Posted by crushedout on January 30, 2004, at 19:33:22
In reply to Re: New thoughts on T disclosures re: countertransfer., posted by Karen_kay on January 30, 2004, at 16:16:09
i think it would serve the client because it would be honest, authentic. and i think that's a large part of what therapy is about. it would also make the client feel good. boundaries would have to also be clarified.
like i said, i think it depends a lot on the situation, the client, etc. I don't know that it would be helpful for all clients.
> Well, my therapist doesn't shy away from expressing sexual feelings. Not that he expresses them towards me. What he does do is allow me to see that having sexual feelings is human and natural. And at this point it has been successful.
> But, I think that in sharing sexual feelings common towards a client, wouldn't that defeat the common goal of therapy. Which is to serve the client. I mean as much as I would love to hear my therapist say, "Oh Karen, I'm afraid I've fallen head over heels in love with you." I'd much rather hear him say, "Oh Karen, you're all better." Or better yet, "Oh Karen, you're all better. Here's my number, give me a call in two years after I divorce my wife." Oh! Now that would be the best case scenario!
> Back to original subject: If a therapist were to express feelings of a sexual nature towards the client, how would that serve the client? It would just leave the client in an awkward position. The therapist is there to serve the client, not vice versa. Upon hearing that a therapist has developed some feelings, a client may feel a need to please the therapist, or feel that the already unequal power structure has shifted even more. I just can't see how it would be useful to the client. Even though I'd love to hear it myself :) But, we can still always pretend or trust our instincts. Or ask. It could, at the very least start a good discussion.
poster:crushedout
thread:307129
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040123/msgs/307493.html