Quote:
Originally Posted by TC1978
It may not be an answer to your question but I sympathise with you as I have had the horrible, awkward experience of transference- and not of the romantic type. I felt like I couldn't talk to him anymore, we were not getting anywhere as we having more of a personal chat and laugh about life. I don't know, I think it's actually mostly driven by the patient and their interpretation of what is going on? Does this make any sense. I am currently in a private clinic for a two month manic episode and have met a new Doctor, I am not going to get friendly, we should treat the relationship seriously(not sterile-just professional) Thank you, smart, relevant post  T |
Hello TC1978-
Thank you for your response and thank you for your supportive words. It is true that feelings generated in the therapy relationship are partly a product of the patient and their interpretations but that is only a part of the equation. You described your experience with the prior therapist as being more of a personal chat as opposed to a professional one-that is was more of a chat and laugh about life. I think that those things can be a part of a healing therapeutic relationship (just my opinion) but I also believe that it was your prior therapist's responsibility to steer things to a place where you were receiving help-that wasn't your responsibility. Even if that is what you thought you wanted (I am not saying these things were true-just a hypothetical) and even if you continually tried to have a personal connection more than doing the painful and difficult work of working through the issues, it was still your therapist's responsibility to steer things to a helpful place for you. It is also true that the therapist brings their history and their issues to the therapy as well. They
may be more aware of the signs that they are doing this and
may know how to deal with any counter transference-but what transpires in every therapy is usually very much a contribution of both client
and therapist.
I wish you well in the private clinic and with the new therapist. Thank you for your kind words about the post-I truly appreciate that.