Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 323332

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Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever?

Posted by inthegloaming on March 13, 2004, at 1:26:56

In reply to Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever? » KindGirl, posted by crushedout on March 12, 2004, at 19:26:32

i have really come to love my T over the i don't know how long we've been doing sessions. as for transference, i was extremely mean to her in the beginning... snide and snarky and belligerent, and she took it in stride. i couldn't be outwardly nasty to anyone else in my life who i was angry at, so i blasted it all on her. then when i went to a pdoc, i terminated talk therapy. just this year, i realized that my old T was the way to go and i came back to open arms.
i have never liked therapy, but now i do. i'm comfortable in it, know what to say. i can say so much more now, which is good. at first i thought it was weird to have any sort of feeling at ALL towards your therapist--i mean, you're paying them, blah blah--but when i began to trust that she genuinely cared for me, i guess i opened up some to the idea. she truly is a friend now, an ally, like an oracle-aunt of some kind. something like that. i don't know. sometimes i've been tempted to say 'i love you, doc' but... somehow it seems unprofessional. and i don't know why i even care about 'professional...' i'm a scruffy 19 year old college kid for petes sake... anyway...

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 13, 2004, at 10:25:12

In reply to Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever? » pegasus, posted by Fallen4myT on March 12, 2004, at 13:57:21

You CAN do it! Beginning to tell your T how you are feelng about him will be hard, and will give you lots of anxious moments, but you will learn that you can trust yourself AND him with these feelings. You are sure to get an empathic, tender response as it's clear that he really cares about you a lot; however, it could well be the beginning of the end of your hopes for him as an eventual romantic partner. You'll get more, though- you'll begin to really get better! And along the way, you can even occasionally have fun, like you helped me to do with the clothes!

 

Are mutual I love yous with a T realistic?

Posted by spoc on March 13, 2004, at 23:25:20

In reply to Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever?, posted by pegasus on March 12, 2004, at 13:43:53

Hi all,

I had very strong feelings for a pdoc for awhile, and maybe the point *is* to give free reign to them to play out -- I'm not sure. But instead, I forced them back in check ASAP because I felt selfish "falling in love" with someone and dreaming of its reciprocation based only on a scenario that was allll about me me me. I imagined idealized qualities about him as a person and knew I liked how safe I felt with him, but realized this didn't mean I actually *did* know him or give back to him through the equal two-way flow that real love grows from. I also fancy myself to be likable and engaging as a client but that's still not the 50% contribution a "partner" deserves to be getting in return. Do main stream therapists really have no problem with expressing "love" for a client; without reminding them that their feelings are normal for the setting but not "real?" Without the reality of the fact that it *isn't* reality thrown in, it would seem like many clients would have a harder time separating and applying the improved loving skills in more appropriate places.

But then while I enjoy researching just about anything, I've purposely stayed away from researching psy theories and factors much, hoping it would make me a clean slate for getting help with no preconceived notions. But I've already seen that has been a mistake in some ways.

 

Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever? » Dinah

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 15:12:09

In reply to Re: Do you and your t. say l love you ever? » Fallen4myT, posted by Dinah on March 12, 2004, at 19:26:01

I don't know but I posted somewhere...lol not sure where that I kinda hinted and he kinda knows I THINK? but no way too shy and don't wanna make him feel odd..or me :)

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 15:23:20

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 13, 2004, at 10:25:12

Aw P thanks but :) NO I CANNOT "SAY" it...too shy and also he knows a lot of how I feel we as I said in some thread kind of side talked it and well I kind of get the idea he may not WANT to hear it from me. Also he said its not transferance but that is an area I won't go into on the boards but I don't generally have GOOD things like him in my life so I am rational enough to know WE are never going to be a WE just dreaming my life away once in a while anyhow and yeah its fun to play :)

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 15:40:26

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg, posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 15:23:20

Aww,yes....there probably are some very positive and helpful things in having those wonderful feelings- even if you NEVER talk about them! The thing that really counts, maybe, is HAVING the feelings. Words are only a fraction of the ways in which we all communicate, anyway. I'd say, if it feels right- NOT TO WORRY A BIT! From my own experience, as a *BIG TALKER*, some of the most meaningful times I've had in therapy took place in complete silence- just knowing we had gotten to the point of being really attuned to one another and were sharing feelings- feeling close and at peace, you know?

