Posted by fallsfall on April 7, 2004, at 8:12:54
In reply to T makes me happy in session » shadows721, posted by Chucky Adkins on April 7, 2004, at 5:12:00
Good for you, Chucky. You are facing this straight on.
Please understand that most of us are women, and we do talk about the same issues that you are facing. I think that some of us were a little surprised to hear a man be so forthcoming. Personally, I think it is a good thing - for you and for us. I hope that you will find that we (you and Babble) can move past a shaky start and we can all find out how much we do have in common.
Being open and honest with your therapist is a critical thing. That is how progress is made.
I do want to interject a slightly different opinion than has been voiced on this thread. When I was looking for a new therapist I really wasn't sure if I wanted to see a woman or a man (I am female). My old therapist was a woman, and I often seem more comfortable with women. But she suggested that I see a man. I asked one of the therapists that I interviewed if he thought I should look for a woman or a man. His response was "Find a good therapist". He explained that whatever transference I was going to have was going to occur whether my therapist was a woman or a man. That patients have maternal transferences with men. That female heterosexual patients have erotic transferences with women. We have seen examples of both of these things within the last 6 months on Babble. In my case, my transference makes me think that my therapist is mad at me - and he and I recreated the same transference I had with my first therapist within 6 weeks. So I guess that I'm not convinced that you wouldn't feel the same way towards a male therapist.
What is important is talking about what you are experiencing with your therapist. If she is a good therapist, then you will learn a lot from the experience.
Best luck.
poster:fallsfall
thread:333058
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040402/msgs/333638.html