Psychotherapy: Rent A
Friend
by Dawn
Brown
zone3
At some point we are going to understand that it is all right to get
help when we need it. A friend called me a few months ago to chat. I knew
what that meant. She would talk and try to put me in the role of her
therapist. She had been depressed for sometime and had ignored all my
hints that she might need to see a therapist. Now her depression had
obviously increased and I told her that I cared about her but as her
friend, I could not be her therapist. I really felt she needed to speak to
someone professionally. She responded with shock and indignation, telling
me she would never speak to a therapist as she was not crazy.
Several days later another friend called me and was feeling depressed.
Again I refused to be her therapist but offered to give her the name of
one whom I had found quite helpful. A few weeks later I called her and she
sounded very upbeat. She quickly told me she couldn’t speak as she was
rushing out meet with ‘Renafren’. Puzzled I commented that her friend’s
name was most unusual. She then spelt it out for me: Rent a Friend. Her
nickname for the therapist I had recommended to her was Rent a Friend. She
explained that she paid him for his time and he gave her unconditional
acceptance and support; he was her friend. We had a great laugh at her
concept of therapy!
I was reminded of the words of Shakespeare’s Hamlet: There is
nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so. Our perceptions create
our experiences. To one person, receiving the benefits of psychotherapy
meant she was insane; to another person the benefits provided her with the
unconditional acceptance of a friend. One person’s perceptions created
roadblocks to her healing; the other person’s perceptions cleared the way
for her to accept assistance. What we choose to perceive makes all the
difference.
Reprint Rights: Ezine publishers may reprint this article as long as
the following information is included: the summary about the author and
her company (see below) and all links are active.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dawn Brown, M.Ed. (Counseling) is a specialist in relationship, career
and life transitions. An international speaker, author ( That Perception
Thing! ), and psychotherapist, she helps people to develop the
tolerance for ambiguity that is essential to thrive in today's climate of
change and uncertainty. Her company, Perception Shift, is dedicated to
creating a healthy approach to living.
For more information visit http://www.perceptionshift.com/
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