Psychology: Lacking in compassion?

[OhHello]

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Something I've noticed is that psychology in general is, counter-intuitively, anti-compassion. Not just the acadamia, either. People who want PsyD's are also discouraged from doing it for altruistic reasons.

People on this forum who want PsyD's.... would you actually consider yourself to be an exceptionally compassionate person?

I feel like that should be the most important part of that job. Actually caring instead of being really good at following a dry sheet of rules, that is.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Again...I think you need to spend more time educating yourself about the field, as everyday practice is far from just following a dry sheet of rules. There is a clear push for EBTs, some of which are more structured approaches, this is not a bad thing. These approaches provide a framework with which to work, but they aren't a replacement for empathy, etc.

*edited to clarify*

 

[OhHello]

I'm getting annoyed with people saying "educate yourself" instead of explaining what they're getting at.

There is no other forum where you could get away with saying "educate yourself" point blank.

 

[OhHello]

I also get a sense that in general, psychologists hold the same prejudicial, stereotype-based beliefs about people with mental illnesses that the general population does, and think it's their job to pretend not to.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I'm interested why you singled out individuals seeking Psy.D.'s, and why it is you feel they're encouraged to be anti-empathic/compassionate?

As for the "educate yourself" comment, I honestly could see that being said in a variety of contexts if the individual in question truly does have a limited understanding of the topic they're discussing. For example, the idea that, as T4C mentioned, an EBT = a "dry sheet of rules," when this is not actually the case.

 

[stigmata]

Educate yourself= I don't have the time to explain to you how far off the mark you are, and that your question shows you don't even have a simplistic understanding of your so called topic.

 

[LHDMMD]

Something I've noticed is that psychology in general is, counter-intuitively, anti-compassion. Not just the acadamia, either. People who want PsyD's are also discouraged from doing it for altruistic reasons.

I have never heard this from ANYONE. EVER.

People on this forum who want PsyD's.... would you actually consider yourself to be an exceptionally compassionate person?

This question doesn't really make sense since there are people who apply to both Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs. Being exceptionally compassionate has nothing to do with that decision.

I feel like that should be the most important part of that job. Actually caring instead of being really good at following a dry sheet of rules, that is.

While caring is very important, so is following the rules. The rules are there to protect the client and the psychologist.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I'm getting annoyed with people saying "educate yourself" instead of explaining what they're getting at.

There is no other forum where you could get away with saying "educate yourself" point blank.

In the "real world", most people will just shake their head and move on, and they won't even bother acknowledging your lack of understanding. The people here are at least trying to point out some of the problems with your approach, though we don't have the time nor want to do the legwork for you. Finding out information on your own and really working to better understand the field is part of process.

 

[Psychadelic2012]

Something I've noticed is that psychology in general is, counter-intuitively, anti-compassion. Not just the acadamia, either. People who want PsyD's are also discouraged from doing it for altruistic reasons.

People on this forum who want PsyD's.... would you actually consider yourself to be an exceptionally compassionate person?

I feel like that should be the most important part of that job. Actually caring instead of being really good at following a dry sheet of rules, that is.

I don't know what you're getting at, but it reads like you're saying that PsyD's should be altruistic and exceptionally compassionate, but that you are discovering that this is actually not the case. I would agree with that. But why should they be altruistic and exceptionally compassionate? This is a serious flaw with how the profession is viewed. It's like you're saying that having professional standards or boundaries is a disservice to clients or something. And that a therapist/psychologist only has to offer their personal qualities and nothing professional. THAT is what is disturbing about this post. There is so much more to it than that. And if you don't get that, then you are really misinformed and/or inexperienced--that is what the other responders are saying.

No wonder the profession is held in such low regard. If all we need is compassion and altruism, anyone can do that!! Why the hell do we pay people all of this money to just sit and use what the creator gave them?? (Rhetorical and sarcastic questions, of course.)

