Quote:
Originally Posted by scorpiosis37
I agree with licketysplit. My therapy certainly has a purpose and benefits me significantly, but the idea of "goals" just does not fit for me. You do not need to have concrete goals in order for therapy to be ethical.
I chose the option: "I think therapy is about learning from the ongoing relationship between the T and client, which evolves and brings new insights."
For me, therapy is all about the relationship with my T. My T offers support, validation, care, and consistency, which is exactly what I need. All I need my T to do is to listen and engage with me. This benefits me enormously, but I do not consider it to be a "goal." It is also not something that can be objectively measured or achieved. I'm not in therapy in order to make concrete changes or obtain an X, Y, Z. I just want a supportive space to share, reflect, and feel heard. I will decide if and when I no longer want that. For me, the goal is not to "outgrow" therapy in any particular timeframe. My insurance pays for it and I enjoy it and find it helpful, so there is no impetus to stop going. Someday, if I no longer find it useful, then I will stop going.
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I'm replying to your post because you referenced ethical therapist and I assume that was in reply my earlier post and I want to say that was about people who are not self-aware and are taken for a ride by their therapist. So having goals ground people (not get lost in psychobabble and craziness of therapy) and helps give therapy direction. Unethical therapist take advantage of people with no goals because progress doesn't matter, there are no goals to be met, and the therapist is the authority who decides things and can justify dragging therapy forever easily.
You, on the other hand, know why you going in there and getting whatever it is that you're getting out of therapy. That makes a difference.
You're going to get validation and have space to be able to share and feel heard, but you have no plans about ever ending therapy or as you say "outgrowing" it, have no money problems with therapy, and it would not matter if you stayed in therapy your whole life because there is no particular goal you're trying to achieve and no time limit to worry about.
It seems to me that for you it's more about feeling satisfied about having your various needs met at present and getting pleasure and joy out of the experience, and presumably when you no longer feel good after having gone for therapy, that's when you will end it. So as I said you know what you're doing and the therapist can't be taking advantage of a self aware person.