I see two therapists; one who is so careful that she continues to keep a distance between us and therefore never makes any mistakes, and one who is very real and open and makes mistakes all the time.
I personally prefer the one who frequently gets it wrong, because it feels more like a real relationship and I learn so much more from that. But I suppose the important difference is that she always admits to her mistakes and tries her best not to do the same thing again, and as a result we can work through it and come out on the other side with a much stronger bond. And of course I also apologise when I do stupid things, though she always says that she is at least partly responsible for anything that happens between us. It has been more emotionally challenging than my relationship with the other therapist, but it is worth it. I can see how much I have grown from it. She continues to say that she is a flawed human being, and of course she is - we all are. I also know that she has gone through five years of therapy herself in the past.
The problem, it seems, is when a therapist (or other treatment provider) fails to recognise their own weaknesses and shortcomings. I'm not sure that any amount of training can make a person more self-aware? That's why every therapist needs to go through a minimum amount of hours of individual therapy themselves so they can see what it is like on the other side, as well as developing that self-awareness they may be lacking. That's what therapy has been about for me; becoming more aware of myself and my own behaviour, as well as all the pain I have suppressed over the years, in order to become a better version of myself. Shouldn't every aspiring therapist want to do that?
OP, I am sorry this incompetent jerk has been messing about with his treatment of you, and I am especially sorry that he is putting all the blame on you rather than owning up to his part in it. He clearly fails to see his own actions and seems utterly unaware of his own crap. I really hope you'll reconsider that complaint, because he should not be able to get away with this; you deserve better, and so do his potential future patients.
I hope you are able to find a new psychiatrist so you can continue to receive medical treatment. I also hope you will seek out a psychotherapist for any future therapy, and that you'll consider your options carefully before choosing the one that seems right for you.
__________________
And now I'm a warrior
Now I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor is made of steel
You can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me again
- Demi Lovato
Last edited by Bipolar Warrior; Jun 03, 2016 at 11:16 PM.
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