Pricked conscience ?
A psychotherapist from Cheadle
Had a reputation with the 'needle'.
She'd stick it in just like a pin
And then she'd start to wheedle.
This wasn't acupuncture
Nor was it for pain relief.
I'll tell you at this juncture
The truth is beyond belief.
Notes by the author
Many people are never sufficiently ill to require the services of a psychotherapist or psychiatrist for that matter.
They may not realise how severe the 'pain' of facing up to repressed events can be (when it is thought essential by the specialists, so to do).
You feel far worse than being 'needled'.
Counseling generally, has been discredited to an extent, by media exposure of some tragic episodes which have even reportedly led to the unnecessary breakup of families.
These may have been due to recalled 'thoughts' appearing as 'actions' upon recall.
Many others claim to have been helped considerably, however, and I suppose, though do not know, that a lot depends on the specialist and severity of the situation. There is no doubt that some people have to try and cope with terrible mental scars, and they do depend on specialists who have some understanding of mental states and processes.