My Support Forums - View Single Post - To those who have been harmed by the "therapeutic relationship"

here today · Aug 14, 2018, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ididitmyway

If you feel you had been deceived by the concept of the "therapeutic relationship" and if that deception felt like seduction and subsequent betrayal, I'd like to know what you think about the idea that a therapist's role fits that of a "psychological prostitute", the one who sells a time measured dosages of emotional intimacy for $$. Does this characterization make sense? Or does it sound too strong and somewhat unfair or totally unfair? I am not seeking to make or prove any point here. I am genuinely curious about different perspectives on this because this is a question I haven't completely answered for myself. On some level I feel it reflects some reality of therapy, but I still don't know if this depiction goes too far.

Very good question. I need to think about it some, maybe more later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lrad123

I think this is a wonderful article about paying for therapy. She even references the whole prostitution analogy: What You Pay For – What a Shrink Thinks

Here's a quote from the article that exemplifies what I feel was a seduction and betrayal for me.

Quote:

In fact, I will care about you for free. If I’ve taken your case, I’ve already determined that you are someone that I can care about. Forming a healthy, authentic alliance is a prerequisite to effective treatment. I simply don’t take cases if I can’t find solid empathic ground to stand on. If, after the first or second session, I don’t think that I can sustain my commitment to behave in a caring way toward you through dark and prickly times, I will make a referral to better-matched services.

This is what you are really paying for:
To keep my needs out of your way.

Despite many attempts, I did not find a therapist who could stick with me, who could sustain their commitment through dark and prickly times. That was what I was expecting, had been led to expect, had been "seduced" by -- the notion of a "therapeutic alliance", if I did my part. Referring me on after 6 years still seems like a betrayal to me. Turned out, the therapist could not keep her needs out of my way. She acknowledged that she had been triggered and then did not "have the emotional resources" to continue.