Want you to know I'm on the net shopping for my camisoles! My T comes back tomorrow...

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 16:03:39

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 15:40:26

Thanks for understanding and all, thing is we DO communicate WITH LOOKS that would curl your hair :) And in talking AROUND the issue and wow so much I cannot say but his *crossings* and all. You would be amazed at how well we say so much without the words.
Haha, youre on the Net getting ready for T day...ask him if he will toss some beads your way :) WHAT COLORS YOUY BUYING?

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 21:41:16

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg, posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 16:03:39

Actually, it sounds just wonderful! Even though I tend to talk, and the analyst I have relies on talking as well, we also communicate in the same ways as you- probably not as much though.. However, when I get those camisoles, and unbutton the jackets, I may have more to report! If I don't just die of embarrassment first.....

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 22:06:09

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg, posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 16:03:39

Oh, the COLORS! I've found black and white, which were easy, but have to look carefully for a match for the strawberry, which is kind of a deep pink color. I'll definitely enjoy wearing them out with my husband and friends, but, truthfully, it's quite scary for me to wear them to my sessions- at the same time, it will be new (and it is a GREAT idea)... but it will up the sex factor, which is pretty darned high already. God, how did I ever agree to this???? If you don't hear a thing from me, you'll know I expired right on the couch from sheer embarrassment!

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 23:33:01

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 21:41:16

Lol with your kind of therapy youre kind of forced to talk or I bet it would be dead silent and EVEN I would talk rather than have that :) Oh yes our eyes lock in and a lot is said even when he gets tears in his eyes and so on...lets say in a FEW ways ya know :P . You are making me lol on dying of embarrassment cause you CAN blame the whole clothes deal on me and get out of it say a friend told you its the ONLY way to DO therapy as you will tap into the inner you by dressing as you feel :)


> Actually, it sounds just wonderful! Even though I tend to talk, and the analyst I have relies on talking as well, we also communicate in the same ways as you- probably not as much though.. However, when I get those camisoles, and unbutton the jackets, I may have more to report! If I don't just die of embarrassment first.....

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 14, 2004, at 23:42:58

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 14, 2004, at 22:06:09

Gak! I posted this post then lost it...On colors you want to accent not just match the color so a pink, white or raspberry would I think work with that jacket...see IN PERSON...JC Penneys, Marhsall Fields, Kohls ...wow so many places in person cause in the juniors section things you THINK you cannot fit into you can...and you will be here to tell me what you wore at your NEXT session I have faith that you will not expire on that couch lololol...Oh and try Bisou bisou they have cute like spaghetti strap tank like tops built in bras but wayyy low cut....,many colors

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng..

Posted by Tancred62 on March 17, 2004, at 19:17:54

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 13, 2004, at 10:25:12

This is all rather queer (in the original sense of the term). And this is why I am very skeptical about "Ts" and their position of power in therapy. Why are people so obsessed with "love"? I understand that long conversations with empathetic therapists (why give themthe capital "T"?)have the potential to create illusions of love, but this is not very constructive. I also feel that many "Ts" take advantage of the situation and ride an ego trip at the expense of vulnerable patients. I thought this board was about mutual help and respect, not about what are the best clothes to wear on sessions with an alleged "therapist." In short, I'm disgusted.

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 17, 2004, at 20:36:08

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.., posted by Tancred62 on March 17, 2004, at 19:17:54

We do support one another and once you're around for a while you will see the MANY ways we do that with and for once another. Clothes included :)

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62

Posted by gabbix2 on March 17, 2004, at 20:40:45

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.., posted by Tancred62 on March 17, 2004, at 19:17:54

> In short, I'm disgusted.

