In Paul Wachtel's book 'Therapeutic Communication', he deals with this controversy by referring to the Latin roots of the terms 'client' and 'patient'. The root meaning of client in Latin is "one who depends"; the root meaning of patient in Latin is "one who suffers".
People come to me because they suffer, and my job is to work with them, to help them heal and have a better experience of their lives, and to be autonomous. That's the antithesis of dependent. Business people have clients, whose accounts they service. I treat my patients by first acknowledging their suffering, and that relationship has en ethical dimension that includes a duty to care that far exceeds a commercial transaction.
The 'patient' paradigm works well in another very important sense: For many, the idea of needing psychotherapy is extremely stigmatizing, and the behaviors manifested by various pathology are often seen and experienced by those that suffer through the prism of morality. (e.g.,"I'm a bad person because I did bad things"). When re-framed (in mental health terms) as "one who suffers (e.g., "I'm sick and I need some help"), it becomes much easier to skirt the stigmatizing effects of 'bad/defective/damaged'. No one feels bad about getting help for their medical health needs, and the same should be true for mental health.
Kit K - 9 years ago
I agree with the blog that it may be different for medical practitioners than for therapists or psychologists. I am responsible for evaluating and monitoring the person's medical status, in addition to treating mental health issues with meds and a bit of therapy. (I usually refer out for ongoing therapy.)
Jan Noble - 9 years ago
The term client does imply a collaboration between helper and helpee that is important to the process of healing. Therapists don't fix people.
In Paul Wachtel's book 'Therapeutic Communication', he deals with this controversy by referring to the Latin roots of the terms 'client' and 'patient'. The root meaning of client in Latin is "one who depends"; the root meaning of patient in Latin is "one who suffers".
People come to me because they suffer, and my job is to work with them, to help them heal and have a better experience of their lives, and to be autonomous. That's the antithesis of dependent. Business people have clients, whose accounts they service. I treat my patients by first acknowledging their suffering, and that relationship has en ethical dimension that includes a duty to care that far exceeds a commercial transaction.
The 'patient' paradigm works well in another very important sense: For many, the idea of needing psychotherapy is extremely stigmatizing, and the behaviors manifested by various pathology are often seen and experienced by those that suffer through the prism of morality. (e.g.,"I'm a bad person because I did bad things"). When re-framed (in mental health terms) as "one who suffers (e.g., "I'm sick and I need some help"), it becomes much easier to skirt the stigmatizing effects of 'bad/defective/damaged'. No one feels bad about getting help for their medical health needs, and the same should be true for mental health.
I agree with the blog that it may be different for medical practitioners than for therapists or psychologists. I am responsible for evaluating and monitoring the person's medical status, in addition to treating mental health issues with meds and a bit of therapy. (I usually refer out for ongoing therapy.)
The term client does imply a collaboration between helper and helpee that is important to the process of healing. Therapists don't fix people.