[BlueHen]

Well, after 7 plus years I "bolted" on my analyst/therapist. I realized how unhappy she made me and how truly superficial and disingenuous the relationship was. Therapy is like any other addiction. The withdrawal is difficult and painful, it depletes your wallet, it becomes a fixation and in the end there is the wish that you had never taken that first drink or made that first bet. And like many addictions there is the supplier, the therapist, who keeps you coming back. I now realize after more than a month in recovery that the psychs are so concerned about boundary violations that they don't allow themselves to get close. And forget about transference -- it is pure pain. So, if you find yourself in therapy for a lengthy time you are addicted. Get treatment elsewhere.

I am not a fan of an analyst for myself for many reasons. I could not stand the lack of self disclosure and talking to a blank wall feeling. I am so sorry you are in pain.

I'm sorry that was your experience. For me its bee the best thing I have done for myself and I was an addict before therapy. The 2 processes do not compare believe me.

[mcl6136]

The wrong kind of therapy can indeed feel like an addiction.
the right kind of therapy, for me, has been powerfully healing.
That's why I have kept trying to find, again, the right kind of therapy.

My last TWO therapy relationships have gone badly wrong.

but that doesn't mean there are not good ones out there. I think in a sense, it's like going out to eat. You can get food poisoning. You can be fed a healthy sustaining meal in great surroundings. It depends on the restaraunt (I so wish i could SPELL!).

But just because you've had a horrible eating out experience doesn't mean you'll never eat out again...does it?

Trust me...I am having a very very hard time extracting myself from a damaging ...maybe even traumatizing therapy relationship...you can read about it on "trigger for terminating therapy" thread. I am in a lot of pain. I spent $150 per session for someone who only helped me a bit, and it ended in an ugly argument last week.

But saying that therapy is like an addiction, and making this blanket statement is a bit much, in my humble opinion. It's the HURT talking. And I get that! But I think lots of great stuff is going on in a lot of offices as we speak, so to speak.

Don't give up. Keep hope alive.

Blessings to you

MCL

[CantExplain]

Looking back, I find that even bad therapists have something to teach.

Bad Facilitator taught me:

1. The fear of pain can be exaggerated and debilitating. (It would have been better if he had first acknowledged the reality of my pain.)

2. You can't, in fact, feel another person's pain. You can have a painful reaction to your perception of another person's pain. (Once again, he failed to acknowledge the reality of the pain I feel when I see someone else in pain.)

These insights were presented in what I felt was a cold and dismissive way. What I heard was, "pain is not important."

But there was still a useful message here. We have some control over how important pain is to us. He didn't say how this could be achieved.

[BlueHen]

Thank all of you who responded. I particularly appreciate the comment about the blanket statement -- there are good therapists and good therapies and people benefit. Yes, I am suffering. I will consider trying someone new, but not for a while. Peace and blessings to all.