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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lookdownfish on December 3, 2003, at 15:49:42
I mean literally.
I had my first few sessions with my therapist just sitting face to face. And from then on she insisted I lie on the couch. She's a real old fashioned psychoanalytic therapist. But I honestly thought no one did that any more. Am I alone?
Posted by Dinah on December 3, 2003, at 15:58:05
In reply to Does anyone else here lie on the couch? , posted by lookdownfish on December 3, 2003, at 15:49:42
Posted by Karen_kay on December 3, 2003, at 18:54:52
In reply to Does anyone else here lie on the couch? , posted by lookdownfish on December 3, 2003, at 15:49:42
Nope, but mine does CBT. Once he did a session psychoanalytical and made me sit in his chair not facing him at all. He said several days afterward the point was in case I said something that made him wince or feel uncomfortable, I wouldn't be able to tell.
Posted by Pfinstegg on December 3, 2003, at 21:24:47
In reply to Does anyone else here lie on the couch? , posted by lookdownfish on December 3, 2003, at 15:49:42
I do. I go to a psychoanalyst, and, after about two months, I began using the couch. I do that regularly now, and have found that it helps me to regress into childhood in a way that makes the trauma I experienced much more real emotionally. And there is something about the analyst's being so close by which is very helpful; as I am dealing with old fears and terrors, there is a new, safe, reassuring "object" right there for me to connect with, and basically, have a new, good experience with. I am finding psychoanalysis an immensely powerful and helpful thing to do, and am glad to have found another person who is doing it- I thought I was the only one! How has your experience with it been?
Pfinstegg
Posted by fallsfall on December 3, 2003, at 23:18:26
In reply to Re: Does anyone else here lie on the couch? » lookdownfish, posted by Pfinstegg on December 3, 2003, at 21:24:47
My therapist does do psychoanalysis on the couch - but not with me. I think that I would be shown to have too little ego strength to do the couch.
He has a stone face - he never shows anything. That's not true - in the last month or so we have really been interacting - not just trading paragraphs. He is starting to show through the facade (but it still doesn't show in his face). I must say, I do find it helpful to not know what he is thinking.
He doesn't say much to me, but he says that he says much less to patients when they are on the couch.
Posted by lookdownfish on December 4, 2003, at 3:39:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone else here lie on the couch? » lookdownfish, posted by Pfinstegg on December 3, 2003, at 21:24:47
I was really uncomfortable about the couch to start with, but now I've got used to it. It certainly is easier to relax and to speak honestly, as you are not so self-conscious. As for the whole psychoanalytic approach, I'm not quite sure yet. I've been in therapy for about 8 months. I really like the theory and think it makes sense but I still don't have complete faith that it will help me in the long run. I find it very intense and painful. Even at only one session / week. How often to you go? I seem to remember from a previous post that you are going twice a week. I remember your post recently about a breakthrough. I just wish I could have a really obvious breakthrough, but my therapist says it doesn't work like that and its a slow and gradual process. What's also difficult about the approach is just saying whatever comes into your head. Are you encouraged to do that? Do you find it easy?
Posted by DaisyM on December 4, 2003, at 17:32:17
In reply to Re: Does anyone else here lie on the couch?, posted by fallsfall on December 3, 2003, at 23:18:26
I sit on the couch, near, but not completely in, one of the corners and I can usually tell how I'm starting to feel by how many pillows I now have in front of me, in my lap, and/or propped up next to me. (Naa, I'm not defensive!)
I can't imagine ever being comfortable lying down with someone watching me. You guys are brave!
Posted by badhaircut on December 4, 2003, at 20:13:27
In reply to Re: Does anyone else here lie on the couch?, posted by DaisyM on December 4, 2003, at 17:32:17
I used to go to a neo-Freudian CSW about four times a week for Analysis. One day, lying on his couch, I said, "I lie on your couch." He said, "And sometimes you just tell half-truths."
He'd probably been waiting ten years to crack that joke.
---
I think deliberately, physically relaxing is important in any clinical setting, even CBT. It helps you to be more aware of your feelings and to quickly spot which things upset you.
But I think that kind of conscientious relaxation is better done sitting than lying down. The relaxing we do lying down is not so deliberate: it's more automatic, and we take it for granted. Sitting, we have to sort of make an effort to relax, to TRY to do it. That's good in a clinical setting, I think.
Also, I think sitting can help keep things focused. The psychoanalytic folks, of course, say that's exactly what they DON'T want.
(They lie.)
Posted by lost-in-therpy on December 4, 2003, at 22:33:36
In reply to Does anyone else here lie on the couch? , posted by lookdownfish on December 3, 2003, at 15:49:42
my dr dont have a couch which i am happy about i think i wouldnt be comfortable if i had to lay down
Posted by Pfinstegg on December 6, 2003, at 16:03:46
In reply to Re: Does anyone else here lie on the couch? » Pfinstegg, posted by lookdownfish on December 4, 2003, at 3:39:01
Yes, I am also supposed to say everything, as it comes to mind. The hardest things, of course, are very shameful and embarrassing things about myself, and negative or critical things about him. I agree- it's very hard and scary to do it, although it's becoming a bit easier, at least some of the time, as I have found him to be consistently empathic, accepting and uncritical.
I do go twice a week, and have been doing it for nine months. I guess we can never be sure, but I do think such complete revealing of oneself, with an empathic analyst. has a lot of potential for increasing self-acceptance, and allowing us to be more fully ourselves. I do notice considerably less anxiety and depression than I had when I started. And I agree with your analyst- there aren't really any "break-throughs", although getting through an especially tough time can feel like that- that's one of the incidents I was mentioning here.
She's right- it's a SLOW process!
Analyst are of different persuasions now. Unlike Fallsfall, mine is of the "interactive, relational" school of thought. So he is often in constant dialogue with my different selves and feeling states. When I am better integrated, he tends to be quieter.
Pfinstegg
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