 

[terrybug]

I don't *totally* disagree. When you say 'psychology in genera' I have to wonder how general and where you got this impression, but regardless, there areother careers that might be more appealing to you because they involve more time in direct contact with people - professions like social work, running an orphanage/leper colony, providing palliative care, being a nanny, etc. Psychologists aren't the ONLY people who are committed to a compassionate line of work (and yes, I think, as a rule, we care - otherwise there would be no way you could put up with all the hoops involved in getting a degree and then a career in this field).

I hope this helped... otherwise I'll have to wonder if my response lacked compassion!

Something I've noticed is that psychology in general is, counter-intuitively, anti-compassion. Not just the acadamia, either. People who want PsyD's are also discouraged from doing it for altruistic reasons.

People on this forum who want PsyD's.... would you actually consider yourself to be an exceptionally compassionate person?

I feel like that should be the most important part of that job. Actually caring instead of being really good at following a dry sheet of rules, that is.

 

[Kiara15]

That's a really interesting question. I am seeking a Psy.D. degree because I despise the research side of Psychology, and have never been told to not get one for "altruistic reasons." Their reasoning has been more along the lines of "Employers like Ph.Ds better" or "You can't be good psychologist UNLESS you have a Ph.D." I think that both of those are bull. If I had to choose between a professor or psychologist who worked in the field everyday, seeing clients and getting hands on experience or a psychologist who spends the majority of their time in a lab, analyzing data, I'm going to pick the former! No offense to those who enjoy research, it's just an acquired taste that I, for one, do not have. Anyways, I would actually consider myself a more compassionate person than many other people. I legitimately care about others, and would give the shirt off my back to someone in need. But, I don't think that that has anything to do with my seeking a Psy.D.

 

[KillerDiller]

That's a really interesting question. I am seeking a Psy.D. degree because I despise the research side of Psychology, and have never been told to not get one for "altruistic reasons." Their reasoning has been more along the lines of "Employers like Ph.Ds better" or "You can't be good psychologist UNLESS you have a Ph.D." I think that both of those are bull. If I had to choose between a professor or psychologist who worked in the field everyday, seeing clients and getting hands on experience or a psychologist who spends the majority of their time in a lab, analyzing data, I'm going to pick the former! No offense to those who enjoy research, it's just an acquired taste that I, for one, do not have. Anyways, I would actually consider myself a more compassionate person than many other people. I legitimately care about others, and would give the shirt off my back to someone in need. But, I don't think that that has anything to do with my seeking a Psy.D.

Most Ph.D. graduates are clinicians, not academic researchers. Thus, they work "in the field" just as much a Psy.Ds do. Secondly, please do not expect to go into any doctoral program and not do research. Psychology is a science. You will need to know, understand, appreciate, and even go through the research process in order to evaluate whether the treatments you are providing are actually working--it is the ethical responsibility of every psychologist to do so. If you truly want to avoid research, go into one of the non-scientific helping disciplines.

I guess that's probably an example of a psych student being "anti-compassionate" while trying to correct misunderstandings about the discipline.

 

[zzzz2]

That's a really interesting question. I am seeking a Psy.D. degree because I despise the research side of Psychology, and have never been told to not get one for "altruistic reasons." Their reasoning has been more along the lines of "Employers like Ph.Ds better" or "You can't be good psychologist UNLESS you have a Ph.D." I think that both of those are bull.

How can you despise the very component that validates the credibility of the profession, whether you are seeking a Psy.D. or Ph.D.? There is no need to love research. But if you were to pursue either degree, it is helpful to be open-minded to conducting or understanding research. And if you still despise, it is important to pretend that you care about it enough just so you can get your degree.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Research is a very important aspect of doctoral training, particularly in psychology. Anyone who isn't willing to actively learn, consume, and yes...produce (even if limited) research should look elsewhere for training.

I think many undergraduate students are mislead about the training required to be a psychologist. A cornerstone of the training involves research and statistics. They both inform our practice, they are a major component of the development and use of our assessments, and they provide the basis of the science of psychology. The "eww research" crowd really has no place in the field because you need to be able to understand what is good research (in journal articles, for instance) and what is junk. You don't have to run a research lab, but a thorough understanding and competence is required.

