What if anything do people make of this concept both for people receiving and providing treatment.
An American friend is forever suggesting that it is much under estimated and that many in the field are dealing with their "own issues" by being professional carers.

I'm not sure I'm that much of a fan. I acknowledge that carers have many trials and tribulations and many of them will have their own issues but the concept of co-dependence to me unnecessarily psycho-pathologises them and leads us to treat them as a homogenous group rather than responding to their individual needs. Peoples own lives may be bound up and revolve around the other persons dependency, but if so why not just say that?

You could say codependency applies to all caring professions. Imagine what the world would be like if some of us didn't feel this need to help others. I'm sorry if it upsets your American friend. One almost wonders what it is that causes him/her to have this need to question the motives of others ?!

There is a serious point to be made here though, and its about a need to be liked, overriding the need to genuinely help. That can get in the way of consistent practice and good boundary setting and can be disastrous in the long run (know any GPs who just can't seem to say no to a request for benzos?)

quote:

Originally posted by Perseverance:
What if anything do people make of this concept both for people receiving and providing treatment.
An American friend is forever suggesting that it is much under estimated and that many in the field are dealing with their "own issues" by being professional carers.

Or avoiding dealing with their own issues by devoting their energies to the issues of others?

Jeff