Kathleen, thanks for sharing this -- good for all of us to keep in mind.

As one of the least experienced bf counselors in this whole 2500-person crew,
I personally find both the personal-experience posts and the
what-research-is-out-there posts extremely helpful.   I am glad to have both.


I am also glad to have clear word on the difference, from the poster.
Sometimes I need "evidence," for example if a mother is asking me to help
persuade a skeptical hcp of the efficacy of what I had previously been
advocating informally.

Other times -- especially in this young field, in which so much still remains
to be researched -- there just is no evidence-based standard yet, and then
the personal experience and creativity of my teachers is my rock and my
staff.   I might not use it to "wave at" a doctor -- but I would get
different benefit from it, because it might inspire me, too, to think
creatively about the case in front of me, aside from just the basic crucial
fact of telling me stuff I didn't know.

So (without knowing who wrote that letter) I want to agree with the letter
writer -- but also to emphasize that, at least for me, the point isn't less
emphasis on research, but rather more emphasis on the other kinds of help and
case support and smarts that go WITH research -- and more graciousness about
the range of different resources we can give each other.

Thanks again to all on this list who have taught me and continue to teach me
every day --

Elisheva

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