In one of the forum topics, the author posed a question to psychologists: what is a consultation for you? And the answers of the participants in the topic (psychologists) not for the first time prompted me to the question that stands in the title of the article: Why do some psychologists romanticize and idealize the process of psychotherapy? If it were one or two people, I would have asked them, but during the time spent on the forum, such an attitude was expressed so many times that there is simply not enough time to ask everyone. I will quote answer options about what a consultation is for some psychologists, so as not to offend anyone, without names (spelling and punctuation of the authors are preserved): For me, a consultation is like going to a restaurant. We go on special occasions. There is a great opportunity to try something new and interesting from the chef. There is also the opportunity to enjoy the good old famous and favorite dish. Consultation is a journey with drawing up a map of the area, adventures, mysterious events, sometimes with magic and even fighting dragons, a journey... With forests, mountains, obstacles and wise elders. A journey to a mysterious garden. Why do I have- then, unexpectedly for myself, a dance metaphor arose. In which we dance together with the client, now approaching, now moving away, looking into each other's eyes, giving each other the opportunity to be alive and real. For me, this is a journey into the depths of the soul to light a fire, the light of which will guide a person in his life paths, like a lighthouse for disoriented ships) Therefore, we can say with confidence that psychotherapy “kindles” the flame of the soul. For me, counseling (pt) is an adventure of life, where a consultant (or psychotherapist) is a guide, which, depending on the “language” the client will be in his hands to help him find the way when he gets lost. It is clear that in that topic the introductory question is posed in such a way that it asks for a metaphor, but still, take a look at what psychologists wrote, in my opinion, it is very revealing. I will also express my opinion: for me, a consultation is only what it is in In reality, it is a consultation, a process of providing professional assistance. I do not romanticize or idealize the process of psychotherapy myself and I do not recommend it to clients. Because the creation of “castles in the air” is fraught with resulting disappointments and unjustified (childish) client expectations: “you promised an adventure” or “where is the wizard in the blue helicopter?”, “why am I in pain and bad, you said there would be a trip.” In fact, psychotherapy is not at all a journey to the source of happiness and not a walk with a guide along a path in the forest, but most often - a difficult, painful process, overcoming, restoration, healing, and all this is mainly with the hands and efforts of the client. Why implant in your consciousness and transmit into the client’s mind some allegorical, touching pictures that will never correspond to the actual process? After all, this is what parents do when they want to calm their children. But when did the psychologist become a parent and the client a child? And when has creating illusions been beneficial? As a psychologist without illusions about my work, it’s easier for me to understand how I can help a person. And the above metaphors are still metaphors of life. After all, this is life - a journey, a dance, a trip to a secret garden, digging up treasures, etc., but psychotherapy does not = life; for a psychologist it is a job, for a client it is a way to get help. When for one of the parties (or for both) therapy actually turns into life, replaces it, this is a signal of serious problems. Why do you need to replace concepts, blur them, somehow soften them and embellish therapy? If you need a metaphor for psychotherapy, then Most of all, it is close to the surgical process: a person is admitted with an injury, an operation is performed, and then the recovery process begins. And this is much closer to the truth than stories about walks and battles with dragons.