Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox
The quote below was posted in another thread. It seems to me that if you replace the word "sexually" with the word "emotionally" the statement is just as relevant. And I wonder how many therapists would be willing to acknowledge that.
"I’ve seen too many patients badly damaged by therapists using them sexually. It’s always damaging to a patient. Therapists’ excuses are invariably patent and self-serving rationalizations..." -- Irvin Yalom
Isn't the core dynamic the same, on the same continuum? Where is the outrage over clients who are exploited or used emotionally?
I kinda think the core question is not whether therapy is fundamentally flawed, rather whether it is fundamentally abusive or exploitive for those with sufficient weakness, vulnerability, or desperation. A therapist doesn't have to commit some blatant "wrong", such as sexual misconduct, to damage or use the client.
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Usually, for many people it is easier, yet still difficult, to move forward when it is words alone, and when it comes to even speaking on sex and nudity, these are such taboo subjects in our Western culture. I disagree that there is not a lot of outrage for emotional abuse, especially by a therapist...at least on this forum. My previous therapist was out raged for me. Separate from my experience, she had already commented on her being a cold, dead fish after reading one of her books.
My concern is always where does one go from here, my own bias, because I spent too many of my youthful years wallowing in pity, and pity is allowed, that one particular therapist ruined my life, and she specifically stopped me from healing — I was so very wrong.