View Single Post
 
Old Nov 03, 2016, 02:27 AM
cinnamon_roll's Avatar
cinnamon_roll cinnamon_roll is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: Europe
Posts: 272
Sarah, I feel for you. This sounds frustrating and painful.

At the same time I feel Brown Owl has made an important point:
Quote:
She is suggesting you talk about your wish for feedback, rather than she simply give you feedback.
She giving you the feedback you ask for would be the "simple" solution. Makes you feel better in the moment, but doesn't change much in the long run.

Talking about your wish/need for feedback is much more difficult. And it seems that she is not caring about your wish for feedback. But ultimately, this is the work that she thinks needs doing: To take a look at why you have this need to get the feedback, to get external validation for your perceptions/needs/desires/opinions. I know this too well, I struggle with this myself. And I find myself getting quite upset with my T whenever she 'throws' this need/want of mine for an external reference point back at me. Because it seems invalidating at first and it is frustrating. I talked a lot with my T about this, and with time I came to see, that she reacts this way exactly because she cares and is investing in my wellbeing. And by her deflecting my wish and putting the ball back in my court I actually can learn: to find this validation in myself and to not look constantly to her or to some other figure in authority.

I don't know whether this makes any sense to you in your situation. Maybe this is an option for you to try and frame this differently: Your T is giving you an opportunity to grow, to explore your needs instead of just giving you what you are asking for?

Because, ultimately, your T could do all that you are asking for and more. And you might still be doubting her, doubting your relationship and questioning the therapy process as a whole...
Thanks for this!
atisketatasket, kecanoe, SarahSweden, Trippin2.0