Thread: A Lie
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Old Nov 05, 2018, 04:11 AM
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Grand Poohbah
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: In my head
Posts: 1,787
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Laurie* View Post
Thank you all for such intriguing answers. I'm sorry that a couple of you have had such rotten experiences with therapists. I've certainly had my share, and it's messed up, alright.

I don't recall ever having lied to a therapist; on the contrary, I go the extra mile to be as truthful as possible. But right now she and I have been discussing a situation about a former romantic relationship...there's something I think I'm going to lie about. It's about a pregnancy that happened long ago. Very, very sadly it didn't work out, in terms of loss. At the time, I wasn't sure which man, of two, was the father. I am not comfortable with going into that whole situation with my therapist. I'm feeling like a simple "I'm sure the father was" so-and-so would simplify things.
What, specifically, feels uncomfortable? Do you worry that you’ll be judged? Has your T given you other indications that they are judgemental? Or is it more that you feel deeply uncomfortable or ashamed with this piece of your story? Many of us carry an inner voice of self-recrimination and judgment from our families of origin or other elements of our upbringings. We tend to further assume that this harsh inner voice is actually congruent with everyone else’s value system too and is the lens through which they see us. So... lots of shame.

Unless you actually feel fine about this pregnancy (which I doubt or you wouldn’t have started this thread) or you have good reason to believe that your therapist will handle this poorly or be judgemental based on your past experience of them, I would encourage you to try not to lie about it.

Maybe go in and tell them that there is a thing that you’re sorely tempted to lie about and talk about just that for a session. Talk about your fears of what might happen if you say the the truth, talk about who you want to be and how you want to be seen. Talk about your experiences of having made mistakes and been caught in the past and your attitudes toward others who have made mistakes. To what extent was s*lut-shaming a thing in your family or where you grew up and how much do you still buy into it?

I don’t think it’s morally wrong to lie to your therapist here. I just think it’s a missed opportunity to work through something important and emerge feeling better about yourself and about that piece of your history. I mean... so long ago, you slept with two people around the same time, is that so incredibly unforgivably terrible that it can’t be spoken?