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Old Jun 23, 2019, 11:34 AM
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amandalouise amandalouise is offline
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Member Since: Mar 2009
Location: 8CS / NYS / USA
Posts: 9,171
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merope View Post
I came across this in a lecture, though it wasn't specifically about therapists. I guess in a way, it's a no brainer....of course you "need" your therapist. Why else would you go to therapy if you didn't need something from them?

But how about when that "need" is more relational, such as when you begin to need them as a child would need the guidance of a parent. Is that "allowed?" Generally speaking, do therapists welcome that sort of need, or do they shy away from it?

Just curious.
the mental health system in america is set up in such a way that treatment providers must work to promote independence and self nurturing of one self and their problems. there is a set amount of sessions per year someone can have and at intervals (usually on a yearly or every 6 months) the treatment provider and client must review why they are in therapy, what the therapy goals are and whether those goals are being completed. this doesnt leave a lot of room for a client to get dependent upon their therapist as in needing them to act as if they are parenting the client.

that said there is certain therapy techniques that do allow a therapist to teach how to self nurture and parent one self sometimes by way of demonstrating the skills their self. But even these have strict guidelines for the treatment provider to follow so that the client does not mis- interpret and or become dependent on the therapist for their self nurturing.

my suggestion is talk with your treatment provider, they will tell you whether they are able to do mirroring and role playing and modeling self nurturing skills by example doing them with you during your therapy sessions. They will be able to explain to you rules for this and at what times they are willing to hold you, sooth you and such as a parent would during your therapy sessions and how you will have homework to learn to do these skills on your own, and at what point they will have to tell you no they can not do so during your therapy session.
Thanks for this!
Merope