operalover,

I agree 100%. The hard part is finding enough qualified, educated therapists who are knowledgable regarding psychopaths. A lot of therapists are not, and have and will continue to diagnois the psychopathic client innapropriately with many other types of mental illnesses, addicions, phobia's, etc., still falling short of actually diagnoising psychopath.

It is easier to diagnois an alcoholic, drug addict, sex addict, gambling addict, etc. as they will say things like "I drink too much, use drugs, run around on my spouse, gambled away the savings," thereby making it somewhat easier to determine the problem.

A psychopath will never go into therapy and say, "I lie once in a while. In fact, I just lied about saying it was only once in a while." I do not believe any good therapist can help anyone who is an admitted liar.

I have read that is why there is not P.A. (Psychopaths Anonymous), they would just go there and out lie each other. It would all be a waste of time.

Even to study them would be a difficult task. The side they would present would allow for little to be learned. It seems that those who have lived with them are the experts. Unfortunately, most of us probably do not have a degree allowing us to use our experience as valid research.

I thought the psychiatrist treating my ex p from December 2000 to about April 2001 was a Godsend. I thought this Doctor was great. I understood that he was trying to diagnois the p and was in a hit and miss stage, but on the right track. Sadly, for him no doubt, and me, the p stopped going.

As for the p's behavior while going? Worse. Much worse. What led him to help to begin with was the "alleged" gambling addiction. The "head trauma", unexplained. The "hot checks." After 4 months of treatment, regularly, the p was more enraged, claimed hatred for his father (who he had idolized our entire marriage), escalated his check writing from bad checks to the checks on the closed account. His lies, oh God, I shudder to think of that! The lies as I said on another post were being told at the speed of light!

So yes, I feel that the good psychiatrist had hoped that the p would continue to be a client. He would have eventually, I believe was very close already, have diagnoised him as a p. I also believe my ex knew this also. That is why he stopped going. Not really because he learned to be worse by therapy, but because he would rather die than be found out.
He had to stop going, it was all closing in on him. He knew something was terribly wrong with him (the one truthful thing he admitted to me). What he did not want to know, or for it to be documented in any way, was that what was "wrong" with him is that he IS a psychopath.

Yes, help victims, educate the public, prevention. All very neccessary, an urgent need without a doubt. The only way this can be done, truthfully, honestly and accurately is to take into consideration all the stories of the victims.

The victims have to speak out for psychopaths to ever be "studied." We know. We saw. We experienced. We suffered. We are the only ones who know what it is they need to study. Our voices, accumulative, can help with all the steps you have mentioned.

The psychopath would be of no help at all. As usual.

Laura

operalover,

Yes, checklist done regarding prisoners. But is it not possible to add some things to the list, from experience with those p's not in prison? I would think that those p's may even have more ability to hide behind a facade then those in prison. Was it Bundy that said, "there are far better psychopaths than I," meaning the one's who did not get caught?

As for profiling, yes, I know about that. Very interesting too, as it enables law enforcement to find a criminal before they hurt someone else. Sadly, to me, all psychopaths that do not murder others, those that kill hopes and dreams, do it in the same manner, the same tactics, the same behaviors.
Its like, okay, now we know what a psychopath is. We know what they do and how they get by with it. So where will we go from here? We have the research, we know the answers. Now how are we going to change it? How are we going to solve the problem and alleviate any more psychopath destruction and pain?

In a nutshell, the p is a con artist, a liar, a sweet talker, a actor, a fake. We know. So where do we go from here? Will all the research, all the victims stories, all of it lead us to a place that the entire world knows what to look for? When we reach that point, it will all have been worth it. Right now it seems the most interest in psychopaths is coming from the victims. We already have been there, done that.

I guess I would not look up any information about say, artificial insemination, unless I was interested in it. If I was, then I would want to learn all I could about it.

So how, oh how, is all the information we can muster together about psychopaths help other potential victims, if they have no interest in knowing about them? And yet, they are all in grave danger of meeting, working with, loving, marrying one. Then we will see them here. After its done and over.

Prevent psychopathy. Yes, better upbringing for the children. Intervention earlier for the conduct disordered.
In the meantime, these children are growing up, the teenage prespective psychopaths are almost adults and we are going to be running amuk with more psychopaths than we have right now. Is there a quick fix? No. But I still strongly believe that the best fix is to make psychopath a household word. Something to be feared.

If all potential victims know a psychopath totally and aren't trying to just guess if they are one, understand it completely, then that will be the best prevention anyone can hope for. Then we will just have the aftermath of those already effected to deal with, and of course the children that may grow into one.

This is all my opinion and I'm pretty tired. I'm not in anyway disagreeing with yours. I just get riled up about the world knowing about psychopaths and rack my brain out a lot trying to make it happen.

Laura

OL,
Could you elaborate a little more on your theory of codependency and how it can color decision making and prevent seeing red flags? Thanks

Please move any discussion that isn't about "Therapy and the Effects - regarding Psychopaths" to the General Discussion area.

Thanks,

Shunyata
(member)
09/29/04 07:15 PM

How Therapy Affects Psychopathic Behavior

I just read that therapy may cause the psychopath to act again......is there any hope for this disorder?

Poster: geteven
Subject: Re: help for p's

what if psycho becomes a patient to a therapist. are they going to be enabled or is there a chance for help for them. in other words, do they seek help.

Hi geteven, you might read this thread, it is a great question you are asking and more input from others who might have missed it would be interesting.

Di

They don't self reflect, and don't believe there is anything wrong with them, so I can't imagine one seeking out therapy on their own.

My P agreed to meet with my therapist with me a couple of times. He sat there and lied to her more than he lied to me. Totally shameless! It was just part of the manipulation game with me, trying to get me to give him more control. Needless to say I dropped that. BTW, my therapist saw through his agressive narcissism completely and from that time on did all she could to support my trying to break my addiction of him and support my need and desire to break away. She really didn't like him.

Koodoos for therapy for VICTIMS of P's, but don't try couple's counseling - omg, what a nightmare.

Diane1969