--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Psychotherapy can help some people…" description: "\"Psychotherapy can help some people, especially people who are neurotic, who are always making problems for themselves. We are like a rider on an elepha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/jonathan-haidt-1823_blame_psychotherapy-can-help-some-people-espec_680362.jpg" --- # Psychotherapy can help some people, especially people who… ![“Psychotherapy can help some people, especially people who are neurotic, who are always making problems for themselves. We are like a rider on an elephant. We can steer the elephant, and if he's not busy, he'll go where we want, but if he has other desires, he'll go where he wants. They need to get…” quote by Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/jonathan-haidt-1823_blame_psychotherapy-can-help-some-people-espec_680362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/jonathan-haidt-1823_blame_psychotherapy-can-help-some-people-espec_680362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/jonathan-haidt-1823_blame_psychotherapy-can-help-some-people-espec_680362.jpg) > “Psychotherapy can help some people, especially people who are neurotic, who are always making problems for themselves. We are like a rider on an elephant. We can steer the elephant, and if he's not busy, he'll go where we want, but if he has other desires, he'll go where he wants. They need to get a better relationship between the rider and the elephant. In part, you get it just from watching yourself stumble around in life, make mistakes, then read a little psychology and stop blaming yourself. Realize that I am flawed. I am complicated. I am divided, and I'm doing the best I can.” [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Therapy aids self‑understanding by reconciling inner conflicts, likened to a rider guiding an elephant, emphasizing personal responsibility and growth **In simple terms:** Therapy helps manage inner conflicts and improve self‑relationship Key Takeaway Seek therapy to better understand and guide your inner impulses Themes mental health self‑awareness personal growth Mood reflective hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - counseling sessions - stressful life events - relationship issues - career decisions Key Concepts psychology mindfulness behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - What inner “elephant” do you need to understand? - How can you improve the rider‑elephant relationship? A Different Perspective Therapy may not address all issues; personal effort is also required ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-relationship/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Making mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Neurotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurotic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Psychotherapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotherapy/) ## Related quotes > [The real, raw, driven-to-tears type scenes have always scared me since I was very young working as an actor. 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