The Wizard of SoulWritten by Dr. Dorree Lynn
"He is a good Wizard. Whether he is a man or not I cannot tell, for I have never seen him." The Wizard of OZ Frank Baum The word psychotherapy comes from Greek. Loosely translated, psyche means soul and therapeutic herapist is meant to be attendant or one dealing with healing of soul. It wasn’t until late nineteenth century with dramatic input of physicians like Charcot, Freud and others that psychotherapist became a person entrusted with healing mind separate from soul. Now, I am not sure where soul is located or exactly what it is, but I am certain that it has little to do with mind as a separate entity. It is true that psychotherapists are trained professionals, but great ones are more like magicians. They are ordinary mortals whose magic is ability to make you believe in yourself. Yes, they may teach some tools and educate you along way, but ultimately they are no different than unmasked mortal who changed lives of those who believed in him in story and beloved movie, The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and Straw Man sought Wizard in Emerald City, They followed yellow brick road and after many adventures, each found that they already possessed very qualities they so intensely wanted. Once they found what they were seeking, each could move on and Dorothy could go home. She could return to her own life, as same person, yet changed. An unexpected tornado tossed her into a world she had not planned to enter. Yet once she took path, what an extraordinary life-changing adventure she had. Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it?
| | The Decision: A True StoryWritten by Dr. Dorree Lynn
Part Three Of A Series On Psychotherapy Once you have made decision to find help, be wary of "fast-food solutions," "McDonalds" type of psychotherapy such as glib call-in radio shows, simplistic magazine articles, or motivational tapes that promise to instantly heal your deepest wounds. It may only take thirty days to tighten a tummy, but soothing a troubled soul may take considerably longer. While there are helpful remedies for depression, obsession, anxiety, or a host of other psychological problems, there are no instant cures for upheavals and stresses that are all too common facts of life. The social norms of twenty-first century are convenience, precision, and speed. But when it comes to healing a hurt heart or suffering soul, slow and steady can win race.On other hand, if all you really need is help in making a decision about a new job, a sick relative, or pre-marital counseling, be careful not to commit yourself to a trek up Mt. Everest, when all you may require is a situational solution. Sometimes less can be more. If you have never sought help, you may be wise to open door a crack and look around before crossing threshold. Once you have differentiated between a crisis and a non-crisis, you still are faced with myriad choices within mental health care maze. Even professional health care practitioners need help sorting out all options. Several years ago, I supervised Susan, a talented and well-trained psychiatrist, who also happened to be a working mom with one teenage son and two younger daughters. Divorced for five years, she had recently remarried. The girls were delighted to have a new dad. However, her son Ryan felt replaced as primary "man" in her life. Ryan became increasingly vocal about how much he hated new intruder. He felt displaced, and in a way that can be typical of teenagers, he demanded attention by "acting out.” Unhappy and angry, Ryan stole a car. The police caught him and Susan and her new husband received every parent's dreaded nightmare-the call to come to police station. The police warned Susan that "Ryan was a bad kid," a "rotten apple" who would amount to no good. They urged Susan to press charges and make sure that Ryan would go to jail for a long time. Because she had trained to understand her son's underlying issues, Susan knew enough to call an attorney who managed to keep her son out of jail. However, even though she understood that her son was "crying out for help," Susan was unclear about what steps to take next.
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