PSYCHOanalysis

So yesterday I called a good FRIEND (emphasis on the word friend because I don't call too many people that) of mine while I was chilling with a mutual friend watching football. We were sitting around joking, laughing, having a good time like we always do when we converse. In the midst of the conversation she tells me how her boyfriend/boo/whatever he is told her that I'm a bad influence on her and that I use my degrees on her. (For those that don't know I have a bachelors in psychology and a masters and ed specialist in counseling). Both my homeboy and I immediately burst out laughing (he's also working on his masters in the field and has been told the same thing), and let me tell you why.

First, practicing on friends, family, or even people that you know period is unethical and goes  against any moral code of psychologists, counselors/therapists, social workers, etc. That was one of the first things that we were taught in school. Second, AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! I spend all day at work providing counseling and case management services to my clients who have 50-11 issues. When I get off work I'm DONE being captain save-a-chick! Plus, I spent 3 years in undergrad, 2 years in grad school, and amounted a nice sum in student loans to be out here practicing for free .99 on my friends. If I'm "using my degrees" please believe I'm getting paid for it so that I can pay back Sallie Mae with her bitch ass (but that's another rant). Don't get me wrong, I'm a caring and compassionate person, and I'm always there when my friends need me for whatever they need me for. But, if there problems require therapeutic intervention I will refer them to someone who can help them, or simply suggest that they need to go see a counselor for their problems.

So, I decided to create a list for all of you people who think that mental health providers "use their degrees" on their friends of the things that we DON'T do with our friends or significant others.

1) We don't psychoanalyze our friends. If you knew how much we got paid or could get paid for a psychoanalytical assessment then you'd politely shut the fuck up with this one.

2) We don't play "mind games". I'm too old to play games for starters, and I'm not trying to figure my friends out. I'm just trying to enjoy life and bring a few people along for the ride.

3) While we MAY give our friends our opinions or advice, we don't provide counseling to them (or at least we're not supposed to). Advice is cool for the friends but not for the clients, and counseling is cool for the clients and not for the friends. You can come to me with your problem and I'm going to listen and give you my opinion on it. But, if I feel that it is extending into the scope of me having to provide services I'm gonna tell you to seek help, and I ain't it!

Anyway, I'm done with this rant. Its time for me to get dressed for work so I can use my degrees and get paid for it for the next few hours.