You'll Be In Over Your Head If You Try To Play Psychotherapist

Many people have friends or family who struggle with mental health issues, such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Bi-Polar disorder, just to name a few.  And lots of people with these types of issues find it to be therapeutic to express how they feel to others, such as yourself.


However, while being a good listener can help them, you have to realize not to get in over your head while trying to help people with mental illness.


You have to realize that if you try to give too much advice, if you try to play psychotherapist, it can actually make matters worse, as you have to be educated enough to know that you're not educated enough to play therapist (unless you actually are one, of course).


For example, if you're trying to help someone with an eating disorder, you have to know what to say and when to say it.  So if you're not highly trained and experienced like good therapists are, you could actually make things worse for them.


I'm not saying that you should never give advice to someone with mental illness who you're trying to help.  But know your limits.  Trying to play therapist should be left up to those who actually are therapists.