Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 818276

Shown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:07:41

I have been pretty critical of Paul, and I've never thought he was anything like my therapist.

But last Wednesday, with Sophie, he was so very much like my therapist. The dynamic at the end, where he said something that reached through to her, and she responded in a way that lightened the atmosphere in the room. Then they sat companionably. That is so like our sessions. As well as with the paternal sort of fondness and interest Paul exudes towards Sophie. And that he takes her more outrageous statements in good humor, and is able to breach her defenses in a nonthreatening way.

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 14:21:22

In reply to In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:07:41

I really like Paul with Sophie too. Of course, I like Paul. My therapist doesn't watch the show (or at least he doesn't say he does) but Paul is a lot like him - they have very similar approaches and mannerisms even.

Seldom

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie » seldomseen

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:33:47

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 14:21:22

My therapist finally saw it a couple of nights when he was out of town. Judging from when I think he left, that would be Thursday and Friday night, although I guess it's possible that he caught a rerun of another night.

He liked Paul, and thought he was a good therapist (apart from what I'd told him about Laura and Alex). But admitted that he is nowhere as intense as Paul. Which is quite true, and probably where I think my therapist is nothing like Paul. I couldn't handle intense. But Paul seems softer with Sophie? And especially last time.

Not that my therapist always radiates paternal/maternal fondness for me or anything. But that particular dynamic of my being defensive, his saying or asking something that responds to what I'm *really* saying, then my acknowledgment of that by saying something to shift the mood towards lighter, that is so spot on.

That one episode was utterly perfect to me, as far as therapy. Of course, therapy isn't utterly perfect therapy every week either. :)

Paul seems so different to me each night. Apart from having that brooding intensity that reminds me more of my father than my therapist. Which night does he most remind you of your therapist?

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:50:47

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:33:47

I like the Friday sessions best, although I don't much care for Paul in them.

I like how we find out about Paul from his wife and his former supervisor (? I'm thinking?). About how who he is as a therapist reflects his own needs and personal weaknesses even if they may be seen as strengths by others. And how he is in a way getting his needs met in therapy even though he may be burnt out right now. I can't remember the episode where Gina talked about it directly. But I remember wondering what my own therapist's style revealed about him as a person. And if that tied in with my own impressions of him.

Right now, as Paul seems to have hit bottom, and is getting a bit better, it's interesting to see how what he says to his clients might be influencing what he's thinking about himself.

I'm reasonably certain that my therapist can't be getting that particular benefit from our sessions.

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 15:38:20

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:33:47

I see my T in Paul most with Laura, Sophie and Alex. I will also admit that I see some of myself in them too - mostly Laura and Sophie. I was never as overtly sexual or manipulative as Laura, but I see a lot of myself in her. Sophie with her anger and struggle for control - well, that was my 20's (without all the suicide).

My T is a pyschodynamic kind of guy and I guess they must teach the chair posture, arranging of items on the side table, and fingertip touching in psychodynamic school because that's exactly what my T does.

While I wasn't then (and still aren't) privvy to my t's personal feelings about me during the "transference years", I will say that he responded a lot like Paul did with Laura.

I mean we didn't sit on the couch and be all intimate with the hugging and long dramatic gazing into each others eyes, but he was very clear that he did have feelings for me too. But that he wasn't going to exploit them or me. He was firm that we would have a theraputic relationship and nothing else.

I wonder, if you took away the backstory that Paul DOES have feelings for Laura, then the way in which he has handled this situation (at least in therapy) isn't all that uncommon. Perhaps he was even too quick to outright reject her.

I don't know what will happen between Paul and Laura, I suspect that Paul's better sense will pull him back from her, but who knows?

Oh wow! I just started rambling, sorry.

Seldom

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by Daisym on March 16, 2008, at 16:34:39

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 15:38:20

My therapist makes some of the same noises Paul makes - the "hmmm" which can be comforting but also usually gets a "what?" from me. It took me years to ask that "what?" -- I was afraid to ask and thought I wasn't suppose to ask. And my therapist laughs at my smart-a$$ remarks too. He never raises his voice though.

I think it is interesting that we don't talk about the couple much and yet couple therapy is usually a large part of any therapist's caseload. I've been interested to watch Paul with couples because I know my therapist wrote his dissertation on transference with couples, and you can see Paul's coming through.

