Therapist.

It’s a generic term. A word that may refer to any of the following: pastoral counselor, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, priest, life coach, or mental health consultant.

Therapist does a number of things to help heal. Interprets. Reflects. Confronts. Challenges. Comforts. Role plays. Whatever he or she does, including the techniques etc, they’re geared towards helping someone come out different.

More than what he or she does, a foremost element of change and healing is the therapist’s “presence.” It’s who he or she is, regardless of his or her theoretical allegiances, that makes the main difference in a mind and soul in torment.

Psychotherapist/author Dr. Rollo May speaks of presence as a “complete experiencing of the patient’s being–not of his symptoms or problems but of his essence.” A therapist who is wise, loving, sincere, or inspirational comes fully prepared to enter a patient’s world.

Therapist and patient or client are partners in a life journey.