Comments on: 10 Reasons Why We Lie to Our Therapists

By: How to Tell What Other People Are Thinking « Hypnocademy!

How to Tell What Other People Are Thinking « Hypnocademy! — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:48:46 +0000

[...] loved ones (fewer but bigger ones); we tell lies to ourselves. For many reasons, often unwittingly, we tell lies to our therapists. Apparently, four out of five people actually lie about having seen the classic film The Godfather, [...]

By: kaukamom

kaukamom — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 02:01:48 +0000

This is a great article. A wise therapist once said that it’s ok to lie to the therapist. She understood that if a client lies, it’s something they need to do and the need can be explored at some point later when the client is ready to face things better.

By: Elizabeth Doherty Thomas

Elizabeth Doherty Thomas — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:40:02 +0000

Thanks for this great article. I love unusual writings about therapy and this one really seems to help give the answer asked of graduate students of counseling: “Should therapy students be required to seek therapy?” If someone hasn’t gone through therapy they may not have experienced the emotions/ reactions expressed in this article, nor fully appreciate the nuance to why a person may lie in therapy. It seems a huge burden for people to seek therapy when all the issues you bring up are there before therapy even starts!

By: Joanna Poppink, MFT

Joanna Poppink, MFT — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:19:23 +0000

The paradox is yes, people lie to their therapist, but at the same time, they are always telling the truth. When a person starts therapy they don’t change their way of being in the world because they walked through magical doors. If they lie to protect themselves they will lie to the their therapist.

But how could this be otherwise? The competent and compassionate therapist knows that the patient is being who they are and doing the best they can. It’s part of the therapist’s job to recognize that the patient is being their truth even if they are trying to hide it. The hiding is part of their true experience.

During the course of therapy, if all goes well, trust and mutual respect develops between patient and therapist. The patients builds emotional and psychological strength. Then he or she is willing to risk actually saying more truth, revealing secrets and daring to be present for real and imagined consequences. This is part of healing.

What often follows after that stage is that the patient discovers secrets and lies she been carrying that even she didn’t know about. That’s when the healing work goes deep and unknown psychological territory gets explored and examined.

All the while the patient gets stronger, more integrated and more confident about being their true self in the world.

I suppose the short way of saying all this is that just because a person is telling a lie through action or ommision, doesn’t mean he isn’t sharing his truth.
Joanna Poppink, MFT´s last blog ..The Play of Your Life and Your Recovery- Act I- II and III

By: Andrew Warren

Andrew Warren — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:57:55 +0000

I just finished Therapy from a broken shoulder I got when I had a seizure. I really loved my Therapist.
I think by increasing my Water intake will help stop my seizures.
One of the contributing factors to many sicknesses (ex: diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.) is having high levels of acids within the body. This condition is also known as acidosis. Over time, it can have some very damaging effects on the body, specifically the blood. That’s because acidic blood has a harder time circulating, which then causes devastating harm to vital organs.

By: vaughny

vaughny — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:20:26 +0000

I can totally understand, but why go to a therapist if you are going to lie? Isn’t the whole idea of going to a therapist is to get help in coping with whatever issue it is that you can’t with anybody else? Great article though, thanks. You should write one about why we should NOT lie to the therapist. :)

By: Kim Woodbridge

Kim Woodbridge — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:08:26 +0000

I haven't spent much time in therapy but I could completely relate to this - especially what you said about lies of omission. I suppose that many of these topics are things we wouldn't discuss with anyone and telling the therapist doesn't seem quite right. I kind of view talking to a therapist like going to confession - neither individual is going to judge you but you don't want to reveal your "sins". Kim Woodbridge’s last blog post..Lessons in Backing Up - The Journalspace Disaster

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:02:55 +0000

Thank you for the compliments, Susi B!

I have written and published several computer books, but none about the Anxiety Disorders. I have a few little germs of ideas that may make their way into a book in the future. Thanks for the encouragement!

By: Susi B (Aussie)

Susi B (Aussie) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:23:13 +0000

...this is GREAT stuff Mike!!! Ever thought of writing a book? or maybe you have already, if not you probably sh/c/would do very well! Susi B (Aussie)’s last blog post..Merry Christmas!

By: 31og (Blog) Day 2008 | Diligent Design

31og (Blog) Day 2008 | Diligent Design — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:59:28 +0000

[...] issues. I would suggest checking AP&H out. (after going back and checking out the blog, I found another interesting post you should check [...]