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I can see TR's example of her T being angry FOR her. I actually have been in that situation, and I'm not sure whether it's therapeutic for me, or if it feeds MY anger, which isn't all that therapeutic. But I also like her being angry FOR me. I don't know.
If your T means in allowing all emotions to allow him to be mad at the client, I don't agree.
I think while I agree in part is 1914, I think I disagree in principle.
I agree Ts will have feelings of anger, but I don't think the therapy session is just like everywhere else. Part of what we pay for is the training for htem to keep their stuff out of the client's sessions. I agree they may get angry on occasion, and if handling it appropriately means doing their work outside of the session, and not bringing it into the session, I agree with you. I think getting angry and not dealing with it is worse - it seeps in in covert ways.
I think it is possible, with good training and understanding, for a T to not get angry at client's, perhaps with an occasional slip up which they recognize, own and address on their own before any damage is done. I also would expect a T to recognize that if they are angry, it is their stuff, and not about me, and be able to proceed until they have time to process things.
I agree all people get angry sometimes.
I agree Ts are people.
I don't agree that anger in the therapy session is just like anger outside the therapy session, or with other acquaintances.
All people are sexual too, but that's not acceptable in the therapy session. All people are happy too, but I don't expect my T to bring his latest joy into my therapy session either (with exceptions for sharing being a new grandparent or something momentary like that).
The client-therapist relationship isn't reciprocal in the way other relationships are reciprocal. The exchange is I pay the T, and the T lets the session be all about me. That's the contract. IT's different than rules of connection with family friends, etc. Frankly, I also think it should apply to all professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants), but other professionals aren't as trained in how to deal with it. A good T should know how to handle it.
I'm not saying it never happens with good Ts (I'll ignore the bad Ts) I'm saying it's not therapeutic, and it's not good practice. I will concede that the T recognizing, owning, and remediating his anger can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, the client able to know that the T won't project and transfer his stuff. But only if the T recognizes, owns and remediates - then that process can be helpful, but not the actual anger
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