Psychologists of Reddit, what is something you want to, but never would say to a patient?

I'm doing what I can to make the person in front of me feel accepted. I want to show them that I accept them, so they can internalize it and accept themselves. So it's not congruent to want to say something and not say it. If I feel like I can't say something that's probably a projection. I'm expecting my client to not be able to take it or understand it or whatever. That's a bad judgement call.

I prefer to approach my clients as people trying to improve. As people who I believe in. And I want to show them that, so they'll be able to feel that way about themselves too. If something goes through my mind during our encounter, I take it it's worth expressing. It's relevant for the matter at hand. It's all a question of saying it with compassion and empathy. And I can do that when I'm completely focused on the person in front of me, and I'm attuned to what they're expressing.

I want all ideas to have a space to be expressed. So my client knows it's ok to speak their minds I need to show them that by speaking my mind. I'm setting an example: I don't have to hide, and neither do they. We're in a safe place where we can just be.

In being ourselves we accept who we are and are able to be transformed. I let our interaction transform me, as much as it transforms my client. So they'll be able to see he exists in a state of constant change. A label isn't definitive. It's not static and it can't hold them. They can work through anything and it's just a matter of choosing to do so.

Each person has their own pace. My place is to walk with them, and to be open to change.

/r/AskReddit Thread