Posted by shar on February 25, 2001, at 14:28:13
In reply to Re: Jealousy-Shar, posted by JennyR on February 25, 2001, at 12:03:22
If it's love she says "I love you." Rarely off hand, usually when I am talking about my own feelings about her. Such as, I love you, Pat and she says, I know you do, S, and I love you too. She's told me when she has felt sad about something that happened in my life, and when she's felt proud of me, etc.
It's NOT an everyday thing. It's rather rare, but always comfortable and genuine.
However--I've been seeing her for over a decade off and on. And, I've been in therapy off and on for about 25 years (dysthymia is a wondrous thing....). Plus, there is not the strongish boundary issue that a male therapist might feel obligated to maintain, especially if you all are newish in working together. I freely acknowledge my attachment to my therapist, it is there, no doubt about it; in a way I think that's part of what makes me feel safe enough to be open enough to work on things.
However, if I say I am afraid she might abandon me, she is not likely to say "I won't abandon you." She will probably direct me more toward my own feelings about that issue. That type of thing. And I've had other therapists who have had a much more hands off approach when it came to expressing feelings.
Shar
poster:shar
thread:4601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010209/msgs/4825.html