Do-It-Yourself Psychotherapy
Being in therapy is great. I spend an hour just talking about myself. It's kinda like being the guy on a date.
- Caroline Rhea
Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?
- Michael Torke
Words of comfort, skillfully administered, are the oldest therapy known to man.
- Louis Nizer
by Neil Rosenthal
Questions to explore if you are interested in getting to know yourself better or probing deeper about what influences have shaped you.
Writing down your answers will help. These questions are taken from the book Your Mythic Journey by Sam Keen and Ann Valley-Fox.
 | Where did you come from? |
| What happens to you when you die? |
| What are your duties, your obligations? |
| What is taboo and what should you avoid? |
| What is your life's vision? |
| Whom should you imitate? |
| Who are your helpers, guides, allies? |
| What is your relationship with animals and nature? |
| How satisfied or frustrated are you with your own sexuality? |
| Do you like the way you've spent your time so far? |
| Where are you going? |
| What part has work played in your life? |
| What do you value more? |
| How valuable would you be without it? |
| What personal qualities do you possess that were gifts from previous people no longer living? |
| Which people, events and institutions arouse your greatest resentment or anger? |
| Who has frustrated, neglected, manipulated, inhibited or repressed you? |
| When have you been singled out for special attention? |
| Which people have enriched your life? |
| What accomplishments, relationships, and moments mean the most to you? |
| What are your regrets? |
| What have you left undone that you wanted to do? |
| What have you done that you wish you hadn't? |
| What moods and emotions have dominated your experience of the death of others (grief, anger, fear, relief)? |
| Whose death would cause you the greatest sorrow? |
| Whose would give you the greatest pleasure? |
| Who would care the most if you died? |
| When did you discover the limitations in your mother? Father? Best friend? A hero? |
| What evil do you wage war against and how? |
| How do you clip your wings, prevent yourself from flying, depress yourself? |
| Recall your most depressed and desperate times. |
| What tricks do you habitually use to heighten your paranoia and increase your isolation? |
| What brings you joy? |
| Who are you when you dream? |
| What do you fear? |
| Who has wounded you? |
| Whom have you injured? |
| How do you deal with guilt? |
| Do you need to have enemies? |
| How do you forgive? |
| Who are your people, your family? |
| What is the source of your power? Your self-esteem? |
| What is sacred to you? |
| What is worthy of your respect? |
| For what or whom would you sacrifice your time, energy, health, or your life? |
Neil Rosenthal is a marriage and family therapist in Colorado.
For questions for couples to ask each other, see Pre-Marital Quiz for Compatibility (further on in this section).
For articles on affair motivators, changing relationships, do-it-yourself psychotherapy, lies, insincerity, social graces, cosmetic surgery, roots of culture, self-deception, love,
and reunions of lost relatives click the "Up" button below to take you to the Table of Contents for this Relationships section.
