[sittingatwatersedge]

somebody help me out here

what, in Tspeak, is 'containing'? something the T does

[BlessedRhiannon]

Never heard that exact phase before. Can you give some more context? I can think of several ways the term might be applied....

[stopdog]

Here is one take on it:
http://www.myshrink.com/counseling-theory.php?t_id=32

[Anne2.0]

I'm familiar with the concept in the context of trauma, as in creating a container to hold memories when you don't want to deal with them immediately. Described more here:

http://www.glassmanpsyd.com/containment-strategies/

[stopdog]

This is another take on therapy and container.
http://www.labeletterouge.com/2011/0...container.html

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Here is one take on it:
http://www.myshrink.com/counseling-theory.php?t_id=32

This is the definition that matches my understanding. From the site:

"Containment refers to the energetic space between you and your psychotherapist. It's the atmosphere the therapist creates that conveys a sense of safety, allowing you to more comfortably move through your emotions."

My T uses that word sometimes, and I believe that is his meaning. The first time he said it, I thought he meant he wanted me to suppress my emotions but when I asked him, he pretty much said the definition above.

[ScrewedUpMe]

My understanding as my therapist has explained it to me, is that she can 'contain' my emotions, my acting out, my mood swings etc. without reacting back at me. She is holding my emotions and still remaining calm and strong and in control. As with my children, if they were to get angry with me and declare that they no longer liked me, rather than me saying I no longer liked them, I would contain their emotions and react lovingly back towards them. (they are young children, not teenagers or young adults). I believe this is how the therapist needs to be towards their clients, the eternal 'container', where you can say whatever it is you feel (within reason) and there is no retaliation.

I hope this helps.

[sittingatwatersedge]

i remember reading somewhere (Brene Brown? who knows) about how a mother acts with her very small child - the child doesn't get her own way from someone, say, and goes into a rage, and the mother reacts calmly, containing the child's frustration, until the day comes when the child can handle it for herself.
There were then dotted lines drawn to the therapeutic relationship. does that make sense?

[ScrewedUpMe]

Originally Posted by sittingatwatersedge

i remember reading somewhere (Brene Brown? who knows) about how a mother acts with her very small child - the child doesn't get her own way from someone, say, and goes into a rage, and the mother reacts calmly, containing the child's frustration, until the day comes when the child can handle it for herself.
There were then dotted lines drawn to the therapeutic relationship. does that make sense?

That certainly makes sense to me. I think a good example of my therapist containing me is that she said if I ever experienced one of my 'episodes' (where I lose control of myself and get destructive) in session, and say, smashed a glass on the floor, I could still come back the next week and nothing would have changed. She said I wouldn't be told off or punished and she wouldn't feel any differently about me at all. She would just be concerned about what made me do it and helping me to feel better.

[feralkittymom]

Yes--I also think of it as an emotional holding. There's a sense of safety of self and environment in experiencing that no matter what happens, chaos will not ensue, either inside the self, or in the external environment.

It also relieves some of the stress of emotional burdens by temporarily allowing them to be the T's responsibility.

[WikidPissah]

When I think of containment, I think of something being managed and in control. Not crazy and out of control. I think that's what the t space does when our emotions flood. It's okay, because it's contained in that space.

[tinyrabbit]

I just posted a thread on this, it's being moderated I think as I'm new so sorry for the crossover. I have come to understand it as your T being a fellow traveller, who is going through the journey with you. They're not just standing there watching.

I recently had a big tantrum at my T and then insisted it was just transference, but he told me I was also trying to tell him I felt uncontained.

[sittingatwatersedge]

thanks for these comments. The last time I saw T, we ran out of time and I was still very upset - there was no time left for her to 'contain' me, and i was leaking all over the place as I left.

I'm going to ask T about how i can manage the time better so that doesn't happen again (she has me keeping the clock, more or less). again thanks!