 

[LHDMMD]

How can you despise the very component that validates the credibility of the profession, whether you are seeking a Psy.D. or Ph.D.? There is no need to love research. But if you were to pursue either degree, it is helpful to be open-minded to conducting or understanding research. And if you still despise, it is important to pretend that you care about it enough just so you can get your degree.

Agreed. If you are getting a Psy.D. or a Ph.D. and you don't have the fundamental understanding of research and stats then how are you going to stay current in the field? Psychology is a science. You do not need to be in a doctorate level training if you do not want to do some sort of research and learn fundamental concepts.

 

[cara susanna]

The thing is that you're told "to help people" is not a good enough reason. This is because we are not the only profession that helps people. Mechanics help people, as I think T4C brings up a lot, so why not that? Nurses help people. Heck, I'm super excited to see my hairdresser at my next appointment.

Grad school is grueling and you need more than an empathic desire to help people because you will burn out otherwise. Because in our field, you can't always help people.

 

[OhHello]

If we're going to play that game, I'm guess it's fair now that I don't even address the comments that made false assumptions about me, but just tell them that they did and that they have no idea what they're talking about. Really, I think people should be held accountable when they say that kind of thing, but if it flies here, fine: You have all really built a straw man out of me to knock me down. And you've made one out of Kiara15, too.

 

[OhHello]

The thing is that you're told "to help people" is not a good enough reason. This is because we are not the only profession that helps people. Mechanics help people, as I think T4C brings up a lot, so why not that? Nurses help people. Heck, I'm super excited to see my hairdresser at my next appointment.

Grad school is grueling and you need more than an empathic desire to help people because you will burn out otherwise. Because in our field, you can't always help people.

When did I ever say, "I want to help people?" I didn't.

Because if I did, I know people on this forum would take it literally, as you do, and go, "Well, being a hairdresser is also helping people, so I don't see how that's any different from counseling people with mental illness. Problem solved, you'd serve this world just as well as a hairdresser!"

 

[erg923]

When did I ever say, "I want to help people?" I didn't.

Because if I did, I know people on this forum would take it literally, as you do, and go, "Well, being a hairdresser is also helping people, so I don't see how that's any different from counseling people with mental illness. Problem solved, you'd serve this world just as well as a hairdresser!"

If you don't like the advice you get here, then go away. I think responders have answered all the questions you have asked, and then some...(given you some much needed pragmatic advice and insight).

I think the responses to Kiara15 were appropriate and spoke a fundamental truth-Something that comes up frequently here. If you do not like the science of psychology (which is based largely on stats, research, and psychometric and behavioral theory), then you shouldn't become a part of it. A clinician without research component is not a "psychologist." Those would be masters level therapists, MFTs, etc. Some people appreciate these insights. Others cry and whine because they think we are trying to "crush their dreams." But what can you do?

 

[Kiara15]

Most Ph.D. graduates are clinicians, not academic researchers. Thus, they work "in the field" just as much a Psy.Ds do. Secondly, please do not expect to go into any doctoral program and not do research. Psychology is a science. You will need to know, understand, appreciate, and even go through the research process in order to evaluate whether the treatments you are providing are actually working--it is the ethical responsibility of every psychologist to do so. If you truly want to avoid research, go into one of the non-scientific helping disciplines.

I guess that's probably an example of a psych student being "anti-compassionate" while trying to correct misunderstandings about the discipline.

When I wrote what I wrote, I was thinking more along the lines of professors that teach on say, treating depression, but haven't seen a client in years. I had a professor like that, and she was first and foremost on my mind when I wrote what I did. I wasn't trying to say that no Ph.D candidates go on to be clinicians. In fact, I don't know what percentage of students go into each area. I was just making a simple statement.

How can you despise the very component that validates the credibility of the profession, whether you are seeking a Psy.D. or Ph.D.? There is no need to love research. But if you were to pursue either degree, it is helpful to be open-minded to conducting or understanding research. And if you still despise, it is important to pretend that you care about it enough just so you can get your degree.

