Let's be honest here. Most people go into the psychology field because they, themselves, have mental health issues, have had them in the past, or know someone who does. Now my question to you guys is: Do you feel that therapists who go into the psychology field often suck at their job because they don't even know how to help themselves? In my case, I'm going into the field because of my own personal issues, but I also know how to be analytical, self-reflective, as unbiased as possible, and introspective. Thus, I don't feel as though this is an issue in my particular case. The more I learn about psychology (and that IS how I look at it, mind you, a matter of learning and being curious to learn even more on your own time, more so than simply getting that degree or license), the more I become confident in my abilities to help others, despite my own problems. I would be that therapist who would make my clients feel 100% safe talking about anything, suicide/crime included, and I do mean absolutely anything. Because guess what, feeling like you're in a safe, non-judgmental environment (for once in your life) helps build the client-therapist relationship the most. And that relationship and trust is absolutely essential to the client getting better and feeling safe enough to open up. I would also be one of those therapists who employ an actual treatment plan, an individualized one, based on the client's needs--not my own. So again I ask, do you think that therapists who go into the field with mental health issues mostly just take the easy way out to get a paycheck because they don't truly know how to help anyone? Because I do.