Quote:
Originally Posted by My kids are cool
I think there is a difference between showing appropriate emotions, and expressing frustration with a client who very reasonably feels exposed and uncomfortable after sharing private information. My T is great about expressing his feelings generally, BUT if he feels frustrated with me when I shut down and pull back after telling him something difficult and private, he NEVER tells me that and I would feel horrible if he did.
He tells me how normal it is that I feel that way given how I grew up and that this is a slow process and not to beat myself up about how long it takes, etc. He leaves reassuring voicemails when I ask him to, letting me know that the exposed feeling is normal and will pass and the information I gave him does not change how he thinks of me or feels about me.
|
Your T sounds very understanding about vulnerability. That's great that he reassures you. My T will reassure me if I mention my concerns, but will not go out of her way to give reassurance. She does thank me for telling her something that she knows was difficult. I did feel horrible, not so much when she said she was frustrated (though that hurt too when I analyzed it later), but more when she said that she thought I hadn't changed at all around her since the beginning. It was like she had wiped away the relationship, saying that none of it mattered because I'm still acting guarded. I feel like I deserve that comment though.