CORRECTION: I despise personally conducting research. I find the process tedious and boring. However, I respect people who do it. It's simply not my cup of tea. I understand that research is an important aspect, a VITAL aspect of psychology. That's why I sucked it up and worked as a RA in undergrad. And, I will continue to suck it up because I love psychology, and I know what I want to do with my life. If there was a medication that I could get that would allow me to enjoy research, I would get it in a heartbeat, because it would save me a LOT of frustration. But until then... 🙁

 

[OhHello]

The bad thing about asking for advice on an open forum is that while you do get some people who are really cool and want to help you out, you also attract people who enjoy being critical for its own sake, and even worse, you give them the opportunity to pretend that they're doing it to help you and not to be demeaning and stroke their own egos. Basically, "Dr. Phils." And then if mention this at all, you're suddenly lambasted as being wholly ungrateful.

Don't put words people's mouths, please.

 

[OhHello]

If you don't like the advice you get here, then go away. I think responders have answered all the questions you have asked, and then some...(given you some much needed pragmatic advice and insight).

I think the responses to Kiara15 were appropriate and spoke a fundamental truth-Something that comes up frequently here. If you do not like the science of psychology (which is based largely on stats, research, and psychometric and behavioral theory), then you shouldn't become a part of it. A clinician without research component is not a "psychologist." Those would be masters level therapists, MFTs, etc. Some people appreciate these insights. Others cry and whine because they think we are trying to "crush their dreams." But what can you do?

Yeah, it's the "and then some" that I don't think was called for.

Also, a lot of the "insight" was based off false assumptions about me and my knowledge. Which would be fine if it was well-intended, but somehow I don't think it was, given the delivery.

 

[Kiara15]

Yeah, it's the "and then some" that I don't think was called for.

Also, a lot of the "insight" was based off false assumptions about me and my knowledge. Which would be fine if it was well-intended, but somehow I don't think it was, given the delivery.

I definitely agree with you. You encounter so many cool, chill people who are just here to learn and share what they know, but then others who are so focused on trying to sound superior to everyone that it's frustrating to those who are still trying to learn. I am new to this site, and even I have felt like people read SO much into one sentence, leaving me completely and totally bewildered at times. You kind of have to just ignore it, and try to be mature despite of it. Some people just don't get it, and never will.

 

[OhHello]

I definitely agree with you. You encounter so many cool, chill people who are just here to learn and share what they know, but then others who are so focused on trying to sound superior to everyone that it's frustrating to those who are still trying to learn. I am new to this site, and even I have felt like people read SO much into one sentence, leaving me completely and totally bewildered at times. You kind of have to just ignore it, and try to be mature despite of it. Some people just don't get it, and never will.

For sure.

See, now, we're sharing our unique insight. 🙂

 

[erg923]

Yeah, it's the "and then some" that I don't think was called for.

Well, sorry, but this is what happens in the real world. Especially in an academically-oriented applied profession such as clinical psychology.

You will be getting critical feedback for the next 10 years should you choose this field. And no, you wont ask for it, but people are gonna give it anyway. That's part of learning...its part of being a student. Some of the best advice you will ever get is the advice you didn't really want, and sometimes, the advice that hurts the most (ie., the "and then some" advice). This is just part of being an adult in the working world.

 

[deleted176373]

Drama, party of one, your table is ready. 😀 Compassion is not my strongest skill.

 

[Occlumentia]

OhHello, to answer your original questions: I do consider myself an empathetic person, but this is certainly not why I'm studying in this field and I don't think it's the single most important quality of psychologists. I think psychologists need to be analytical, critical (not as in "criticising" of course), scientifically-minded, as well as open-minded and compassionate. The patients who come to you for treatment can often get "just" empathy from other sources e.g. family and friends. However, I've never noticed the psychologists I know or the field in general to be "anti-empathy" either.

 

[erg923]

Drama, party of one, your table is ready. 😀 Compassion is not my strongest skill.

