Do Friends or Therapists Make Better Listeners?

Would You Rather Talk to a Friend or Therapist?

June 2, 2010

by POPSUGAR Sex & Culture 13

Last night Laura Dern and Courteney Cox admitted they accompany each other to therapy occasionally. At the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards, Laura said she brings Courteney to therapy sessions because she's better at pinpointing problems than her therapist. Later Courteney said she requests payback by having Laura return the favor — even by bringing her to couples therapy with husband David Arquette.

While bringing a friend to therapy is certainly different than talking to a friend alone, it does bring up a divisive question between those who do therapy and those who don't. So who do you vent your woes to — a friend or therapist?

Source: WireImage

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13 Comments

xxstardust 2 years 50 weeks

I'd pick my best friend any day of the week. If a therapist really cared how I felt they wouldn't charge $160 an hour. And despite taking notes, the therapist I saw as a teenager never learned to say my name and often forgot what we had discussed from session to session. Of course, this is the woman who dismissed my eating disorder entirely because I wasn't thin enough, so maybe it was a personal problem on her end.

xxstardust 2 years 50 weeks

I'd pick my best friend any day of the week. If a therapist really cared how I felt they wouldn't charge $160 an hour. And despite taking notes, the therapist I saw as a teenager never learned to say my name and often forgot what we had discussed from session to session. Of course, this is the woman who dismissed my eating disorder entirely because I wasn't thin enough, so maybe it was a personal problem on her end.

postmodernsleaze 2 years 50 weeks

It depends on the issue I'd want to talk about.

bryseana 2 years 50 weeks

"I agree! A therapist will forget what you say once you walk out of the office."The therapist I went to often took notes. I wasn't paying $150 for an hour session for my therapist to "forget" what I said when I walked out of her office. No way.

bryseana 2 years 50 weeks

"I agree! A therapist will forget what you say once you walk out of the office." The therapist I went to often took notes. I wasn't paying $150 for an hour session for my therapist to "forget" what I said when I walked out of her office. No way.

jazzytummy 2 years 50 weeks

Wow, Laura Dern looks seriously scary in that pic.

ayuninur 2 years 50 weeks

Therapist

ayuninur 2 years 50 weeks

Therapist

Gawjuslayd 2 years 50 weeks

I agree! A therapist will forget what you say once you walk out of the office.

RoaringSilence 2 years 50 weeks

If I had the money, I'd want to talk to a therapist about things. Mostly because I'd trust their judgement more. It's their job, after all.

2 years 50 weeks

I'd prefer a therapist. There's no biased opinions whereas a friend may always take your side or coddle you.

HoneyBrown1976 2 years 50 weeks

My therapist is much easier to talk to. There's no judgment or unwanted two-cents involved.

spacekatgal 2 years 50 weeks

That strikes me as weird, but whatever works for her. It doesn't seem respectful of the therapist.