I need to go to therapy, but… What to choose? A psychologist or a psychologist? This may be quite a triviality, but the truth is that, for many, the issue of attending with a male psychologist or a female psychologist determines the degree of confidence and security that they will surely experience at the time of the therapeutic session. Therefore, some spend a good deal of time selecting the psychologist who, in some way, feels more attracted to go to their first psychological consultation.
This happens especially in the case of women, since they feel that, by sharing their experiences with a woman, it will be easier to generate empathy and understanding, than if they went to therapy with a male psychologist. But, there is also a part of the male population that feels more comfortable with male psychologists, because they feel that they can be more frank and discuss more intimate issues without feeling ashamed.
So, regardless of their degree of professionalism, the sex of therapists is a factor that influences when going to therapy and in this article we explain why.
Why the gender of psychologists influences when going to therapy?
There are a couple of myths and beliefs at this point, which determine the preferences of patients when choosing the ideal psychologist to attend a consultation. The negative point of this is that this also becomes a decisive factor for not attending the consultation again if you have a bad experience.
One of those myths is that women are more empathic by nature and are more delicate, thus giving future patients a feeling of home warmth. Which, although it is not entirely wrong, men are also empathetic and delicacy in consultation occurs with any therapist, whether male or female, because the important thing is to make the patient feel safe and find a functional solution to their conflict.
Myths of the preference to the therapist (woman)
- Another myth that makes patients prefer female psychologists is precisely the rudeness of men, that is, they are too direct or not very sensitive, which is also wrong. It must be taken into account that psychologists are not friends of our patients and there are times during the intervention when it is necessary to confront our patients and challenge them to take charge of their problems.
- A third myth that is found in both parties, is emotional attachment or as it is known in psychoanalysis, transference and countertransference. What do I mean? To the idea that patients become romantically involved with their therapists and/or vice versa.
- Which can happen, if the therapist does not set limits with his patient and strays from his main goal in therapy. This happens at such a low level that it is not considered a possibility of occurrence.
Who has a better success rate: male psychologists or female psychologists?
There are some rumors that male psychologists are more successful treating mental illness, while women are better at dealing with regular cases. Which is absolutely false. Both therapists have equal success rates both in the field of psychiatric disorders and regular conflict interventions.
Men and women psychologists are trained in the same way, we both learn to empathize with our patients, to be respectful and delicate with their cases, to dedicate ourselves to finding a viable solution to solve it and to be direct with them when required. But more importantly, to establish a professional relationship with patients, setting limits on sentimental involvement.
What to choose then? A psychologist or a psychologist?
- In my personal experience I have treated both men and women, children and adolescents and they are all the same patient for me. Whereas, on the other side of the desk (as a patient) I had a not-so-good experience with my first female therapist, but later recovered with a second therapist and also had a couple of sessions with an excellent male therapist.
- What people should focus on, to choose the ideal psychologist, is that he or she is a specialist in the problem you want to deal with, that they have experience in their field and that they offer you all the necessary basic information when consulting them for the first time.
- So, do not hold back or hesitate to attend therapy with a specialist of the opposite sex, just because they are of the opposite sex, remember that we are all professionals, but if you do not feel comfortable, then speak up and move on with another therapist.