So?

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62

Posted by spoc on March 17, 2004, at 21:28:57

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.., posted by Tancred62 on March 17, 2004, at 19:17:54

> This is all rather queer (in the original sense of the term). And this is why I am very skeptical about "Ts" and their position of power in therapy. Why are people so obsessed with "love"? I understand that long conversations with empathetic therapists (why give themthe capital "T"?)have the potential to create illusions of love, but this is not very constructive. I also feel that many "Ts" take advantage of the situation and ride an ego trip at the expense of vulnerable patients. I thought this board was about mutual help and respect, not about what are the best clothes to wear on sessions with an alleged "therapist." In short, I'm disgusted.

Tancred62, I think what's going on here is an example of the psychological theory of "transference" in action. Ironic that right out of the gate I ended up on this thread, but I have just stopped talk therapy with a psychiatrist who admittedly made anticipation of that effect in general too much a part of his method for my tastes.

I believe transference theory maintains that a patient's issues with a person or a category of people in their "real" lives will play out on the therapist, and through that end up being exposed and resolved. Could be family, bosses or authority figures, friends, lovers. Transference can be "positive" (e.g. idealizing someone, perhaps prematurely or when unwarranted, inadvisable, unreturned, etc; or after having previous problems with getting/feeling/expressing love); or "negative" (e.g. perceiving insults, attacks and bad treatment that aren't there).

Different types of therapists believe transference occurs, and/or is relevant, to different extents. I believe psychiatrists/psychoanalysts are more likely to see it as a key element in therapy. *Anyway* the point I want to make is that the reactions you are reading about here are probably exactly how it's "supposed" to be. The misplaced or buried feelings ultimately get redirected in healthier ways in the person's real life. Meaning, we can't assume that these therapists are asking for it, encouraging it, or handling it inappropriately. These perceptions are often superimposed on them as they sit there. They know how to recognize and track the phenomena as it progresses and (ideally) is resolved by the patient. That's how the underlying issue that it came from gets treated.

But hey, maybe sometimes a crush is just a crush! Like you said -- easy to feel for a confidante. But in either case it's plenty likely that the therapists aren't misbehaving. Oh -- and I think the "T" just denotes the person being referred to more clearly in a sentence than a small "t." Similar to "therp," "pdoc," etc. but even easier.

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 17, 2004, at 21:55:53

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.., posted by Tancred62 on March 17, 2004, at 19:17:54

Hey, where's your sense of humor - or fun? The work I do with my "T" is tremendously serious and powerful; things are happening in my hours which should be and will always be private, but which are immensely helpful to me in my quest to be as true to myself as I can, and to live as full a life as I can- those are the reasons I am going. The emotions I feel in those hours range from joy, passion, rage and despair- to quiet happiness and understanding. This work is so hard that it was just a lot of fun to kind of "play" with Fallen about the clothes. I'm surprised you don't understand that.

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 17, 2004, at 22:22:53

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62, posted by Pfinstegg on March 17, 2004, at 21:55:53

You know P, humor , fun and play have been a topic of discussion by me and my T he feels that it's NEEDED more by adults not days cause it helps balance all the rest of the issues in life. Also my next outfit....teal short dress silk and nice....black heels and cold feet lol cause it is gonna snow :p

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 17, 2004, at 22:36:54

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg, posted by Fallen4myT on March 17, 2004, at 22:22:53

Wow, F. A short teal silk dress with black heels sounds gorgeous! Have fun it in it!

I wore my new white camisole with an OPEN jacket today, He knew i was going to wear something a little different, because i had printed out our exchanges for him. He said he loved the humor and the *play* in the printouts, and although he didn't directly compliment me, he did say that he was glad that I felt confident and free enough to dress a bit differently. All this just took a minute or two, and was part of one of those really GREAT sessions- you know the kind I mean!

