Sotomayor as Expert

Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings for the US Supreme Court has been more than a show, as some people claim. It's also been instructive to hear a woman describe in an honest and forthright manner the distinct capacity that a person brings to the bench. She emphasizes that a person is the sum of his or her personality and experiences; to deny that fact could result in the opposite of what we intend - i.e., a judgment based on political or personal prejudices.

To be helpful to others, one must first look at oneself.

I was in therapy many years ago, as I'm sure have been the majority of my colleagues. We enter therapy to more fully understand ourselves and to work out any impediments in our personal and professional lives. Hopefully, we continue to examine ourselves throughout our years in practice.

In psychology as well as law our values are part and parcel of our vision. Psychological theory and technique may comprise the foundation of our work, but our personal experience transforms that theory into practice.

Therefore, it's important that you, the client, agree with your therapist's values. Do not assume that what the therapist says will work for you. The trap is to view the "expert" as someone other than yourself. Therapists can help clear the way to effective living but how you live will be your choice.