Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneC
Now that it is morning and I am not feeling so terribly alone and needy (go figure!)......I am able to remember a conversation I had with my therapist. I expressed my hope that he doesn't take too much work home with him, in as much as I hope he doesn't spend too much time thinking about me or his clients at home. I think he had said something about "holding me in his thoughts" at some stage over a weekend...........
He told me of course he does think about me and others, but that I needn't have concern because he is sure he is very balanced in this respect. He reminded me to think about my own experience with my previous clients and how I managed that, and that it was probably similar. (Not quite, as I was not a therapist, but yeah!)
I found it interesting, Ididitmyway, that you interpreted my expression about impact to mean "obsession". I am glad that I am far from obsessed, and would think most clients are not. For myself only I can say the impact relates to how the relationship(even calling it a relationship is progress for me) has helped me begin to make profound changes within myself, and therefore without also. I wonder why you saw it as obsession? I can imagine an obsessed client would pose a huge burden to therapists.......
I think I will talk with my therapist at some stage next year about the impact he has had on me, when I can formulate it in my own head......because I think quite possibly it will also help me to see just how far I have come.......possibly? 
|
Thanks for clarification. I guess, I misinterpreted your question. Sorry.
Then my answer, of course, is different. No, we don't usually know what kind of impact we have on our clients and it's always good to know when the client shares it. If the impact has been positive, it's the greatest reward the therapist can get. Then there is a deep satisfaction from knowing that we have done some good work that brought some good results. If the impact has been negative, it is equally important for us to know (for me at least), because it's a great opportunity to learn some important lessons, take responsibility and by doing so to, hopefully, repair the damage to some extend.