From the mouth of actor Viggo Mortensen and The Daily Beast
“The idea of confession without judgment and helping through love–love being listening–is essentially what both Jung and Freud were talking about,” he continued. “And whether it’s a psychoanalyst, a director, a parent, or a friend who listens, that’s one of the greatest gifts you can give. To just listen.”
I like what Dr. Dan Fisher (MD, PhD) has to say about the value of a good friend in recovery.
I think if people who were deeply suffering emotionally (whatever diagnostic labels that entails) had one, just ONE person who listened… really listened to what they were going through, we could get rid of this stuff we call “severe mental illness”.
And I don’t think that person needs to be a mental health “professional” (whatever that means).
Duane
It seems simple, to just listen, and yet so many of us have our “agendas” that we push on another person. As you say, you don’t need to be a mental health professional. A caring friend or relative is even better.
“A caring friend or relative is even better.”
Ditto.
Duane