The usual post about how to deal with therapists' imperfections, with rhetorical questions:
My therapist talks too much. He seems to think that it is therapy when he talks. As opposed to LISTENING. And I am (literally) afraid to suggest to him he needs to change. I anticipate that he will just talk some more, if I do; just defend himself from what he perceives to be an attack, to justify himself.
Quit? Aha! Of course... And then what? Find another therapist who listens better? Where? How to find one? Do you know lots of therapists who actually know how to distinguish between other people's needs, and their own?
I don't.
My history is that of having a parent who could tolerate no criticism, or even any thing that she interpreted as criticism, or anything I did which threatened her stability in any way whatsoever (such as any attempt at self defense). So just thinking about correcting a therapist or suggesting that he needs to change anything is quite anxiety-producing. To the extent that I mostly become confused when a thought tries to appear which represents even a mild difference with the T.
Nothing new here; I've seen a lot of posts with related themes. I'm not sure I even want any answers; maybe I'm posting mostly to sort out my own thoughts.
What is the best way to get him to LISTEN?
__________________
Now if thou would'st
When all have given him o'er
From death to life
Thou might'st him yet recover
-- Michael Drayton 1562 - 1631
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