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Old Jul 03, 2012, 05:25 AM
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2or3things 2or3things is offline
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Member Since: May 2011
Location: turns out it really doesn't matter
Posts: 328
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squiggle328 View Post
I'm really not arguing with her about boundaries. She actually tells me a lot about her life. She told me that she went to a gymnastics camp last week with her girls. She talked about it a little, but didn't go into a lot of detail. That was enough for me, so that anxiety about it all went away. She never knew, and never will know that I was having a struggle with the issue of where she went.

As for how her normalcy would matter? It matters because I think I am so "not normal". If I hear things that she does/doesn't do it will make me feel more normal. That sounds weird, but it will.

We have a great relationship. I am just still scared of it.
I'm glad you have a great relationship. That matters so much, right?

As for the rest, though, even if it's not a struggle about boundaries per se, it seems to me that it's at least a bit of a struggle about what she will and won't give you. (And I think that might be about boundaries, but maybe not.) In both cases--about her telling you about her personal life and about her seeming normal--the thing you seem to be saying is that something about what she does in her personal life will have an impact on who you are. And while it's great for a T to model positive behavior, etc. in the moment, therapy isn't supposed to work the way you're looking for it to, I think...

If, for example, you base your sense of normalcy on how much you replicate the sorts of things T does, you'll never feel "normal enough." Because you're uniquely Squiggle, and need to appreciate your own strength and wonderfulness, not take someone else's as your own. It's a T's job to help you get to the point where you're confident and calm enough about who you are. Having a sense of normalcy come from your proximity to her won't work, especially if/when you get to the point of not needing therapy anymore. And putting herself out of a job is generally an ethical T's aim with each patient, as it should be.

I hope this helps a little. And hang in there, Squiggle. I know it's hard, but you'll get there!