[Leah123]

This morning I was surprised to see an email notification of a payment: an automatic withdrawal was made from my account to a post-traumatic stress disorder support site that I subscribed to a year ago.

I haven't visited the site in a while and had forgotten about the recurring annual contribution I opted to make. When I logged in to the site, I saw someone had just come across a message I posted almost a year ago and replied to it. In that message, I'd quoted my therapist, and I liked the quote so much, thought I'd share.

I feel very special in my therapeutic relationship, and this, her philosophy on therapy, is one of the reasons why:

""When I refer to a therapeutic relationship, I do not at all mean a medical model, dr./patient relationship. To me a therapeutic relationship is a very sacred, spiritual journey in which I am the guide and my client is the seeker; it is the most important factor in healing. It is also one of the most intimate of relationships because it holds the sharing like you did today; at its best, the therapeutic relationship is one of the most real relationships any of us will ever experience. So it is a very special relationship to me and when I refer to our therapeutic relationship it is with utmost respect and affection. And inherent, a given, in this relationship is that I care about you, Leah. It is always surprising when you ask me if I do because it is never a question for me."

Just something I wanted to share. Coincidentally I spoke to my therapist about this recently, told her my goal was to make my life like therapy: sacred, deep, full of meaning, basically, everything except the one-sidedness of the conversation.

[stopdog]

An interesting idea.

[HazelGirl]

I think that's awesome, and I bet my T would agree (maybe with a few minor changes or something).

[someone321]

Thank you for sharing, it is indeed an interesting approach. I, however, prefer believing that my "therapeutic relationship" with T is not based on the guide-seeker relationship. My T has said once that she hopes that we can be a team and work together on some problems, and it fits me. Like we're rather equal, I have some problems which I want to solve and T helps me with them by giving feedback, showing me different point of view etc...

[Leah123]

Originally Posted by someone321

Thank you for sharing, it is indeed an interesting approach. I, however, prefer believing that my "therapeutic relationship" with T is not based on the guide-seeker relationship. My T has said once that she hopes that we can be a team and work together on some problems, and it fits me. Like we're rather equal, I have some problems which I want to solve and T helps me with them by giving feedback, showing me different point of view etc...

I do not think seeing her as a guide suggests I am not her equal, I'm definitely that. I also consider myself the expert on me. However, she has 20+ years experience in working through mental health and relationship issues, so... I acknowledge her expertise and ability to walk me through the difficult work we're doing.

We're definitely a team and I've also taught her things, just as teachers learn from students, but I don't pretend to have her insight into psychology or experience helping hundreds of clients with similar issues.

[brillskep]

I wholly agree with this quote.

[someone321]

Originally Posted by Leah123

I do not think seeing her as a guide suggests I am not her equal, I'm definitely that. I also consider myself the expert on me. However, she has 20+ years experience in working through mental health and relationship issues, so... I acknowledge her expertise and ability to walk me through the difficult work we're doing.

We're definitely a team and I've also taught her things, just as teachers learn from students, but I don't pretend to have her insight into psychology or experience helping hundreds of clients with similar issues.

Thank you for your additional explanation, I agree with you and your therapist then I also rely on my T's experience and I do not pretend that I know even half of this she knows about the treatment - if I knew, I wouldn't be here

I appreciate you sharing that, I like that philosophy. Mt t's is similar. She also says "I'm just a little farther down the road than you are, that's all... ". And that she is honored to walk beside me for awhile on this journey.

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