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Pfinstegg

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 17, 2004, at 22:52:48

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Fallen4myT, posted by Pfinstegg on March 17, 2004, at 22:36:54

He knew before so you emailed them not handed them to him :) I bet he got a lol out of us and our clothes issues...OMG I wonder what all I said...hahaha DID HE SEE the beads deal? Man this is toooo funny and I bet you looked smashing ...You're brave, you now both talk the talk and wear the garb :P WTG, you DID it :) I am way proud and yes he was too and I am sure he STOOD up and took notice no doubt :)

 

Re: sayng what you are feelng..

Posted by Tancred62 on March 18, 2004, at 8:22:17

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.. » Tancred62, posted by Pfinstegg on March 17, 2004, at 21:55:53

Well thank you all for your comments. I was aware of the concept (some would say actual dynamic) of transference, but it seems that since the last time I heard/talked about it (15 years ago), it has really come into its own and is now a "standard" approach, for better and for worse. I suppose what "disgusted" me in the thread was that the banter reminded me of teenagers talking about their latest "crush" and the latest fashion statements they had and were about to make. I assume your point here would be "That's exactly what we were talking about, and there's nothing wrong with that!" Hey, that's fine. Nonetheless, I had to cringe at the dialogue because it seemed to reinforce many of the stereotypes about women (obsessions with clothes, boys, gossip, etc.). If that is what transference has wrought for you, it seems a bit trivial; but again, perhaps their is more substance to what I see as trivial. Perhaps I am so unfamiliar with transference that I am missing the whole point. I do have a sense of humor, and I even have to admit that I'd rather see a woman in a nice outfit, looking "sexy," rather than seeing a woman in a frumpy outfit in which she looks like #$#$%. There. That's my stereotypical male view. I guess we're all susceptible to being a cliche. And at least your discourse has a light, airy happiness about it. Can I assume that heterosexual women would prefer, or would have more success with, a heterosexual male therapist? And what about men? Would they be better off with a woman therapist? I've always wondered about that. I've had both in the past, and each really seemed to have no clue. I always felt that they either didn't "get" it or that they actually were more neurotic than myself.

Peace.

 

Re: saying what you are feeling.. » Tancred62

Posted by spoc on March 18, 2004, at 12:42:13

In reply to Re: sayng what you are feelng.., posted by Tancred62 on March 18, 2004, at 8:22:17

So many really serious things I want to look into at this site, yet here I go posting to this thread again!! I guess I need to work through having just spent so much emotion and ungodly $$$$ in what was for me the wrong kind of therapy. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the kind the women here are in, but this thread brought up a common aspect of them all for me.

You said:

> Well thank you all for your comments. I was aware of the concept (some would say actual dynamic) of transference, but it seems that since the last time I heard/talked about it (15 years ago), it has really come into its own and is now a "standard" approach, for better and for worse.

Probably only with practitioners (often psychiatrists) of psychoanalysis. My assumption too was that transference *as KEY* was a concept from the past. That was why I was so shocked to find that I had sat through over two months of my only "treatment" being the anticipation from my pdoc that as he sat there I *would* (meaning no discussion to the contrary allowed) make him into -- and treat/react to him -- the same way I do to all the major types of players in my life.

Anyway it sounds from the posts here that these women have warmer, fuzzier interactions with their therapists, because when you're only seen as a stimulus-response lab organism, you know it! So theirs probably aren't "analysts," meaning they probably recognize but don't necessarily look for or "need" to see transference happening to perform their magic. Here, it's probably not the case that it's being applied "to" these women. When a therapist really *does* feel to a patient like a particular person/persons in their life, that part of it probably initiates from the patients themselves. I think my initial purpose in posting was kind of to ask whether the women realized that they may be transfering (and perceiving reciprocation of) their romantic feelings to an idealized, "conflict/reality-free" target; rather than experiencing unique compatibility/attraction with a specific individual.

