Posted by noa on April 30, 2004, at 19:49:34
In reply to This is why they made the rules, posted by shadows721 on April 30, 2004, at 12:19:54
I think there are different types of intimacy. There are aspects of therapy that can be very intimate, but of course thearpy is such a unique relationship that the intimacy is like no other.
But I agree that acting on sexual feelings in therapy puts that special intimacy totally at risk. And that because therapy is so unique, entering into another kind of relatinship after therapy is not good because of the power imbalance that naturally exists in therapy, no matter how 'down to earth' and non-hierarchical the therapist is. Therapists must recognize the power imbalance even if it seems a subtle one. It is there.
I think it is possible for there to be real feelings of love and caring. But the therapist has to be very very careful with these and maintain the professional boundaries.
Therapy is the wierdest relationship! That is why these boundary issues are so difficult for so many people. Therapy isn't THIS but it isn't THAT either. It's professional but very personal but can only be helpful if the personal aspects of it are kept within certain boundaries, etc. etc. It is just so different from anything else!
My first therapist, whom I saw for a long time and was very helpful (termination was due to my moving to another area) once told me that he felt his job was to "stay out of the way" and explained that what he meant was that he needed to steer clear of relating to me in the ways that people in my life had related to me. And of course, this can only be done if therapeutic boundaries are kept.
poster:noa
thread:336073
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040426/msgs/341968.html