Therapist choice: One who has, or hasn't had breast cancer?

I would NOT want a women who had breast cancer... To many types, too many stages, not one person has the same disease as another. Even though therapists try to stay impartial, they are people too, and could be triggered or emotional about your choices and concerns. They may have chosen something opposite what you are doing and it could conflict with their neutral stance. For example, if I was seeing a therapist, they'd hear all about my advocacy for going flat and all the horrors I feel about the plastic surgery expected on women. If she got recon, I know I'd trigger her with my candid views about the industrial medical profit complex. I neither want that kind of judgement or to be the cause of triggering someone when I'm supposed to be not censoring myself and speaking my peace.

See, I try to refrain from being completely candid in mixed company, but in therapy - that is where you should be free to say anything.. and if they made choices you didn't - you'd either censor yourself or trigger them.

As a person living with mbc, I would feel I had to hold back and protect the therapist who had a history of bc, knowing I represent the worst nightmare of many early-stagers. I know a good therapist would have worked through and set aside her own stuff, but I would still feel inhibited. But I think an early-stager (I used to be one) would like to know that she had found a therapist with a knowledge base and an understanding of how the rest of the world may respond to us (for example, stupid comments, friends who flee), and how it is never really over, especially with treatment side effects and recurrence fears. So if you are really in a good place and can handle it, I'd say try mentioning it.

I agree. I have bipolar disorder. Should I ONLY seek out those therapists who also have bipolar disorder? Im also a nurse. Does this mean that i should ONLY take care of bipolar patients who have breast cancer? Of course not. How silly. A good therapist, like any good health practitioner, does not have to have personal experience with a condition to be able to help people.

Mine is female, hasn't had BC, but is part of an organization called Cancer Family Care. They provide services to individuals and families who have or had cancer, regardless of type, stage or part of body affected.

She has shown support, empathy and guidance throughout, and I feel she does understand what I'm experiencing.

Whichever you choose, if it doesn’t mesh...change therapist

Tracyne, I totally agree that it can help to have medical professionals who understand BC from a personal point of view. My gyn had breast cancer about two years before I was diagnosed & she has been an amazing resource & an incredible source of support. She recommended her BS (who I love!) & steadied me through the initial days between diagnosis & treatment. She continues to make herself personally available as needed & I am grateful beyond words to have her in my life.

I really don't know. I spent a long time doing peer breastfeeding counseling and my professional designation is also in a field which I was involved in as a client, so you'd think I'd understand seeing someone coming from a similar place...... but the more I consider it, the more I think I would prefer one that hadn't had it.

While I think the vast majority of mental health professionals are very good at creating a distance and not enmeshing with their patients, the more overlap in experience and circumstance, the harder it is.

I think I want to see someone who understands life transitions and crises and fear but who isn't themselves personally affected by breast cancer.