I called.

I do not understand the obsession with McWilliams and how that plays in to your therapy? Does that assist or is it a diversion from what you need to address personally?

Good luck pinksoil! Let us know how it goes!

Sidony

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SecretGarden said:
I do not understand the obsession with McWilliams and how that plays in to your therapy? Does that assist or is it a diversion from what you need to address personally?

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It assists tremendously in regards to what needs to be personally addressed. For example, I brought the book in today and talked a bit about the research I've done on the masochistic and borderline personality organizations... and how this relates to me. My T and I both admire the work of McWilliams-- in fact he told me today to keep going with the book because I am drawing in on excellent insight into myself by reading her work. We don't just talk about the theories in a surface way-- I always relate them to myself. It helps me get a greater understanding of my personality structure, which is what I'm in therapy for.

Okey dokey... It is the therapy that the two of you are doing. It is just different I think as it seems like a third person in the room with you. Is this because your therapy is for you to become a therapist- not for your personal needs of therapy? It seems almost like you need this book as a guide as you may possibly not trust your therapist to do therapy?

Perhaps it is because you wish McWilliams to be your guide when you become a therapist? Perhaps this is more commonplace than I know... just asking... hmmm.

Actually... you know what... it is none of my business. I am just curious...

I look forward to hearing how your session went today. Sounds like it was rough? Will look here or within a new post...

Pink, I bought the McWilliams book, it arrives tomorrow. About the clinical process and various personality TRAITS. Giggle, I'm joking because my T stopped short of saying personality disorders...anyway

Secret, I first though like you do that if I got this book am I saying I don't trust my therapist...that isn't it for me at all. I think I need to do some work on my own too. I don't know if I'll share with him what I am reading but it might guide me on how I describe the insights I learn between sessions.

Besides with all the discussion about graduation...might as well get on with it!

Oh I think and hope we are in therapy most of the week working things through and that is partially what we are doing here and there are many ways that we can keep that going. McWilliams can certainly be one of those ways. I can see this both ways and do bring things in to the milieu from time to time so this may be the same. Though in this case it seems to be an overwhelming presence... but I will give it more thought. We all need to find what works for each of us....

I've heard "In session" recommended a lot too. Sometimes reading to much gets me all confused, makes me feel my therapy experience should be this way or that way. I think at times its just best to turn up and let the session evolve and come home and just let ourselfs work it all out.

I was reading every mental health book I could get my hands on at one stage hoping to find myself in it. Now I'm begining to read fiction just have trust that my theraputic relationship and who I am grow "organically"

This is the only book T has ever suggested too me. She sugested this after I had told her that I felt I was just another client.

http://www.spiritual.com.au/articles.../PrinceCh1.htm

With going to school to be a T, it is impossible for me to not have books influence my work in therapy. It doesn't take away from 'me' one bit in session-- in fact, I think it enhances me because it is so much the way I do things-- I have always conveyed myself through books, music, poetry, art..... and if I wasn't hating him so much right now, ha ha, then I would say that I love that he can match me in that aspect.