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Old Jun 11, 2018, 06:32 AM
starfishing starfishing is offline
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Member Since: May 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 466
Quote:
Originally Posted by guilloche View Post
Starfishing - wow. You sound like you've got such a good handle on what was happening in your past therapy, and such a great (skilled!) therapist now.
Well, it's much easier to see what was wrong/lacking with 20/20 hindsight! At the time I was often just confused and frustrated that things didn't seem to be going anywhere, while agonizing (and often self-blaming) over the fact that I didn't feel like the therapist(s) understood me at all.

Quote:
Originally Posted by guilloche View Post
Do you mind if I ask what type of therapy you're doing now? I'm curious (because it's come up for me a couple times) if it's more psychoanalytical? It just *seems* like the psychoanalysts may (maybe?!?) have a better handle on this stuff, but maybe that's just the impression I have from reading (I've never seen one in person). Thanks!
Yes, you're correct! I'm currently in psychoanalytic therapy twice a week, and I very much agree with you than his psychoanalytic training and approach are a significant part of why my current therapist is better equipped to work with me effectively, given the particular difficulties and resistances I have with being vulnerable

Quote:
Originally Posted by guilloche View Post
I think though that the point you (and others) have made that being open/vulnerable is hard work is important. I think that, with some of my past therapists, there's been... reactions from them about things that I say. Reactions that make me feel either not heard, or judged, or not good in some way... it's *really* hard to continue to try being open, especially with even harder material, after that!
Oh yes, it can be so incredibly painful to put so much effort into opening up and then feel like that effort is disrespected, or like the therapist is judgmental.
Thanks for this!
guilloche, here today, koru_kiwi