Quote:
Originally Posted by elliemay
On some levels I disagree that therapy is not an exercise in intellect. Clearly, at first, there has to be some acknowledgment and experience of emotion - both good and bad.
However, later, I think it is important to be able to step back and rationally evaluate our approach to our own emotions, our behaviors and the things that our holding us back.
I think it's important to blend both the intellect with the emotion, and that is how real change occurs.
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Well, I think what I meant (or what my t meant, actually, LOL since he said this but I totally agreed with him) is that intellect alone is not all that is needed to achieve a balanced and effective therapy. I KNOW that I hurt, I KNOW what is causing me to hurt, I KNOW that the therapist is helping me, I may even KNOW all about his shrinky "tricks" of evaluating me and my situation.....but knowing and experiencing the actual emotions involved to get toward healing are two separate things. KWIM?
I mean, I acknowledge there are people who do not know what is causing their pain, that the therapist is helping or what his skills are. But even knowing those things is obviously not enough......just look at someone like me who does have the "knowledge" part down cold (not all respects.....but a lot more than the average client), and low and behold, knowing that alone is not working! It's like 3rdTimesTheCharm's analogy with "knowing" about the knitting pattern. You need to experience your feelings and emotions and thoughts to make progress. That's basically all I meant when I said it's not an exercise in intellect.
So yes, intellect is obviously needed on a basic, fundamental level to begin to make steps in the right direction. But I DO agree with you in that it is needed in conjunction with the emotional aspect; not by itself.