I've been talking out of both sides of my face on this thread, but at first I thought maybe they should consider that in case their therapists weren't practiced in this "technique" and wouldn't end up helping them avoid being hurt by what would feel like a break up/rejection. Later I thought, the "T" has a plan that may not involve a stranger on a thread disclosing that there is no Santa Claus. Lastly I thought, maybe these women do know why they're really feeling what they're feeling but are just choosing to have fun with it in the moment. I have no idea if that's good. When I felt the "love" I laughed at myself and stuffed it right back in its cage. Never allowed myself to dress any differently. Didn't want to play into a classic pattern that therapists can spot a mile away (and in this case mine would have been right for the only time about when my transfered issues were at play). But maybe that is a sign of how I deprive myself or repress myself in real life! See, around and around the circle of reasoning goes. And indeed the "fruition" was that I saw I had projected ideal character on him based on nothing...So maybe I learned from that.

You said:

> I suppose what "disgusted" me in the thread was that the banter reminded me of teenagers talking about their latest "crush" and the latest fashion statements they had and were about to make. I assume your point here would be "That's exactly what we were talking about, and there's nothing wrong with that!" Hey, that's fine. Nonetheless, I had to cringe at the dialogue because it seemed to reinforce many of the stereotypes about women (obsessions with clothes, boys, gossip, etc.). If that is what transference has wrought for you, it seems a bit trivial; but again, perhaps their is more substance to what I see as trivial. Perhaps I am so unfamiliar with transference that I am missing the whole point.

Guessing again, but the above could be an exact illustration of what COULD BE "healed" by a therapist making use of the transference that really seems to be occurring in these cases. Tendencies to stay in the teenage mode of "falling in love" (infatuation not grounded in reality) and end up disappointed. Tendencies not to overcome the things women do that hurt themselves and hold them back in the long run. If someone could start therapy already knowing which of their chronic, self-destructive/disillusioning tendencies to reign in and how, they wouldn't be there! AND here's another guess -- some people may go to therapy because they have lost or never had the ability to love or feel sexual/sexy, and even to just play and flirt as they are talking about. Not being able to bring those things to our lives is actually pretty serious. Maybe they need to learn or relearn how to do that with their partners. In that case, if transference works right, the newly learned skills developed in a safe environment with their therapists will ultimately get redirected to where they should/could be in the person's real life.

No kind of actual "relations" are to take place of course. But taking it a step further for illustration purposes **only,** think of the one (bad?) analogy of how transference works that all laypeople seem to understand: a sex therapist. We all know that person is there to help someone who has been unable to perform in their real life to resolve their issues, so that they can ultimately move on.

On the seventy-third hand, everyone is human and we can only hope that the vast majority of therapists handle crushes constructively or at least so as not to cause damage. Who knows what could actually be going on here.

 

Re: saying what you are feeling.. » spoc

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 18, 2004, at 16:01:11

In reply to Re: saying what you are feeling.. » Tancred62, posted by spoc on March 18, 2004, at 12:42:13

I do go to a psychoanalyst- but a contemporary "relational" one. We explore all the feelings which come up between us- and understanding and working with them is the most important thing we do. The contemporary thinking is that out pre-conscious and unconscious feelings are laid down in early life in our right hemispheres by the relationships we had then. So- here's where the "relational" part comes in - the patient and therapist need to allow their right hemispheres to interact. In this way, we find out how we truly felt as children, but we have an opportunity to allow that part of the brain to develop new and healthier ways of interacting with other people. Recent research has actually shown that people with abuse and/or neglect in their childhoolds have smaller right hemispheres, with many fewer neurons connecting to the fear centers in the limbic system- they are much less able to use their right cortexes to calm down their tendencies to react to small stressors with extreme fear, rage, dissociation or hopelessness. But, this research has also shown that vital parts of the right frontal cortex are "plastic:- capable of growing throughout life. Modern therapists utilize this knowledge to help patients grow through the relationships they develop with their therapists. The relationship aspect has become so central that the word "transference" really doesn't begin to describe the new thinking about this.The clothes thing with Fallen was just plain fun, and had to do with doing things in a new, happier way. But we are also dealing with immensely painful things and trying to do our best to grow beyond them. For one person, having intensely loving and erotic feelings may be central to their growth. For another, something else might be more important- such as developing basic trust in another human being. For a lot of us, all these things are included at different times. You can be sure we are not wasting our time on frivolities! Like you, and everyone else, we want to live the fullest, richest lives we can.

