Dear Larc,Thank you for returning to this subject. I think the average person thinks the sum of therapy as talking. Talking is a great part of it, but if the patient will do it, the therapist can/will also recommend a variety of books to further insight into the patient's situation.
What's on the open market is not necessarily what's the most precise, correct, information available - at least 10 years ago. I asked my therapist about this (books dealing on boys being raped) - and her response was: "Books will be published for the general public what the publishers think the general public will absorb, or accept." At that time - the general public had a hard time accepting descriptive accounts of boys being raped either by males or females.
Different therapists, if they're good, will assess the capabilities of their patients also - what techniques the patient is currently using/not using for pain/comfort, what they feel the problems really are vs what the patient thinks they are, what they've read, what they believe, and their outlook on what they expect out of therapy.
I've known people who just say they went to therapists - and just *kinda* talked - turned into same ol' same ol' and they stopped going. Fortunately, the 2 out of 3 therapists I went to were very good. Virginia M. from Boca Raton was an RN educated (with training in family/alcohol), power-driven, female idiot.
A "band-aid" could be considered that - or it could be a life-saving tourniquet - absolutely necessary at that time, and necessarily must be applied correctly. Both apply pressure to a wound.
Thanks again.
waiting
After twelve years of therapy, my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said "No hablo ingles." Ronnie Shakes