Posted by daisym on May 27, 2005, at 0:48:34
In reply to Re: (((Aphrodite))) » Aphrodite, posted by Dinah on May 26, 2005, at 21:25:31
How long do you think it should take before a therapist knows you well enough to stop accepting things at face value?
I realized recently that my therapist now notices answers that seem "too good." I asked him a long time ago to not let me leave therapy suddenly, that I needed to be saved from myself. So he does this in a way that isn't confrontational but instead results in a dialog of "do you really want to cancel" and him saying, "I don't think it is a good idea for you to pull back." He always lets me know it is my choice, but he also helps me look at it, which is good.
The most recent thing I thought I got away with was my reaction to his upcoming vacation. He said, "I want to let you know that I'll be gone for a week in June, on vacation." I said, "oh, OK. You are entitled to breaks too." And that was it. He didn't push it. A week later I was upset and said, "AND YOU ARE LEAVING ME..." He said he was waiting for that, that I had taken the news too well, too passively, making it all OK for him. I said, "that is what I do best." He said "I know. Which is why I watch closely."
So much for getting away with things! But I do think it is important to tell on yourself if you can. That way they can help you not be self-destructive.
It would be so much easier if they could just read minds!
poster:daisym
thread:503336
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050521/msgs/503495.html