T and I talked about our relationship today. It was a pretty good session, I think. Posting snippets of them here has been cathartic...although I know they’re not usually very exciting!
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T: I find myself self-disclosing a lot with you and I notice that I talk a lot during our sessions. Do you think it’s been helpful or is it a distraction?
Me: I think it’s been helpful. This whole set-up feels less artificial when it feels like there’s another person in the room with his own thoughts and opinions and feelings. The things I know about you, so far at least, has helped me open up more. It feels like you understand.
T: I will never 100% feel everything that happened to you. But I do feel the emotions that you show in this room during the hour.
Me: Does it ever scare you that we have a fairly close therapeutic relationship? That we also talk on a personal level?
T: No. I think we both have good boundaries. But I am concerned about how it might be for you.
Me: I’m pretty clear on what we are
T: Could you tell me more about that?
Me: I know that this is a professional relationship. I know that even if it may seem like a fake, forced relationship, it’s also a caring one. I know that we are friendly as far as this therapeutic relationship is concerned. I know that we can’t be friends outside of it.
T: And how do you feel about knowing that our time together is a finite resource?
Me: Sad, but it’s something I understand and accept. I still wish we met in a different setting
T: Likewise. But we still have this. And we still have a lot of work to do and a long way to go. How do you feel about sticking around?
Me: You’re going to regret it! Sometimes I come into session wanting to reveal movie and tv spoilers!
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