Do they even allow water breaks at Portsmouth...😀

 

[zzzz2]

The bad thing about asking for advice on an open forum is that while you do get some people who are really cool and want to help you out, you also attract people who enjoy being critical for its own sake, and even worse, you give them the opportunity to pretend that they're doing it to help you and not to be demeaning and stroke their own egos. Basically, "Dr. Phils." And then if mention this at all, you're suddenly lambasted as being wholly ungrateful.

Don't put words people's mouths, please.

Actually your points are very valid about people's questionable intention on an anonymous forum. But at the same time growing thicker skin and listening will carry all of us a long way.

 

[deleted176373]

Do they even allow water breaks at Portsmouth...😀

You haven't lived until you finished supervision at 730 pm on a Friday night before driving back to D.C. for the weekend. I'm lucky to see the restroom during our "lunch break" on Tuesdays.

Had my training director tell me, "you're not very busy" on one Tuesday... After reading off my schedule from that day, I asked him where he wanted me to squeeze something more in?

0800-0900 client
0900-1000 trans-rotational supervision
1000-1200 didactic
1200-1230 "intern brown bag"/aka lunch
1230-1300 Dept award presentation
1300-1400 client
1400-1500 assessment supervision
1500-1530 being told I don't have enough appts on tuesdays
1530-1600 write 2 notes
1600-1630 write questions for didactic test

From a purely theoretical standpoint, my day goes from 0800-1630. Now I get in early and leave late because there are other responsibilities as well. Compassion, not in the assessment rotation, they'll have none of that!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Sadly, I lack compassion for your situation because I regularly worked 8:00-20:00. I am not worried though.....because I have EBTs!

 

[haner2]

Something I've noticed is that psychology in general is, counter-intuitively, anti-compassion. Not just the acadamia, either. People who want PsyD's are also discouraged from doing it for altruistic reasons.

People on this forum who want PsyD's.... would you actually consider yourself to be an exceptionally compassionate person?

I feel like that should be the most important part of that job. Actually caring instead of being really good at following a dry sheet of rules, that is.

I feel that to say psychology in general is anti-compassion is too broad of a statement. I would agree with you that there are a range of opinions about compassion among different programs, but I don't think there is any particular pattern at all to which ones are more or less compassionate. It sounds like being in a program that values compassion in treatment is important to you, which you can definitely find, but I wouldn't discount entire parts of the field from your search because of that perception. In fact, I've seen some programs with a strict EBT focus that really value compassion, and some that don't. It really comes down to you researching a variety of programs to find what fits best for you.

 

[cara susanna]

When did I ever say, "I want to help people?" I didn't.

Because if I did, I know people on this forum would take it literally, as you do, and go, "Well, being a hairdresser is also helping people, so I don't see how that's any different from counseling people with mental illness. Problem solved, you'd serve this world just as well as a hairdresser!"

What else does entering the field for empathic or altruistic reasons mean?

And maybe my response is common, but what exactly do you find problematic about it? It's true, many professions help people. Why psychology, specifically? Why a PhD or PsyD, specifically? And what will keep you from burning out when you feel like you aren't helping anyone, which I guarantee you will feel like at some point in this field?

 

[IT514]

The OP raises a fair point, though I think that it would have been better received in the form of a question, rather than as a statement/observation.

If my patients relied upon my compassion, some days they would be well served and some days they would be better off not showing up. Its not for a lack of trying, and my ability to relate to patients effectively in a human way is something I work on, at times, as fervently as I work on more specific assessment and therapy skills. I know without a doubt that my training as a scientist has made me more compassionate, if being compassionate means being able to make good clinical decisions, for the good of the patient, in the face of competing emotion. This isnt the case for everyone, and folks can come out of their doctoral programs in a pretty bad mindset if not careful.

