Couch Talk (or … everything I learned, I learned from my patients … and Oprah!) by Ora Frankel
People are often intrigued by the idea that I’m a psychiatrist.
“Are you going to analyze me?”
“Do you know what I’m thinking?”
Or my favorite, “I bet you know a lot of secrets?”
The answers are no, no and well. .. yes, but I’m not talking.
So what is it that I really do?
Well, I listen … and I imagine what it’s like to be that person. And I remember what Oprah once said…”People need to be seen and heard.” Because let’s face it, most of us can remember a time when we felt invisible, and we all want a chance to be heard. But most importantly, I learn from everyone that I speak to. And instead of wanting to judge people, I have learned to respect them, and value their wisdom.
What I love most about being a psychiatrist is that feeling of discovering a pearl of wisdom, a nugget of experience, that flash of an aha moment… Because just when you think you’ve hear it all, someone shares something precious that life has taught them, and you just can’t wait to share…
So here’s what I heard today:
“Solitude is not the same as loneliness”
What do you think?
by Ora Frankel
More Couch Talk…
