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Was Troy a psychotherapist too?

Skipper

Skipper

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Often we say that Troy was the ship's psychologist. But she was also a psychotherapist? Often we saw her talking to a crew member in some type of session, but it was just a form of psychological counseling (well, it was the ship's counselor) or it was a real psychotherapy (some kind of short/long term therapy to help a person change and overcome problems in desired ways)? I suppose the former, because, you know, I don't think that someone with real issues can serve on the Star Fleet flagship, but, you know, there is Reginald Barkley, so everything is possible...

What's your thoughts on this?
 
I've always been under the impression that Deanna Troi often operated outside of her bivouac and exceeded her authority on psychological matters. She had too much authority, already, and it seemed, very honestly, like a Political Position. I love Deanna, but ... I would not go to her with anything troubling me. Her monopoly over Ship's Counseling scares out of me, The Living Daylights!
 
It's an interesting view. A psychologist must keep a distance from his/her patients. But it seems to me she was a little too much involved with her fellow crew members. And it was inevitable, really. I mean, there was only a bar in the Enterprise. Where had she to spend her free time?!?

Edit: And how the heck she had free time?
 
How this ever came up, this need for a shrink on the ship, I feel, is far more interesting than the actual result of it, within the context of the show. Marina was very sexy, very cool and Deanna's really sweet. It's very difficult to not like her. On the other hand, Troi's job is so obviously problematic that the only way to get through the thing is to just hang the sense of it and put the kettle on.
 
2takesfrakes said:
How this ever came up, this need for a shrink on the ship,
Click to expand...
The point is, was she really a shrink (a slang therm for "psychotherapist") or just someone to vent to? It's quite different. And really, if in the former position she learns something that can put the ship in danger, there is something such as "confidentiality"?
 
we have actual psychologists and psychotherapists here on the board, I'm sure they're willing to give a verdict
 
I'm not sure how helpful it would be, though. The subject field has undergone rather drastic changes in the past centuries, and picking up any of the past professionals at random on our TARDIS would be likely to produce one that immediately declares our current experts "dangerous charlatans".

Surely psychiatry and psychotherapy in the TNG era would be as drastically different from today's practices as those are from the ones held in greatest regard in 1816?

Certainly a therapist becoming involved (emotionally, sexually, hierarchically, what-have-you) with her patient might be a big no-no today, but a vital part of the therapy tomorrow. Such a putative change in attitudes appears minor in comparison with how the 24th century has come to treat emotional trauma on little children with what amounts to isolation therapy...

Timo Saloniemi
 
Deanna participated in decisions about promotions.

Rank dictated room size, rank dictated status, and she was 50 percent of the first line of scrimmage everyone had to get past to increase one grade in rank.

Sucking up to Deanna Troi is the difference between your children living on a starbase 5 sectors away, or in a stateroom on deck eight.

The problem is that she is a breathing lie detector.

Sucking up without lying is difficult.

Even if Dee is the worst doctor in the universe, efforts must be put forward to earn her friendship by making sure that this medical professional does not realize that she is a quack.
 
Funny ... in the episode, "Neutral Zone" there was that housewife named Clare who kept crying about being forced - OK? - FORCED to live every Trekkie's dream, by having to live out the remainder of her existence in the 24th Century world of STAR TREK. So, to keep her from depressing the entire ship, Picard has Troi march up to her and start doing her thing. Then Claire goes, "... are you the ship's Shrink?" And Deanna's all bemused when she responds with, "... I'm sorry, I don't understand that term."

As well, I don't believe that the term Counselor was ever made to be, or meant to be, specific, in this instance. I really believe she was given the power to be psychiatrist, psychologist, hypnotist ... what have you. Counselor was a catch-all that encompassed every aspect of Human mind ... and Deanna was given all of the tools necessary to fiddle about with deep-seated neurosis of every flavour and variety.
 
