Jeffrey Kottler

Over the last century, there have been a handful of world events that have forever altered the nature of healthcare, particularly related to emotional and psychological difficulties

The number of “shell-shocked” veterans of World War I and “battle fatigue” conditions of World War II resulted in the first diagnoses and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, civil wars, terrorism, mass shootings, crime sprees, economic depressions, increased unemployment, racism, and especially pandemics and health threats have been known to significantly increase mental health problems

There are many healers among the indigenous people of the world who would find it utterly ridiculous that anyone would ever choose to become a therapist

therapist is truly a lifelong journey, one in which we accompany others on a road toward enlightenment or peace or salvation. It is a journey into the unknown with many obstacles along the way. Like any journey, there are not only hardships

For most of us, our journey to become therapists began not with the urge to save the world or help people, but rather to save ourselves

Many of the motives for becoming a therapist are unconscious and even beyond the reach of supervision or personal therapy that may have skirted over such unresolved or disguised issues.

Another motive for becoming a therapist relates to feeling a greater sense of power and control, not only over others but also over yourself

was motivated largely by the resolution to work through their own problems

understand themselves more fully and feel understood by others

Lock a person, any person, in a room alone with Sigmund Freud, Carl Rogers, Fritz Perls, Alfred Adler, Virginia Satir, Albert Ellis, or any other formidable personality, and several hours later the client will come out different.