If my therapist and I switched roles for one session, I am not sure if I would be nice and sweet, or if I would be stern and firm with boundaries. Would I mimic her style, or would I create my own style and show her what I really need from her.
Would I allow her to sit close by me? Hold my hand? Hug me? Would I wipe her tears when she cried? Would I allow her to email me? Text me? Call me between sessions? Would I encourage her to look at me when she is talking? Would I make eye contact with her at all times?
I would maintain the same style boundaries he does. No touch. Email/calls are fine. Eye contact at all times.
How would I handle transference if she brought that up? What about erotic transference? Sexual issues? Would I be open to anything she wanted to talk about? Would anything be off limits? What if she said something that hurt my feelings? What if she came in and stared at the walls and wouldn't talk?
Um sexual issues? Nope. He's 38 I'm 21, and he took on a parental transference figure. Um awkward. If he came in and didn't talk I would torture him, like he does with me. If he hurt my feelings I would try and find out why.
What would you do if you could change roles with your therapist? What would that session look like?
It would be weird because of the age dynamic and because he is the rock in the relationship. I've never seen him vulnerable at all.
Interesting topic squiggle.