The therapist will "fix" me.
The responsibility for authentic personal change and growth lies primarily with the client. The therapist's primary role is to facilitate the client's intimate examination of himself. Contrary to popular misunderstanding, there are no clear and simple psychological diagnoses. To say that someone is "depressed," "obsessive," etc., does little more than describe the symptoms with which he or she is currently suffering. The client must work closely with the therapist to understand how certain personality patterns were developed, and learn to directly and realistically change those patterns when appropriate. Working with a counselor can be compared to working with a physical trainer. Although that trainer can provide an inspirational structure for change, helping the client to identify specific goals and assess bad habits, it is always up to the client to make use of these tools in the most effective way. If psychotherapy is to produce lasting growth and significant changes, there must be a genuinely cooperative focus and dedication to change shared by both therapist and client.
