can some supportive words in psychotherapy increase present psychopathology?

Answer 1

Yes, definitely. A well-intentioned therapist can sometimes mis-step in offering support, especially if s/he errs in a few particular directions:

-Support can sometimes come across as invalidation, which can increase anxiety and/or feelings of not being understood. An example would be if one were afraid of something, say global warming, and a therapist said something meant to be reassuring such as, "You know, the planet has changed many times before, and we're still here." This statement implies that you are being irrational by being afraid of global warming, thus invalidating your experience.

-Support can come across as patronizing also, as in, "Oh, I'm so sorry you're feeling anxious, you poor dear."

-Support can come across as intrusive as well, as in, "Tell me all about your anxiety, I'm listening to every word you say and want you to know I'm here for you. Please give me a call later tonight after the session to let me know you're OK."

Some personality types also are more prone than others to experience support as invalidating, patronizing, or intrusive. Such individuals typically have had similar experiences in the past from those close to them, in which support was offered to them in an insensitive way. A person with such past early experiences may currently "read-in" to others' behavior the attitudes that their parents or other significant people held toward them long ago -- even if those attitudes are not really present in the current therapist trying to be helpful.

Answer 2

I think so. I read a lot of psychological reports in my job and I find where the psychologists over-diagnose people sometimes. They'll write something like "possible schizophrenia, possible emerging bipolar disorder, dementia related to brain damage at birth, schizoid and narcissistic traits, possible emerging antisocial personality disorder, possible history of sexual abuse with post traumatic stress disorder and history of nocturnal enuresis." It's almost unbelievable how much stuff they say is wrong with this person or might be wrong with this person. I have to wonder how they might be relating to the client, it seems like they're making so many assumptions.

I read a report one time that diagnosed "narcissistic personality disorder" and the client was fifteen years old--aren't most American teenagers at least a little narcissistic?

I have a feeling the people who go to a clinician like this are going to feel like they are worse off than they really are.

Answer 3

Sure it's possible, but not probable, except for certain disorders.

Supportive words might help in depression, but probably not for narcississtic personality disorder. You need to consider the context of the pathology and make a judgement call on what will be helpful/not helpful.

Also remember the empathy/anxiety gradient: never raising the anxiety of the client and always empathizing and supported the client's feeling can sometimes be counterproductive in therapy.

Answer 4

A perfect stranger can put your day on the map if you have your heart open and can trust. Anyone can say something to you and make your day wonderful. A single thought or remark can make life worth living again. It all seems to hinge upon one thing: a place inside yourself which you yourself have made where such a remark can "land." It is like talking to a house cat in nothing above a whisper. The cat will acknowledge honoring it in this fashion by beginning to purr loudly. Try it yourself to see what I mean. And we are the same way inside. If someone means us well and speaks to us with love in his heart, it strikes a chord within us and we respond. Our nerves can get shot to the dickens and everything shuts down or tightens up to protect us, but we can't go through life like this, because all that inner tension and distrust would wear us to a frazzle. We have to trust others again at some point, and we have to represent ourselves honestly to others and we have to believe life is a good thing. If we can manage to do this stuff, mental health follows fairly soon. When our assumptions are life-giving, we tend to attract what we are telling ourselves, so it behooves us to tell ourselves good things about what life means, and the meaning of life is helping others. So if you are having a time of it, get reconnected to life again and reach out and help someone else who is having a rough time of it for a bit. Believe me, it will lift you up inside when you know you have made someone else's journey a little bit easier. You can try other ways to find balance and peace of mind, but honestly helping others will make you feel good about who you are, and that just makes living with yourself something pleasant instead of a relentless sentence.

Answer 5

Are you for real? NO!! Go to the nearest hospital and ask to be let in!

Answer 6

'Can.'

Yes. Can... It is a possibility - but not a probability - and Houston, we do have 'lift off.'

Sash.