Dear Therapist:

Is there a benefit to using therapy just for accountability? I pretty much know what I need to do but I push things off a bit and I find that it helps for me to have someone that I check in with weekly to keep me on my game. I have done therapy in the past for deeper issues but I feel like at this point it's more about taking action. I am considering resuming therapy but mostly just for the goal of being accountable to someone. Putting aside the cost, is this something you would recommend and that therapists can do? Thank you. 

Response:

Therapists can fill multiple roles. There are therapists who specialize in a particular therapeutic modality (like psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy, and others). There are also therapists who practice eclectically, drawing from various forms of therapy as appropriate.

From a simplistic standpoint, I could make the argument that a behavioral therapist would be best suited for your needs. You know what you need to do, and you simply want to be held accountable. A behavioral therapist would be keyed in to this. (If this is the sole need for a therapist, though, I wonder whether a coach, rabbi, or friend might fill this need.)

However, I could also make the case that there may be a thought component that is keeping you from following through with things that you know you should be doing. For help identifying automatic thoughts, inaccurate assumptions, and the like, a cognitive-behavioral therapist would seem like a good choice.

If we consider problematic thought processes as a possible factor, though, why would we not want to account for underlying issues (perhaps with a psychoanalyst). What if your lack of follow-through is related to issues like general feelings of under fulfillment? Should you consider a humanistic approach? Is your problem perhaps due to trouble maintaining emphasis on needs, issues, and goals? Maybe a mindfulness therapist could help. I could make a similar case for many other therapeutic modalities.

A good eclectic therapist has expertise in many forms of therapy, and can help you to consider aspects of your issues that may not be apparent. Of course, any therapist should defer to their client. The therapist is there to help the client achieve the client’s goals. However, if you want a more comprehensive evaluation, an eclectic therapist can be a good choice.

-Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW

  psychotherapist in private practice

  Woodmere, NY

  adjunct professor at Touro University

  Graduate School of Social Work

  author of Self-Esteem: A Primer

  www.ylcsw.com / 516-218-4200

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