2006-09-29 02:36:48 · 12 answers · asked by a_poor_misguided_soul 5 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
It will depend on the counselor.
While the genders "think" differently and have different experiences in childhood, professional life, and family life, most good counselors possess a higher level of empathy -- one reason they are in the business to start with.
In order to counsel well, they have to be able to see situations from many perspectives.
Women focus more on relational aspects of life, so they have a bonus as counselors to start with, but there are many sensitive men who can empathize with women and their situations. And because they are male, they can offer a new perspective on relationships or even her assumptions in the professional realm.
In that sense, an empathic male counselor is beneficial because he can explain a husband's behavior (for example) in terms that the wife can understand.
Or he can explain how a male boss or coworker might be viewing her behavior (most likely) and offer some new strategies that would convey what she actually means to convey about herself professionally.
I think women also involve others more often in their problems, or ask for advice and affirmation. (Out of the number of people who have written to me to follow up on a problem they posted here, I think all of them have been female.) Many of them have specifically said they've appreciated a "male" persective on things.
2006-09-29 03:06:23 · answer #1 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They may understand, but it's more about the connection you have. I had a male therapist years ago and he was very professional and tried to help me address what I was experiencing. My last two therapists have been women and we really bonded. After completing therapy with both of them, we have maintained contact on a friendly level--I have moved across the country. BTW, not a nut as the stigma of therapy suggests, just like to "process" things with a neutral third party sometimes.
2006-09-29 03:05:01 · answer #2 · answered by Angela B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, mostly. I do think women therapists would jump to many conclusions based upon their own feelings when dealing with women. So it might be more beneficial to have a male therapist if you're a woman.
2006-09-29 02:38:24 · answer #3 · answered by *babydoll* 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our minds are tricky things. The role of a counselor/therapist is to cross-check what he hears and measure it up to what he has learned. Honesty with ourselves is difficult and parlaying that honesty to another is never an easy thing.
2006-09-29 02:45:11 · answer #4 · answered by rrrevils 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm a extra healthful lean muscular white male in the united states. i'm consistently looked at like i'm a rapist and lots of cases women human beings or maybe female men take extra steps to objective and evade me. Feminism demonizes men and victimizes women human beings.
2016-10-18 04:45:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he can. If he really wants to be such a doctor, he must do his best to understand especially women's mind. I would definitely trust better a man if I had problems i love, for instance. I would learn more about men's mind!!!:)))
2006-09-29 02:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by Lady G. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He can make conjectures about what he thinks according to his education and experience, but can he really know another person's mind? NO.
2006-09-29 02:49:54 · answer #7 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sure hope so, otherwise I'm paying my little sweetie pie therapist for nothing!
2006-09-29 02:38:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes why not they are professionals afterall.
2006-09-29 02:57:11 · answer #9 · answered by Ray S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only by juicy warm come.
2006-09-29 02:44:49 · answer #10 · answered by joshooog 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