Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox
You can substitute another word if you like, but my point is that therapy naturally lures the client into strong (sometimes intolerable or overpowering) feelings of love, desire, attachment, obsession, etc. And the therapist need not do anything overt or specific to draw these feelings out. The poll, small as it is, seems to confirm that.
I tried to avoid using any loaded words in the poll and initial post (except in the case of blatant, overt seduction by the T, where that word is obviously appropriate).
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my point is that none of this applies to my therapy experiences. My private therapist keeps a certain distance between us, despite being warm, caring and compassionate. My situation with her is uncharged, fairly neutral, and has not "naturally" lured me into anything. The distance is small and relatively unnoticeable, but it's there.
With my university therapist there is a completely different situation. I wasn't lured in by her, either; we just had an instant connection, and have thus developed a strong relationship that goes beyond just being client and therapist. And we both know it. If I had not wanted to get myself into such an intimate relationship with a therapist I would have run away immediately, because it was in my face from the very beginning. But I stayed, because I wanted it.
None of my therapists have pretended to be someone they're not, and they have both explained their process and techniques to me, at least enough for me to understand. They have always been honest with me. Also, they are both in supervision. Therefore I have not experienced any of the problems you are referring to.
I am not saying that no one has, because I'm sure many therapists do things they are not aware of, and it will very likely affect their clients, which is unfortunate. However, you have clearly rigged this poll in order to achieve the "desired" outcome, which doesn't produce particularly reliable results. I had to choose the first option because it was the closest I could get to my own experience. I knew very well what you meant by "situation", which is why I have specified what the situation would be in
my opinion. My take on it is that every individual relationship is its own unique situation, and thus I have two separate situations with two very different therapists. Both are situations I have understood from the very beginning.
I am not looking to start an argument here, I'm simply attempting explain myself. I can see the point you are trying to make, I just disagree with it. That's all. Why can't we just exchange opinions and experiences on this topic like we do on any other topic?