Quote:
Originally Posted by NowhereUSA
And, I think like with anything, it's important to remember that there can be varying experiences in therapy.
We all have vulnerabilities and, if I had to venture a guess, the idea of "power" comes from the reality that therapists gain unique access to our vulnerabilities. While I answered that power is more or less equal (which comes from my own therapeutic experience), that doesn't mean my therapist hasn't been in a position that if he so desired, he could manipulate me based on my vulnerabilities.
That might be defined as a power differential right there for some people and I could see that. Touching a bit on the medical analogy I used earlier, I see it as like when I go to my doctor for a physical. I'm in a physically vulnerable state (like if I go under anesthesia). So maybe in that case they have power?
I'm just thinking "out loud" since "power" can mean different things in different situations.
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I think the analogy works there. In either case, it involves a great deal of
trust to let yourself be physically or mentally vulnerable around another person. If you can't help but be vulnerable, because that's just where you're at, you can't help but invest trust, either.
Would it be going too far to say that whenever you trust someone you hand them power along with the faith that they won't abuse it?
Maybe. Seems sort of cynical.