[justbreathe1994]

What kind of modalities do therapists with the “blank slate” approach use? Are therapists who use psychodynamic considered blank slate therapists? Do they still share their own feelings and reactions?

[ScarletPimpernel]

My T and L are psychodynamic. They're mostly blank-slate. They do share their own thoughts and feelings. They just don't share much about their personal lives. Most of their advice or opinions come from personal experience, but they just don't say that. They try to keep the focus on us instead. Now if they have judgemental opinions (i.e. "I hate your H") they keep that to themselves.

[stopdog]

I couldn't get the two women I hired to shut up about themselves. They claimed to be psychodynamic.

[SlumberKitty]

My former T was psychodynamic/eclectic and she would still give her own feelings and reactions. Not a lot but or overdone but still she wasn't what I considered a blank slate. I have no idea what modality current T uses. Probably eclectic. She's not a blank slate either. HUGS Kit

[Lrad123]

My T is psychodynamic and I’d describe him as blank slate-ish. What I mean by that is that he doesn’t disclose much about himself, but he definitely does show emotion and gives his reactions to things I say. He’s not warm & fuzzy off the bat because he lets me direct the mood and direction of the session.

[feileacan]

My T is psychoanalyst and he certainly expresses his emotions and reactions. According to my understanding, therapists emotions and reactions (countertransference) is one of the main therapeutic tools in psychoanalytic modality.

The blank slatedness in this context means that the T will not talk about their own life, experiences, opinions - the session is about the patient and only patient's thoughts, feelings and experiences are important. Yes, therapists thoughts and feelings are important as a tool but not for the sake of themselves.

[LonesomeTonight]

My ex-marriage counselor was psychodynamic and basically the opposite of a blank slate, self-disclosing quite a lot and being very personable with us. He didn't share his thoughts and feelings as much though. But he told us that he was taught the blank slate thing and chose to reject it (his supervisor in training even had an issue with his shaking hands with clients, but he continued to do that). So it is generally taught in psychodynamic training--but that doesn't mean that all psychodynamic T's will abide by it.

My T is NOT psychodynamically trained (he uses a mix of modalities, but it doesn't include that), and the does share his thoughts and feelings, like how he reacts to some things I say (he's even said, "You affect me, LT"). However, he doesn't self-disclose much.

[Rive1976]

I like blank slate therapists. My T thats on vaca shows alot of facial expressions and it makes me feel self conscious and she shares to much about herself. I like her but for other reasons. My therapist I saw for 8 years was a blank slate and I felt I could tell her anything with no judgement.