View Single Post
 
Old Dec 04, 2017, 10:21 AM
Anonymous55498
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I think this is situation is really an "it takes two to tango" kind. You comment may have felt attacking, but she instigated it in the first place by sharing that about her personal life, she was the first to break the frame, if we can say that. If she simply stated the possibility of her having to move away, you would not have attacked her family but maybe only her, and that would have been a perfectly appropriate thing to figure out in therapy. This is something I would definitely tell her if there was a discussion about it.

In any case, what's done is done, none of you can take back the comments and their effects now. But if she is unable to move on and treat you without underlying resentment now, she would probably be best to address it in supervision or be straightforward about it with you (which few Ts ever do, I think). Letting your interactions colored by this on an ongoing basis and not doing anything about it is what would be unprofessional.

I had a T who pi$$ed me off in many ways with being very messy with boundaries and with his strong emotional reactions to my criticisms, and he never owned it or apologized, not even once. I never attacked him in any form other that targeting it directly to him / what he did or said, but he could not tolerate it. Cultivated resentments without resolution can be hurtful and damaging even in everyday relationships, let alone from a T toward a client. Your comment may have been especially hurtful to her as well, but responding to it with an ongoing current of resentment or avoidance is not professional either. Having said that, it might be that she is just busy and that's why she is not responding to email momentarily.

If you like the T in general and find sessions with her beneficial, I would not let this incident break it without addressing it at least. If not, then maybe it's time to end it anyway. But judging by your posts here, I imagine it would stick in your mind and would remain an unresolved hurtful experience for you as well, without real lessons?
Thanks for this!
Lemoncake, LonesomeTonight