Quote:
Originally Posted by elaygee
Mediation would likely never happen. I cant imagine a T agreeing. As a client you can go in and gripe on T however you want. Does T get that same right? About a client pushing boundaries, making them frustrated, being obsessed, etc. most clients would be more hurt than helped. But in mediation does a t get to share their feelings too? No. I think seeking outside advice is helpful but a T wouldnt do mediation. Theyre a service provider. Its a relationship but nothing CLOSE to marriage. They arent a spouse. They arent family. They see you 1-2x a week. If you cant repair together, you find another.
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Well put. The relationship is asymmetrical...the client does the work and the T is one who helps the client to do the work! I would add that sometimes, as we all know, the T gets either consultation from another T or else sees his or her own T for therapy. That relationship is asymmetrical, too! In that case the T is the client of another T.
For the T/client relationship to work it has to be asymmetrical, or else he or she would be similar to a friend or family member. And I agree with the phrase "service provider"...one of my Ts said I hire him to provide a service, and it's exactly that. It doesn't mean he doesn't care; he does. But it's not his job to be equal to me, nor do I want him to be. My therapy would not work if he was.