Week One Case Study Assignment

For this assignment first review Chapter One: Valuing the Person of the Psychotherapist, in Norcross, J.C., & Guy, J. D. Jr. (2007). Leaving it at the office: A guide to psychotherapist self-care.

Then, review the video and biographical data of the presenter below:

Why I Quit Being a Therapist — Six Reasons by Daniel Mackler (30:43)

He was a psychotherapist (LCSW) in New York for ten years and then ended therapy practice. He touches on reasons including: mental health system, the unscientific nature of diagnosis and psychiatric medications, the stress of working with traumatized clients, vicarious trauma in the therapist, payments and insurance companies, the exhausting nature of the work, the heavy responsibility, and professional liability.

Instructions:

Write a two-page reflection where you indicate among other factors the following:

• What could this person have done differently to improve his physical/emotional/mental health functioning?
• If you were in his position, what would you have done differently to improve your functioning?
• Do you think that therapists practicing today have some of the same problems discussed in the video?