Quote:
Originally Posted by zoiecat
It must be difficult to be turned down for telling the truth but I think it is good that you are upfront. If they can't deal with your issues why wait and risk rejection later.
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I agree with every one of zoiecat's points, and particularly this one.
Although I think you have a right to deflect from any question you want and otherwise not provide information you don't wish to share, consider how the person asking the question might perceive this approach. It's not as if it's irrelevant information, as in how can a potential T know if they could possibly provide therapy that might work if they don't know how your last therapy went wrong? And they might be very unwilling to work with someone who won't discuss it, as the person who isn't open to discussing this quite relevant experience might not be thought to be a potential client they can help. In my own line of work that is not T, I have noticed that the people who tend to be the most healthy are those who can look at their painful pasts and talk about it. Those who won't or can't is a red flag for me about how difficult the work ahead might be, and it usually turns out to be the case that it is less successful, again in different terms than T per se.
Have you considered the possibility that potential T's are not rejecting you for this sole fact of driving by your therapist's house, but instead are also paying attention to how you talk about it or what meaning you attach to it? I think it's somewhat simplistic to believe that it is about just that one fact as opposed to a larger problem that may bring into focus something about attachment or BPD or impulsivity or who knows what. Many therapists may not be equipped to deal with the extent or severity of what you bring to the table, but I agree with zoiecat also that there is someone who can.
Have you considered the possibility of taking charge of the issue rather than waiting for the therapist to ask the question. In other words, can you bring it up yourself, perhaps as the first thing you might say when you sit down, such as:
"I'm looking for a new therapist because my last one terminated me after I drove by her house. I've done a lot of thinking about how and why I did that, and I'm committed to doing therapy different this time, and I need help with figuring out how I can be close to someone without being intrusive. This is an issue for me in my social life as well, and I want to have healthier relationships with other people, including my therapist."