Madam, - In an article by Nadine O'Regan in the Health Supplement of July 19th, psychiatrist Patricia Casey says clearly: "Therapy can make people believe they have a problem that is, in fact part of a normal reaction."
She outlines the circumstances when she believes "it's appropriate to be distressed".
I would like to reassure both your readers and Dr Casey on the following points:
Counsellors and psychotherapists do not look for a "clinical indication" when a person seeks help, and work with peoples' unhappiness and pain without deciding whether this is "appropriate" or not.
Counsellors and psychotherapists do not seek to "pathologise" normal reactions to life events, and the suggestion that therapy might be used as a panacea for these shows a fundamental lack of understanding of how it can prove effective.
Counsellors and psychotherapists do not have access to the "magic pills or potions" referred to by Dr Casey, nor do they wish for these.
On the contrary, we work daily with peoples emotional responses to distress, and do not deny or suppress these.
I think it is sad that the helping professions cannot work together for the good of those who need help, building on the elements they hold in common and sharing expertise, instead of scoring points and trying to undermine other disciplines. - Yours, etc,
URSULA O'FARRELL,
B.A.Econ.Sc.,Dip.Psych.,
MIACP.,
South Hill Park,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.