As to the gender of a therapist, I';d say - choose the one you think would mean the most to you. Women (sadly the majority on Psychobabble) have had very meaningful and successful experiences with both sexes, and men are surely the same.

 

Therapists and compassion/interaction » Pfinstegg

Posted by spoc on March 18, 2004, at 18:22:39

In reply to Re: saying what you are feeling.. » spoc, posted by Pfinstegg on March 18, 2004, at 16:01:11

[New title for thread, "Saying what you are feeling"!]

Wow, did he share all that process information with you? It chokes me up to have it confirmed for me how short things were falling, due to total lack of information, communication, reactions, humanity or even due process as intended. The pain was not a result of the necessary pressure and conflict implicit in classic analysis. The application was flawed, period. But he's in that "position of authority" so I am still reeling and my next therapist, if any, will have that baggage to deal with too. Summary:

I had a window of relatively huge enthusiasm when I began, due to finally taking action. I had faith and the cards were absolutely stacked in his favor. "Hi, I'm here to dig out of paralyzing depression (and OCD, ADD, whatever) and build self esteem so I can accomplish something." I stated repeatedly that I wanted to face the bad but definitely employ some CBT-like aspects and formulate baby steps ASAP. Right there he could have told me I was in the wrong place.

He asked background questions for two sessions, then went absolutely and permanently mute, including devoid of facial expressions. Weeks pass, I talk to myself. The good, the bad, the ugly. Professing pain but taking responsibility for most of it. And trying to also occasionally mention the positive things I cling to about myself that I hope I could build on in future careers or relationships. I repeatedly request, but don't get, feedback or perspective. I truly am talking to a cardboard cut-out. Excuse me -- once he said "ick" in reference to one of my life experiences. That's not sarcasm, that's truly the full script of any compassion he ever showed. And in the end I asked him to correct me if I was wrong on that.

He deflects me when I ask if my thought processes about anything in particular seem good/accurate, and when I ask for any feedback in general. But he does start dangling some harsh and groundless speculations, phrased as foregone conclusions rather than open-ended hypotheses. When I ask what it is I said/did that lead him to say those things, across the board he knits his brow and replies only, "The important thing is why it MATTERS to you what I think." He had taken the hastily gathered and admittedly true seed that I am oversensitive and made it the driving force behind everything, so it became a catch 22 impasse. He would say/answer/justify nothing about his own responses or lack of them, but if I asked for any discussion whatsoever he would only frame the asking itself as proving his point. After weeks of this I began telling him that to have someone in his position react this way was contributing to a nosedive in depression and self-doubt heretofore unreached. No response.

Finally I studied up a bit myself and saw that it is indeed I-M-P-E-R-A-T-I-V-E to the process that the differing perceptions of the two parties as to what was just said and what just happened get addressed and hashed out *immediately.* I pointed that out to him but still no change. Also, I know classic analysis (which at 2x per week this supposedly wasn't) isn't about positive thinking techniques and the like, but in the end I asked him sincerely to please remind me of anything anything anything anything at all that he had ever said or reinforced that was positive in nature (HE: "Uh... I've laughed at your humor sometimes haven't I?"). Or to explain to me how it is that even a "normal" person wouldn't also eventually perceive negativity if someone ignores their requests for dialogue (or even facial expressions) long enough -- but does pipe up with poorly extrapolated bad stuff they won't connect to anything. He could think of no answer. He tried to use his masterful deflection skills here too, and when finally pinned down, began saying he would have to think about it and answer me next time. But "next time," would say the same thing. And just as I -- the layperson -- had long before warned him, by the time he did try to have the conversation with me our recollections were so divergent it was hopeless. But he had still been unable to even use paraphrasing as fact in his attempted answer; it was all just lost.