I've been fortunate to have a good group of mentors, peers, and a spouse in a similar field as I've gone through grad school to talk about issues like this. There are times when lack of compassion/character can lead to clinical errors, and times when identifying too closely with a patient can interfere with good judgment. The balance here is not achieved by compassion or science alone, but with a lot of effort into both. Bob Coles, a child psychiatrist and prof. of medical humanities at Harvard, writes a lot on this topic and its worth looking into. As neuropsych guy, I view things like character and compassion as aspects of executive functioning in its highest form - and abilities that can be increased with practice or lost with ignorance.

 

[deleted176373]

Sadly, I lack compassion for your situation because I regularly worked 8:00-20:00. I am not worried though.....because I have EBTs!

I seem to have a drawer full of them too.

Regarding the anti-compassion statement. I think IT514 above nailed it on the head, there are times where compassion (or perhaps empathy) is needed to meet the client where they are, and other times that it is counter productive. Watching Albert Ellis is a great way to drive home the point that compassion may not always be needed to achieve results.

There are multiple forms of compassion, compassion the therapist feels, compassion the patient feels, displays of compassion (which may or may not result in feelings of compassion for either the patient or the therapist.) What is needed though, is a certain level of passion for psychology in general along with a good dose of curiosity, which is far more important than raw compassion.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I prefer empathy to compassion. In my mind, empathy tends to imply an awareness and understanding of a given situation, while compassion feels more like an emotionally-focused response to a situation.

 

[psychgeek]

Being compassionate isn't our job. Our job is to provide effective treatment to our clients. I feel compassion for my clients, but this compassion does not enter into my calculus when I make clinical decisions, and I am quite certain it shouldn't. I treat my clients for their benefit; my motivation is irrelevant at best and a source of bias at worst. Compassion isn't necessary for a psychologist to do a good job.

When applicants would say they decided to go into psychology to help people in general, I often asked them, "so what happens when you encounter a client you do not wish to help? Does Jeffery Dahmer get your best treatment efforts or are those reserved only for the worthy?" If compassion is the reason you do this job, then it follows that those who do not evoke compassion provide you with no reason to treat them.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

As someone who trained almost exclusively with highly treatment resistant populations (psychotic, ODD/anti-social, eating disorders, hardcore substance abuse, etc), you get that "I want to help people" beaten out of you in the first month. You can eventually develop a more realistic (and I'd argue...healthier) approach to treatment, but it takes some time. I'd rather get knocked around during training than walk face-first into a case that was doomed to fail from day one.

 

[terrybug]

I'm usually not one to fit things into the medical model, but OP, really it's like you're saying medical doctors lack compassion because they sometimes administer medication in the form of shots - and shots hurt. That's just mashing the person and the treatment into one thing. It's silly. If there was a gentler way to get a local anesthetic into part of a body, etc. I'm sure dr.s would do it. Not providing local anesthetic before doing some surgery - in order to look compassionate - would be sadistic and counterproductive.

 

[Wolfy2449]

Personal opinion: Altruism, compassion, being good are just ideas, ideas that are there to make you feel better about yourself because you are doing something that most people believe is correct, good(I am sure there is a capitalistic profit side here just like in any society enforced ideal but thats off-topic xD).

Now being "good", helping people makes you feel better about yourself mainly since every time someone helps someone the person who helped feels better about himself because he thinks he is doing the correct thing(Sadly many people believe correct=what society says and not correct=What experience,logic and knowledge say after some thinking) and that is not really altruism when there is a reward at the end. I wonder how many people would help others if society or culture said is wrong and immoral to do that

Now because i see that i simply refuse to feel better for anything i havent achieved or done because that would probably make me have somekind of big ego that is full of empty air.
Thats why you wont see me running around saying i am compassionate/good/"insert society influenced ideal" so i can feel better for myself, since i dont see much of a purpose in that, maybe many psychologist do care and are compassionate but simply dont see any genuine reason saying or showing that they are.

Plus being too compassionate could influence your behavior which in turns could influence your patients behavior

 

[audchik]

I think people go into the field for various reasons but I think there are 2 major reasons for originally being drawn to psychology. For the science/research and/or to "help" people (i.e. compassion). In order to be the best clinician possible I think you need compassion because it can be a driving force behind why you are trying so hard to help and it can help you encorporate certain subtleties that science does not address.