AnnieRose and I decided we don't like Paul's wife. She seems to want to get off scott-free for having an affair. Can you believe he covered for her with his kids?! But we both like Gina - she's really got Paul's number. I think it is also powerful that we see how a client can hurt their therapist and yet the therapist still hangs in with them. Clearly Paul hurts Gina's feelings. And clearly, Alex pushes Paul's buttons. Yet both remain committed to the therapy. I'm glad the writers wrote it that way.

I was on the HBO web site, there are tons of people posting about this show. I think it has really touched a nerve.

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie » Daisym

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 17:42:16

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Daisym on March 16, 2008, at 16:34:39

I find it really hard to identify with the couple. And I think I like Gina's work with Paul and Kate better than I like his work with them.

Gina seems so tired. And the fact that they know each other complicates things. But I think I like her. I'm not sure how much their previous relationship and time limited therapy is affecting her style, but she's way more directive than my therapist.

I imagine my therapist does a lot of couples work, but since I don't really see that, I can't imagine it that much.

I see subtle differences in how my therapist relates to me from session to session, depending on how I present myself to him. I wonder if he changes as much as Paul does between clients?

Paul's other clients must surely be less intense than these. He must be drained at the end of a day.

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie » seldomseen

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 17:54:21

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 15:38:20

I think the backstory affects how I see all his sessions. I know my feelings about him changed dramatically after that first Friday session with Gina.

Although erotic transference and countertransference hasn't at all played a role in our relationship, we've discussed it in theory. I think my therapist comes down on the side of acknowledging feelings. I think it must be difficult to do that without encouraging some feelings of romeo and juliet and thwarted passion. But clearly your therapist did a good job, and maintained your relationship and the boundaries.

I'm not really all that much like Sophie. Maybe in a very muted form, and without hardly any of the anger. I don't do anger well. My therapist is delighted when I show any anger. I'm not like Sophie, but my therapist is kind of like Paul is with Sophie when he's with me.

But I'm not at all like Laura or Alex or Amy or Jake. My therapy wouldn't make good TV. :) I must be represented by those clients we *don't* see.

What I find most amusing is how really accurate his clients interpret his statements and stances. While I'm not have bad at picking up shifts in his mood, I generally assume they have something to do with me. I don't think I'd be able to guess with enormous accuracy what he's thinking (as opposed to feeling). I'd be more likely to say something like "What have I done?"

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie » Daisym

Posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 18:49:29

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Daisym on March 16, 2008, at 16:34:39

Personally, I don't like Paul's wife either. I find her to be very harsh and bitter.

I love Gina, ever since the first show. I think she is a master therapist who puts Paul through his paces too. A caveat though, I have always loved Dianne Wiest in every role she plays, whether it's comedy or drama, so my opinion there is tainted I suspect.

Overall, I am addicted to the show.

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 18:57:13

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 17:54:21

Summoning anger really never was a problem for me, it lay just beneath you know?

I gotta say, the way in which my therapist approached transference with me was probably very honest on his part. I still haven't decided if honesty is the best policy in therapy (at least on the part of the therapist).

There was a tremendous amount of push/pull, but we finally worked it out.

The feelings of loving and missing my T, have come back somewhat and are tied to my father.

We were beginning to start talking about it, but then my therapist's dad died and he can't see me now for a month.

He didn't say anything to that effect, just indicated that it was due to scheduling.

I understand either way I guess.

Seldom

 

Re: In Treatment, Sophie

Posted by Daisym on March 16, 2008, at 20:31:27

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by seldomseen on March 16, 2008, at 18:57:13

I wish I weren't good at picking up the "mood" of the room. Sometimes I want to go for a walk because the room still is tense from the previous client. I've just realized as I've written this that at least two of my session per week have no one before me - I'm first and then I'm after lunch - and he can't stick someone there because he is moving from one office to another. :)

Last week my therapist asked me if I thought I could tell when he has had supervision and is trying something new with me. I hesitated and then said that "yes" - I think I can tell when he is trying something new or some new way of being in the room. However, since I don't know when he elects to have supervision or talk about my case, and I don't want to know really, I would have no way of putting that together. But there are definitely times when I want to ask, "did you go to a seminar or something this weekend?" He seemed a little taken aback but acknowledged that my radar was so finely tuned that it shouldn't surprise him that I'd pick up subtle differences. I teased him about using new questions - was he asking me what his therapist asked him? He had the grace to laugh. He did reassure me that he couldn't imagine any consultant, ever, influencing him to transfer me, despite the intensity of our relationship and my attachment. He said a good consultant helps you work it out with the patient, not recommend that you cut and run. My response was that I was less worried about termination than I was about him changing his style and putting up great big boundaries.

