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Old Mar 03, 2012, 10:29 PM
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PreacherHeckler PreacherHeckler is offline
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Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Close to the Adirondacks but not close enough
Posts: 578
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squiggle328 View Post
I think it makes a difference if you are in "Christian Counseling". At least, I feel that way. There are certain things that I feel are not 'proper' to bring up. That's why I am having such a hard time with this. Will we go to what the Bible says about feelings such as this? Or will we stick to what psychology teaches us? Maybe she will choose one. Maybe both. This is where I am struggling so bad. Who can I turn to?

I want to talk it out with someone else. Not with her. That way I can sort this all out, and then (when my emotions are calmed down), I can bring it up to her. I have my own beliefs and morals about sex. My thoughts and feelings about her go against that. My sister went into therapy 20 years ago during a bitter divorce. She came out of therapy and married a woman. How did that happen?
Being a Christian myself, I understand some of the apparent conflicts between what the Bible says and what psychology teaches us. I also know that some Christian counselors are more traditional and fundamental than others, and those who are more traditional and fundamental are more likely to view the thoughts and feelings themselves as wrong or sinful. That makes it impossible to work through these kinds of issues because the only solution is prayer and repentance for thoughts and feelings. Contemporary Christian counselors, on the other hand, recognize thoughts and feelings as being different than behaviors. I think if your T is more moderate or contemporary in her beliefs, then you can talk to her about your thoughts and feelings because she can separate them from your actions.
As for your sister... well, any number of things could have happened in her therapy, none of which may happen in yours. Maybe she realized in therapy that she had been married to a man just because it was the acceptable thing to do, and after therapy she felt more confident in herself and no longer wanted to do what she was expected to do regardless of her feelings and desires. I don't know what happened or how it happened, but it doesn't mean it will happen to you.
__________________
Conversation with my therapist:

Doc: "You know, for the past few weeks you've seemed very disconnected from your emotions when you're here."
Me: "I'm not disconnected from my emotions. I just don't feel anything when I'm here."
(Pause)
Me: "Doc, why are you banging your head against the arm of your chair?"
Doc: "Because I'm not close enough to a wall."

It's official. I can even make therapists crazy.