Not sure what you mean about PsyDs being encouraged not to go into the field to help people but maybe people who say that are referring to the point that psychology, being a science, does not revolve around kumbaya and "let's hold hands and cry together because I can feel your pain". If you are going into it completely to help people, without using a scientific model to do it, it's no longer psychology, is it?

 

[wigflip]

psychology, being a science, does not revolve around kumbaya and "let's hold hands and cry together because I can feel your pain". If you are going into it completely to help people, without using a scientific model to do it, it's no longer psychology, is it?

Oh my god! When I told same-age peers I was a psych major (I waited a decade after high school to get my BA) they thought it was just like that--a bunch of hippie women sitting in a circle, wearing long, comfy peach-colored flowery dresses and chunky jewelry. Lots of hugs and the occasional good cry. What we got instead was, Welcome to the Rat Choppers Club. Actually, my neuroscience class was one of the warm-and-fuzziest--prof brought his dog to class (a classic student evaluation-boosting move).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

What we got instead was, Welcome to the Rat Choppers Club. Actually, my neuroscience class was one of the warm-and-fuzziest--prof brought his dog to class (a classic student evaluation-boosting move).

I've always been bummed I didn't get a chance to do animal studies before/during my training. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a lab that is running an interesting study.

 

[futureapppsy2]

While I agree compassion can be a helpful--and perhaps necessary to some degree(?)--component of clinical work, I've also seen situations where having "too much" compassion backfired and led to serious boundary issues (in terms of forming potentially unhealthy dual relationships).

 

[LHDMMD]

What we got instead was, Welcome to the Rat Choppers Club. Actually, my neuroscience class was one of the warm-and-fuzziest--prof brought his dog to class (a classic student evaluation-boosting move).

Rat Choppers Club =🙁

Bringing dog to class =👍

 

[wigflip]

I've always been bummed I didn't get a chance to do animal studies before/during my training. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a lab that is running an interesting study.

My friend did rat surgery. You could smell the rats when you were on the stairwell. On the other hand, there was a small daycare center in the psych building lobby. One day I was sitting in the student lounge and zoom! Ack--rat escape! I looked again and it was a bunny rabbit--made a dash out of the day care. I brought it back and they showed me how the bunny would hop up the stairs to the kiddie slide so it could slide down. Seemed to love it.

TFC--just for you:
http://iheartguts.com/kidney

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

TFC--just for you:
http://iheartguts.com/kidney

I've seen the stuffed animals, but I never realized the story behind them....awesome!

 

[ClinicalABA]

I've always been bummed I didn't get a chance to do animal studies before/during my training. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a lab that is running an interesting study.

I did some animal studies (learning labs) as part of my training, and I am not afraid to admit that I had more compassion for the bar pressing rats than I have had for some of the sex offenders that I have worked with. While I found their (some of the sex offenders, not the rats) behaviors repulsive and disgusting (e.g. I had no compassion for them), I was still able to help them identify and work towards appropriate treatment goals. I have had other clients (as I'm sure many of you have had) who I did not think were nice people, but you still do your job. This is not an unusual experience for a psychologist.

In regards to be discouraged from pursuing a doctoral degree for altruistic reasons- If wanting to help others with no personal gain to yourself (e.g. altruism) was your sole reason for wanting to get the Psy.D., then I think it would be fair for someone to suggest that you really look into what the degree program and work of a doctoral level clinical psychologist entails to be sure that it's what you really think it is and it will meet your needs (e.g. "educate yourself"). Let's assume, however, that you had done that and had a more detailed understanding of the training and work and the "altruistic reasons" were only one component of why you wanted to pursue the Psy.D. In this case, anyone discouraging you from pursuing the degree because "altruism" was one of many reasons was being a little harsh. Therapist should be helping people- while a strong desire to do so may not necessary correlate with better outcomes for your clients, I'm not aware that it is associated with worse outcomes.