Do therapists really care?

Hey I was wondering what everyone's experiences were like with their therapists and if you think they really care? I have such a dependency on mine and often wonder if she goes home and just really dislikes having me as a client. She's said to me she cares for my welfare but to me that doesn't really mean she cares as a person just as more of a professional obligation. I've met a few other psychologists socially and they have differing views. One said she wouldn't work with people unless she cared about them because you need to be caring to understand what they are going through. The other said, she goes home each day and people don't effect her at all because she's just there to listen and she has developed the ability to have that distance between therapist and client. What does everyone else think?

I imagine they care on some level, but we're not their friend. They see us on a professional basis. So, i'm sure they care, but it's somewhat generic and not all that significant.

I guess in order to take on this kind of profession you'd have to have a desire to help people, so I guess they do care in a generic way but I'm not sure if they care about each person individually. They just see you as a problem and get satisfaction out of finding solutions.

I had a psychologist who I thought cared as she seemed that way in our sessions, but she was quick to let me go when my insurance ran out. I think if she really cared she'd consider seeing me without pay. That might sound cheeky, but they earn so much money from what they do, it wouldn't be such a big thing for them to offer some sessions free of charge to people who really need it but can't afford it. Especially someone who is already a patient. I also contacted her once by email after I stopped seeing her telling her I was still struggling and mentioned something about trying to scrape some money together to see her again. I also said I'd received a bill from the insurance company so wasn't sure if she'd been paid. She responded just saying to let her know when I wanted to see her and that no, she hadn't received the money and asked me to call the insurance company. I left it to her to sort out getting payment from the insurance company! As selfish as it might sound, I felt pretty crap about just being left in limbo with no help and resolutions when I had to stop seeing her so I didn't care much whether or not she got paid. It's all about money and it makes me angry. Only those with money can really get the help they need...how crap is that?!

So anyway, I think they only care as long as they're getting paid for it. Do they REALLY need to charge £100 upwards an hour? How many people can even afford to pay that? I reckon if they really cared they wouldn't charge that much but because there's a high demand they can charge whatever they like.

I have run into this lately when thinking about hiring a therapist. At this point I don't feel like I should have to pay someone to listen to me. I had a therapist who cared, she cared too much and crossed boundaries. After our therapeutic relationship was over we continued on in a friendship for about 6 more years. I finally had to cut ties with her last year as she could not give to the friendship and I needed to close that door in my life. She could not terminate the therapy and still could not terminate a friendship so I had to do it. You are not alone

I suppose in the beginning they choose a career that they are being paid to care for but like any job they probably become jaded and over it and just do it to make money and live.

Some would care all the way through but depends on our views too. Its a two way street. I have had some crappy doctors and some genuine and better ones.

My therapist has told me she cares about me "on a personal level", and once told me I'm her favourite client and she really looks forward to our sessions. She even hugs me when I leave. I don't think that's typical, but I think once a therapist gets to know you, they do care on some level.

flowingtears wrote:My therapist has told me she cares about me "on a personal level", and once told me I'm her favourite client and she really looks forward to our sessions. She even hugs me when I leave. I don't think that's typical, but I think once a therapist gets to know you, they do care on some level.

That is really nice though. It feels rare to find a psych that is that dedicated to their client on a personal and professional level. At least you know you have a stronger supportive network and can put trust and hope in her.
Some therapists do care, others sadly do not or just in it for the business. They have some unprofessional views on patients with personality disorders or believe the stigma behind borderline patients themselves which is also harder on us as patients.
We have a right to be cared for, helped and be able to trust our professionals that we go to for help. We are relying on it at times. All patients deserve and have a right to be cared for and helped.