I think it isn't that I don't want honesty from my therapist but I think some disclosures are harder to handle than others - even if you've asked for them. I keep thinking, what is Laura supposed to do now, keep trying to seduce him? And how do you go back to sitting across from each other?

Do you think this show has shaken up therapists who think that clients don't/won't put things together? Or don't run into each other?

 

I Wish I Got HBO

Posted by mair on March 16, 2008, at 21:28:19

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Daisym on March 16, 2008, at 16:34:39

We actually got close to signing up for cable (we have a small dish now) but the cable guys came out and after much effort, couldn't dig the electrical box out of the snow and ice. Then their car got stuck trying to maneuver my driveway. They told my husband they wouldn't come back to try again until the spring, and somehow, given what happened with their car, I think they meant it.

Now I just enjoy the show vicariously by reading about it.

Such is life in the land where winter never seems to end - at least not this year.

 

Re: I Wish I Got HBO » mair

Posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 22:32:20

In reply to I Wish I Got HBO, posted by mair on March 16, 2008, at 21:28:19

It will likely come out on DVD as soon as the run is over. They were remarkably quick with that sex therapy show.

I do like the time frame they're showing it in. It's a really terrific idea.

 

Re: Watch it On line

Posted by LadyBug on March 16, 2008, at 22:40:21

In reply to Re: I Wish I Got HBO » mair, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 22:32:20

You can watch past episodes on line. I've done it that way, it's a few weeks behind but it's better than nothing.
LadyBug

 

Re: Watch it On line

Posted by vwoolf on March 17, 2008, at 4:09:18

In reply to Re: Watch it On line, posted by LadyBug on March 16, 2008, at 22:40:21

What is the URL? I'd like to watch it but it'll be years before my local TV broadcasts it.

 

Re: In Treatment/What My T says

Posted by sassyfrancesca on March 17, 2008, at 8:51:34

In reply to Re: In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:50:47

My t hasn't seen it, but he has talked to a lot of colleagues who have.....he says they are basically of one consensus; that he isn't a very good therapist.

Paul reminds me nothing at all of my t...Paul seems to be so within himself; brooding; I need someone who is engaged....as my t is.

I relate SO MUCH to Paul and Laura, since I have been in love with my t for 5 years. Tonight (Monday); they are going to meet outside the office (a big no-no in therapy-land, LOL, LOL)

I was amazed at how out of touch Paul was while sitting with his colleague, mentor.....Gina and his wife; out of the blue he says: "Do you know what erotic transference is? Like his wife is a colleague....duh.

 

Re: Watch it On line

Posted by frida on March 17, 2008, at 10:55:36

In reply to Re: Watch it On line, posted by vwoolf on March 17, 2008, at 4:09:18

i'd like to watch it but i can only watch the short recaps...it says that if you're from outside US you cannot watch it...

Frida

 

Re: URL to watch on line

Posted by LadyBug on March 17, 2008, at 13:29:00

In reply to Re: Watch it On line, posted by vwoolf on March 17, 2008, at 4:09:18

http://www.hbo.com/intreatment/

 

i'm addicted!!! » Dinah

Posted by karen_kay on March 18, 2008, at 12:52:14

In reply to In Treatment, Sophie, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2008, at 14:07:41

i have on demand. i watched that show in 3 days. from start to finish. mister kk said 'it's no wonder you're getting depressed' :)

 

Re: Watch it On line

Posted by gee on March 18, 2008, at 13:21:31

In reply to Re: Watch it On line, posted by frida on March 17, 2008, at 10:55:36

You can also get it here: http://www14.alluc.org/alluc/tv-shows.html?action=getviewcategory&category_uid=41389&from=I
but only the first 14 episodes :-( Or you can watch it on Youtube, but again, only the first 14 or 15.

I really want to see the rest, but don't have HBO

 

Re: Watch it On line

Posted by vwoolf on March 19, 2008, at 1:51:27

In reply to Re: Watch it On line, posted by gee on March 18, 2008, at 13:21:31

Thanks gee and LadyBug, I've got it at last. It takes forever to download here, but with a bit patience I managed to watch a whole episode. Very interesting. Highly sexualised I found. No wonder it is addictive.


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