Posted by Karen_kay on March 23, 2004, at 17:03:32
In reply to People's Ages, posted by lonelygirl on March 23, 2004, at 16:44:19
Hello, my name is Karen and I'm 24. I do not find my therapist sexy anymore. Come to think of it, I'm kicking myself in the pants for ever being attracted to him. And the things I said to him. What was I thinking? (Sorry, this felt like confession of sorts...)
I don't think that age has much to do with being attracted to your therapist. But, I do think that age has a lot to do with your ability in some cases to handle the attraction well. In my case, it worked out because I wanted the attraction to stop. However, I think that some younger people find the attraction to be fun and invigorating, therefore finding it harder to cope with moving past transference. Also, an older therapy client may be more apt to pass on an attractive therapist because he/she knows that the attraction may get in the way of therapy. This attraction (if from the start, which would be a different issue from transference) would most likely hinder therapy, rather than be conducive to the therapuetic process. But, transference is a different matter all together and I'd say is as common in younger clients as those of a (trying to be PC here, so no offense intended) more mature age.
Now, after careful consideration, I realize that I typically found men in positions of authority over me to be attractive. It's a bit different now for me. And that's strange in a way. I just don't see Bubba the same. I'm still attracted to older men (Ha Bubba! Blew your "father Figure theory" out of the water, or did I? I'll let you all know in a few years..) but not always men in authority.
So, without trying to talk in circles once again, I think that women who are a bit older are more apt to pass on someone they find attractive, whereas younger clients are more apt to sign up with an attractive therapist. Just my personal observation. And of course, I could and frequently am wrong!
poster:Karen_kay
thread:326708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040321/msgs/327471.html