I frequent many types of news media with various topics of interests, and one really stopped me in my tracks. In fact, it's been like walking with a pebble in my shoe since reading it.

I'm not big on therapy per se, hence I would have gone that route professionally. Due to the totality of the industry itself the patient can lie to the therapist, and the therapist can and will do as he/she intended when he/she obtained the license. Truth be known, a human being cannot change their personality, nor have the power to control another human being, yet one can influence another.

If you read the linked article above you would have learned the psychiatrist who proclaimed he was "taught talk therapy" also blames his choice of moneygrubbing to accommodate his lifestyle and foreseeable quality of retirement over the real issue of compassion and empathy toward the well being of others.

He was juxtaposed by a nearby colleague, yet he and his wife jointly and actively chose selfishness and money with the ever reoccurring theme that reverberates endlessly in my head... of those whom have a... 'disregard toward human beings'. Many people have this propensity for moneygrubbing, instant and self gratification, and are dis-compassionate toward the lives of others. Yet admittedly and in detail, he and his wife put in long hours, she schedules short blocks of time for patients to sit (not long enough to warm the chair), no time to talk, no time to waste, or he's late, he's late, he's late.... it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland.

Some want to talk and need to talk, but not many people know how, care, or know what it takes to be active listeners; others have a limited threshold, and snap. Others don't want to talk because they prefer a pill to make them "feeeeeeel" better. Become the by-product of a pill that effects the brain... is how I perceive some of those medications. I've witnessed some seriously dangerous side effects, as general practitioners also play the role as therapists. And to think, it's not proven that psychiatrists are any better than psychologists or social workers.

Back to the 'yay-who' ~ (phonetically speaking...) Without talking at length to his patients, the man in the aforementioned article has reduced himself to a self-righteous, justifying prescription drug dealer, potentially leaving people in "wonderland", seeking a quality of life he may not ever live to see, and has the audacity to blame his hap-hazardous dealings with human beings... on insurance. He silently confirms, his motivation all along.

It is my belief, each of us have a need to examine ourselves and get out of our preconceived notions of what we 'think' is a "comfort zone" in this journey called "life". Not one thing is linear, yet very few are willing to make a conscious "CHANGE". From a therapeutic standpoint, that is precisely when the patient typically bolts or flees. It's human nature to take the path of least resistance, but that doesn't make it the LEAST BIT beneficial for anyone.

As a result, too many seek some sort of escape route that lacks truth, reality, and the endurance of hardships. It's a crucial part of life to experience the stages of emotional pain, struggle, and work ones way through it. How else does one know good times if one refuses to experience the bad...??? And if one doesn't learn from his or her experiences or mistakes, understand or comprehend one's own experiences, and the underlying purposes... then that individual is left with blinders on, or worse yet... seeing life through a "keyhole".

Life unaware... has no depth or meaning, nor does it allow one to empathize with others. It's all selfishness. Selfishness harms self and everyone around that self absorbed person, because their choices are typically neglectful of those around them, and they seek to please their own self. The selfish live by their imaginations with preconceived notions, faulty thinking and deceptive perceptions.... a con game. IF one is really blinded by the backside of their own cornea... that individual will 'revise history' to convenience their own imagination, twist the words of another, and forget the truth or issues at hand, and treat others like objects.

Note: All human beings are selfish to some degree.

Busyness is a huge escape and goes unmentioned. Stay busy enough and one will miss all our God-given life has to offer. Perhaps it's time to 'get the sequoia out of our heads' (it's surpassed our eyes), so we can see the truth, and stop splitting hairs in the lives of others to make a difference with patience and resolve.

Finally, ponder on this... IF you could leave ONE message on your tombstone, monument, gravestone, headstone, etc. ULTIMATELY.... For what would you like to be remembered the VERY most...???

Truly,

Kathy Pledger, MA, PNC

Managing Director/Editor & Co-founder