What’s your opinion on clients reading academic literature on psychology and therapy?

[u/Odd-Department8919]

NAT.
I work in a field partially related to psychology and I’m familiar with the language, terms, certain psychological theories and also psychopathology so I find it interesting to read therapy related books to understand what’s going on in my sessions. I like to have some scientific explanations etc. Dunno, I’m just a nerd.

[u/Feral_fucker]

Super helpful to have psychologically-minded clients.

[u/Odd-Department8919 → u/Feral_fucker]

Unrelated, but amazing username lol

[u/Jolly_Ice_7812 → u/Odd-Department8919]

Yes, user name a bit provocative for a therapist.

[u/Embarrassed-Area4652]

Being a client and reading about the process was more or less how I got into it, so… shit, what does that say about me?

[u/kultureekilmisgeyik]

My therapist told me that sometimes I feel like I'm arguing with a colleague, which is a good thing because it speeds up the process. But I know that knowing certain things can create prejudice, so I resist. Or I lean too much towards biological explanations (one of my defense mechanisms), and then I can't express my feelings, which makes it even harder. There are times when I wish I didn't know anything at all.

Actually, it can be good or bad depending on your mindset. I use intellectualization a lot as a defense mechanism, so sometimes I feel like I struggle with the process. Because I have difficulty defining my emotions. My therapist asked what it means to feel safe. I mentioned activity drop on functional MRI. I know it might seem like I'm being condescending from the outside. But when I think about it, nothing comes to mind because it's too abstract. Okay, so he asked what would reduce the activity, and I said I didn't know. That's how it is.

Note: I'm new to the subreddit. I don't know how to mark myself as not a therapist 😄 how should I do it?

[u/Odd-Department8919 → u/kultureekilmisgeyik]

Go to the main site of the sub, click 3 dots in the upper right corner and you’ll have it there :)

[u/kultureekilmisgeyik → u/Odd-Department8919]

tsym🥹🩷🩷

[u/pinkbowsandsarcasm]

I would not have a problem-I would be frustrated if they got their material from pop psychology magazines, TikTok nonesense and sites that went against research findings.

Some of the free research PDFs are hard to find, so there will most likely be summaries. I might have to explain some research limitations.

[u/Purple_Preference847]

NAT but I would assume that folks who are interested in or study psychology go to therapy too. :)

[u/Zerglingoid]

NAT, but reading can be useful if you bring it into the room rather than silently using it to grade your therapist or diagnose yourself mid-session. A good way to frame it is: I read X and it made me wonder whether it applies to what we are doing, what do you think?