is managing the balance between meeting our own needs and those of our clients, a challenge which we have to address with each day and each session.
Children's Mental Health Problems Persist Long After Traumatic Environmental Events:
Original Article Here:
A follow up study of children who were involved in a massive earthquake in Sichuan Province, southwest China in May, 2008 shows that significant symptoms were still present in many children one year after the event. Data were gathered using the Trauma Symptom Checklist, Alternative Form by researchers from China and Canada. The symptom profile found by the researchers showed very little change between the 6 month and 12 month measurements. As would be expected, symptom severity was closely correlated with the degree of direct exposure to serious traumatic sensory experiences and extensive loss and injury. The findings suggest that it is often very difficult to provide adequate mental health resources following such disasters, despite their evident need.
Practice Tips: Office Rental Leverage.
Most clinicians providing private services have to rent professional office space for their work. This can be a real source of headaches and often represents one of our least-favorite business challenges. One thing to keep in mind is that you may have more leverage as a tenant than you might think.
Most often, from a landlord's point of view, a tenant in the office is worth quite a bit more than an unknown new tenant, who may bring problems or demands that the current tenant does not. Whenever a renter moves out, the owner faces several fixed costs, including cleanup, advertising for and screening new tenants and remodeling/renovation if the space has been occupied for any period of time. Thus, if you already have a lease, start preparing six months or so before its end to renegotiate the terms. Don't be afraid to ask for updating to your carpeting, paint and fixtures as part of re-signing your lease, since the owner should already be preparing to do just that if a new tenant comes in.
Read your current lease from front to back and ask someone if you have any questions about a specific phrase or clause so you understand fully exactly what your rights and responsibilities are and what the owner is required to perform. Do some quick research online and in local publications to learn what comparable space is leasing for and what kind of amenities other owners are offering. Armed with comparable figures for other spaces, you will be better-able to feel confident when asking your landlord for additional benefits or improvements. Do watch out in your lease agreement for clauses that allow the owner to charge adjustments to your rent, which are based on unexpected cost increases based on building maintenance and energy usage and often are assessed in a lump sum at the end of a contract year. Finally, don't be afraid to move to another space if you are not happy with the one you're in. It is hard to do emotionally demanding work in a physical space that doesn't feel right and one of the perquisites of self-employment should be working in a pleasant and personalized space.
Want a quick summary of Asperger's Syndrome and how to make life a little easier for children and teens with these kinds of difficulties?
Click through here.
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As always, thanks for your time and interest. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at admin@psychpsyte.com or telephone at (405) 842-8625.
Edward L. Coyle, Ph.D.
Primary Content Provider
www.PsychPsyte.com
1-405-842-8625