--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the end of each therapy session, I…" description: "\"At the end of each therapy session, I waited for an evaluation, a clinical judgment, some kind of pronouncement on \"my condition.\" I hoped I suffered f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/ken-dornstein-96089_action_at-the-end-of-each-therapy-session-i-wai_2123448.png" --- # At the end of each therapy session, I waited for an… ![“At the end of each therapy session, I waited for an evaluation, a clinical judgment, some kind of pronouncement on "my condition." I hoped I suffered from something serious, a clear syndrome, maybe requiring heavy medication and hospitalization. I pictured myself wearing a robe and paper slippers…” quote by Ken Dornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/ken-dornstein-96089_action_at-the-end-of-each-therapy-session-i-wai_2123448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/ken-dornstein-96089_action_at-the-end-of-each-therapy-session-i-wai_2123448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/ken-dornstein-96089_action_at-the-end-of-each-therapy-session-i-wai_2123448.png) > “At the end of each therapy session, I waited for an evaluation, a clinical judgment, some kind of pronouncement on "my condition." I hoped I suffered from something serious, a clear syndrome, maybe requiring heavy medication and hospitalization. I pictured myself wearing a robe and paper slippers and looking out of a window with bars on it. I wanted to be relieved of the responsibility of taking any action to help myself.” Ken Dornstein ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patient seeks a diagnosis to escape personal responsibility for healing **In simple terms:** Avoidance can masquerade as a desire for medical answers Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own mental health journey Themes mental health therapy avoidance responsibility self‑care Mood reflective somber Type Action:0 Bars:0 Clear:0 Clinicals:0 Conditions:0 Depression:0 Ends:0 Evaluation:0 Heavy:0 Helping:0 Hoped:0 Illness:0 Judgment:0 Kind:0 Medication:0 Mental health:1 Mental illness:0 Paper:0 Relieved:0 Responsibility:1 Robes:0 Serious:0 Session:0 Slippers:0 Syndromes:0 Therapy:1 Wanted:0 Window:0 Hoped Suffered:0 Condition Hoped:0 Wanted Relieved:0 Suffered Clear:0 When to use this quote - therapy sessions - self‑reflection - medical consultation - support groups Key Concepts clinical evaluation psychological insight patient mindset healing process Questions to Reflect On - What internal steps can you take without a formal diagnosis? - How does avoidance affect your recovery? A Different Perspective Relying on external judgment may hinder self‑growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Medication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medication/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Robes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robes/) [Syndromes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syndromes/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) ## Related quotes > [He wondered if this was what clinical depression felt like, a total numbness, a weary lack of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-wondered-if-this-was-what-clinical-depression-felt-like-a-total/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [I gave examples from my clinical practice of how love was not wholly a thought or feeling. 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