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Psychologists Have Learned These 23 Shocking Things From Listening To Peoples’ Problems

18.

Most people would rather talk about what’s wrong than do anything about it. This isn’t meant as disrespect against my clients, but the reality is that maybe 2-3 out of 10 will actually follow through on actions that will lead to higher life satisfaction. Of those 2-3, over 95% will see improvement, and around half will see dramatic and rapid improvement. In other words, therapy is not about finding answers, it’s about finding motivation.

19.

I had one client who adamantly believed that happiness is a choice, and lived by this belief. This client really changed my outlook on my own life, and I find myself stressing less about small stuff that doesn’t matter in the long run. I also don’t let the choices of others have as much of a negative impact on my own mood as they have in the past, which was a huge struggle of my own. This, of course, is not always going to be an option for everyone all the time, especially for those who suffer from clinical anxiety, depression, and the like. This was a high functioning client who had a fairly good handle on things so it worked well for them. It was really an excellent reminder that our clients aren’t just there to learn from us and our guidance, but we learn so much from them as well.

20.

The people with the highest highs often have the lowest lows.

Written by Laura McNairy

Laura is a freelance writer for TFLN. She likes to write about what she knows best — dating, sex, and being awkward, but usually in the opposite order. She is the Assistant Editor and videographer for Peach Fuzz, a sex-positive nudie magazine in ATX.