In Jacquelyn Small's book "Becoming Naturally Therapeutic: A Return to the True Essence of Helping", I explored what it takes to be a truly counselor useful. Although I have no plans to pursue a career in consulting, his book covers a variety of topics that can be used by anyone. Small provides his readers with a checklist of traits ranging from empathy to respect to self-actualization that are practically essential to becoming therapeutic. The book begins by stating that "ordinary people" offer better therapeutic help than professionals. In a way, this fact was surprising because you would think that a trained professional would be better equipped to advise people. However, there are several reasons why the previous statement should not be shocking. For example, I can understand why someone seeking help would be more reluctant to see a licensed counselor. To begin with, the general public has a preconceived notion that going to therapy is like admitting that you are “crazy.” They also fear being analyzed. So people are more likely to ask a close friend for help because it's less intimidating. Additionally, when you share with your peers, they react in a “normal” rather than theoretical way. By this I am referring to the use of all these theories and all these disorders that we learn in psychology classes. Small then explains how we can get into the habit of letting our own feelings interfere with patients' problems....