Posted by Dinah on August 4, 2003, at 16:40:14
In reply to Re: new here...following up on therapist feelings, posted by pinkeye on August 4, 2003, at 15:07:46
Unless a therapist is burned out, I wouldn't think that was true. A therapist who loves and is energized by his work probably has feelings (admittedly not all positive) for his clients. They get rewards from it, just not the same rewards we get (or at least they shouldn't be the same rewards in good therapy).
My mother was a teacher. Admittedly she felt differently towards her kids than they did towards her. But she liked most of them, loved a few, and if she was honest with herself (and she probably wouldn't be) probably disliked a very few too. Short term therapy might not stir up too many feelings, but how can you see someone week after week on an even one sided intimacy for months or years without developing some personal feelings? I'm sure everyone who works with people and enjoys it does. Beauticians, physical therapists, teachers, therapists.
Heck, don't we even have feelings for the TV characters we follow that closely?
poster:Dinah
thread:247503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030711/msgs/248096.html