Thanks for listening, obviously I had other things going on than lending an opinion to the clothing discussion. And bear with me, Bob board, it probably ain't over yet.

_______________
>> I do go to a psychoanalyst- but a contemporary "relational" one. We explore all the feelings which come up between us- and understanding and working with them is the most important thing we do. The contemporary thinking is that out pre-conscious and unconscious feelings are laid down in early life in our right hemispheres by the relationships we had then. So- here's where the "relational" part comes in - the patient and therapist need to allow their right hemispheres to interact. In this way, we find out how we truly felt as children, but we have an opportunity to allow that part of the brain to develop new and healthier ways of interacting with other people. Recent research has actually shown that people with abuse and/or neglect in their childhoolds have smaller right hemispheres, with many fewer neurons connecting to the fear centers in the limbic system- they are much less able to use their right cortexes to calm down their tendencies to react to small stressors with extreme fear, rage, dissociation or hopelessness. But, this research has also shown that vital parts of the right frontal cortex are "plastic:- capable of growing throughout life. Modern therapists utilize this knowledge to help patients grow through the relationships they develop with their therapists. The relationship aspect has become so central that the word "transference" really doesn't begin to describe the new thinking about this.The clothes thing with Fallen was just plain fun, and had to do with doing things in a new, happier way. But we are also dealing with immensely painful things and trying to do our best to grow beyond them. For one person, having intensely loving and erotic feelings may be central to their growth. For another, something else might be more important- such as developing basic trust in another human being. For a lot of us, all these things are included at different times. You can be sure we are not wasting our time on frivolities! Like you, and everyone else, we want to live the fullest, richest lives we can.
>
> As to the gender of a therapist, I';d say - choose the one you think would mean the most to you. Women (sadly the majority on Psychobabble) have had very meaningful and successful experiences with both sexes, and men are surely the same.

 

Re: Therapists and compassion/interaction » spoc

Posted by pegasus on March 18, 2004, at 18:43:21

In reply to Therapists and compassion/interaction » Pfinstegg, posted by spoc on March 18, 2004, at 18:22:39

Holy smokes, spoc, that sounds horrible! I'm so sorry that you had that experience. So, am I correct in understanding that you are no longer working with this person? May I ask how long you were with him? Frankly, I'd report him to the BBB or something. Someone let me know if I'm just missing how something like this could possibly help someone.

Spoc, I hope you have an opportunity to have a much better therapy experience in the future.

- p

 

Re: Therapists and compassion/interaction » spoc

Posted by Pfinstegg on March 18, 2004, at 19:28:37

In reply to Therapists and compassion/interaction » Pfinstegg, posted by spoc on March 18, 2004, at 18:22:39

Oh, Spoc -what a horrible experience! He was obviously not aware of all the amazing things which were learned during "the decade of the brain" (the 90's). You sound like you have a lot of positive things going for you, and could easily have a wonderful therapy experience with the right person. The relational aspects are now consider so primary in importance, that, when you look for a new therapist, why not interview several, and ask them questions about how important they consider it? Find out how comfortable and skilled they are with the new interactive techniques. Take your time, and don't sign up for therapy with anyone until it feel intuitively right to you. You're the consumer, and are entitled to the best!

PS I had a bad prior therapy experience, also, so I began learning about the relational aspects on my own. The analyst I chose knew a tremendous amount about it, and has since shared with me new things as he is learning them. I feel that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that right hemisphere mutual interaction is THE curative factor. It can be taxing on the therapist, so you want to evaluate at the beginning whether you think they will be able to provide you with a really good experience.


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