Posted by Dinah on August 6, 2008, at 18:31:02
In reply to Re: Uncomfortable... (very long), posted by Lemonaide on August 6, 2008, at 18:18:36
Too true. I *know* my personal life is more stable than my therapist's.
I imagine it's difficult for someone who is a therapist to be a client and put away therapist-thoughts. Even I evaluate how my therapist is performing while I'm in session. I can only imagine if I were a therapist myself. I'd be thinking "Nice technique. I'll have to remember that." or "I think I could have handled that better."
My therapist said last session that he sees us as collaborators in my treatment. I asked him if that was even possible. He laughed and said that it certainly is the most collaborative therapy he does with anyone.
Would it help to think of it more that way? To take a bit more initiative in turning the therapy to a different direction if you think it's off course?
I'm just wondering, also, if talking about your own cases can exacerbate this problem. I find that when I talk about certain things, I can't help but switching to my rational self. Then I have to be quiet and go deep again to reach the emotional core. If you find both of you slipping into a peer relationship, it might be partially because that sort of discussion will bring out that part of each of you. It's ok to discuss it of course if that's part of your issues that week. Just as it's ok for me to discuss those things that kick me right into superrational mode. But maybe it's also important to stop and segue into the you who isn't a therapist.
And maybe find someone else to discuss your cases with? For when your cases aren't the core of your issues that week?
poster:Dinah
thread:844587
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080727/msgs/844654.html