Guy Gardener said:
Sucking up to Deanna Troi is the difference between your children living on a starbase 5 sectors away, or in a stateroom on deck eight.[...]
Even if Dee is the worst doctor in the universe, efforts must be put forward to earn her friendship by making sure that this medical professional does not realize that she is a quack.
Click to expand...
2takesfrakes said:
I really believe she was given the power to be psychiatrist, psychologist, hypnotist ... what have you. Counselor was a catch-all that encompassed every aspect of Human mind ... and Deanna was given all of the tools necessary to fiddle about with deep-seated neurosis of every flavour and variety.
Click to expand...
My God! She is the most dangerous person on the Enterprise :eek:

I, For One, Welcome Our New Counselor Overlords
2403_worshipper.gif
 
TNG the Loss. Deanna loses her powers.

TROI: I've been working with Ensign Brooks since the death of her husband. She's avoided the reality of what happened, denied it to herself, and I realise I've been doing the same thing about my condition.
PICARD: That's perfectly understandable.
TROI: It's time I accept the truth, Captain, and resign as ship's counsellor.
PICARD: Resign?
TROI: I can no longer fulfill my obligations. What other option is there?
PICARD: Deanna, I've been fortunate to have access to your Betazoid abilities. Most starship captains have to be content with a human counsellor. Empathic awareness is not a requirement of your position.
TROI: It is for me.
PICARD: I'm sure that after a while you'll be able to adjust. They say when one loses a sense, the other senses become stronger to compensate. A blind man develops better hearing.
TROI: With all due respect, Captain, you don't know what you're talking about. That is a common belief with no scientific basis, no doubt created by normal people who felt uncomfortable around the disabled. I am disabled, and I'm telling you I cannot perform my duties.
PICARD: There was a teacher of mine at the Academy who had been confined to a wheelchair since birth. She was a woman
TROI: Captain, spare me the inspirational anecdote and just accept my resignation.
Click to expand...

Okay, she started off as a sadsack, but got really hard core at the end. :)

Other bits from The Loss are hilarious. :)

CRUSHER: Deanna, it's no different than one of us suddenly going blind.
TROI: You don't have to tell me, Beverly. I understand the psychology.
CRUSHER: You may understand it but you've never had to live with it.
TROI: I may be perfectly fine by tomorrow.
CRUSHER: And you may not. Now, I'll do my homework. I'll see what I can do to regenerate those cells. In the meantime, I want you to talk to someone. There are several people on board who have degrees in psychology, who are qualified therapists.
TROI: Okay, fine, if I need to. Right now, I just want to go back to work.
Click to expand...

and...

RIKER: I don't have a psychology degree, but if you'd like to talk?
Click to expand...
 
Tell me, Skipper - and tell me true: would you voluntarily allow Counselor Troi to delve into the deepest recesses of your Mind?
 
Sexual surrogacy is sex as medicine.

You don't get prescribed a surrogate unless you are ill, and your doctor believes that surrogacy will help you more than it damages you, and/or the surrogate.

Will Riker in the Host was a sexual surrogate.
 
To me Troy was the woman who would look at the screen, where we could see some angry guy and tell Picard, "I sense that man is angry."

Yeah, no shit Sherlock.
 
locutus101 said:
To me Troy was the woman who would look at the screen, where we could see some angry guy and tell Picard, "I sense that man is angry."

Yeah, no shit Sherlock.
Click to expand...
Well, in this area it seems that a random 20th century millionaire is more capable than her... (The Neutral Zone)
PICARD: Do you think that we attacked your outposts?
TEBOK [on viewscreen]: Once we realised the level of destruction, we knew it could not have been you.
PICARD: Who is responsible?
RALPH: They haven't got a clue. They're hoping you know, but they're too arrogant to ask.
RIKER: You're out of line, Mister.
PICARD: Yes, but it's a correct assessment.
TEBOK [on viewscreen]: We do not know who is responsible. Why entire outposts on both sides have been carried off.
Click to expand...
 
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