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Old Jan 23, 2013, 04:35 PM
Anne2.0 Anne2.0 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Member Since: Aug 2012
Location: Anonymous
Posts: 3,132
Quote:
Originally Posted by sorter View Post
I suspect resolving unwanted involuntary experience is the only real reason we go to therapy.
Resolving unwanted involuntary experience, if by that you mean something like child sexual abuse, then I can relate to this at least in part. I don't think it's the ONLY reason I go to therapy, though. The thing that troubles me most in my daily life is not being fully present in the sense of having "unwanted involuntary" reactions to people and events that are somehow tinged with negativity. For instance, if my H's behavior is leading me to feel angry and hurt because I feel he is not listening to me, then I want to work to develop skills to get to the place where I can both communicate with him more effectively so he has a better opportunity to listen, rather than shooing him away AND be able to moderate my feelings into something small (in this moment) and let them go.

There are other reasons I go to therapy, too, including getting the support I need to do the stressful work I do, with trauma survivors; and to better understand the impact I have as a parent on my pre-teen son.

I do not think you can distill everyone's reason for being in therapy into your box, though, even if it is a large shoebox and you have a really good shoehorn.