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  #26  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 07:42 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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It seems like no matter what I say people pick up on how I say it. Sorry if I am not saying what you want me to say or how you want me to say it or if I am being judgemental but I am being judged and being accused of making assumptions based on the little information I gave.

I also said she left the door open, and several other things I didn’t like about our first session. Does that mean I am making assumptions about how will she be able to keep my confidentiality safe- no, it means I am making a choice based on my experience of the first session with her.

Last edited by weaverbeaver; Aug 22, 2019 at 07:55 PM.

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  #27  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 07:49 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins View Post
I don't think it is really my job to stay with a therapist just to be kind. We're not talking generally about the public or who we're friends with, etc. We're talking about a level of personal comfort, for whatever reason, with a therapist that we need to have that level of comfort to just feel safe enough to open up with. I completely reserve the right to choose a therapist based on my comfort level with whatever it is I need comfort around.


For some people, they refuse to see a male therapist. So, are we being unkind by judging a man because we feel he will be like all the other men in our life who have hurt us and we are prejudging him because of our personal experience? To adjust your words: Being a man doesn't make him a bad person. Just an example, but bottom line, it helps to have a therapist that you don't have a discomfort with for whatever reason.


If something is going to immediately get in our way, we're the consumer, and we have the right to make choices about where to spend our money. No one is going up to this therapist and saying "I don't like you because you are overweight." They are just silently making a decision (about several problems with this therapist in addition to the weight) to seek out someone different who they can feel more comfortable with.


I had totally forgotten about this until this thread: I very, very briefly saw a therapist (one session) who was a quadriplegic and on a respirator. I had no forewarning that was the case, and it definitely threw me off. I am as enlightened and comfortable as anyone about physical disabilities, probably more than most; I'm married to a man with serious physical handicaps. Normally I don't bat an eye, but I simply wasn't prepared, and in my anxiety simply for seeing a new therapist in the first place, this was just a bit more than I was prepared for. For some reason, it really heightened my anxiety. I didn't return, partially because of the physical issues and partially because I was just so emotionally off-kilter from the session that I just couldn't return -- I didn't even seek a different therapist in that clinic. I never went back. I wasn't being unkind; I was simply dysregulated by the situation unfolding the way it did. If I had said anything cruel or complained to the clinic, sure, that would be unkind, but I made a personal decision that this particularly situation was not going to work for me and moved on.


Thank you for articulating the above particularly the last bit. I was not unkind to her and I didn’t complain about her or say anything to her personally about her weight, that’s her own business, so is it her own business why she is that weight.
It did heighten my anxiety and actually so much so that I couldn’t talk about my own eating disorder with her, does that make me unkind or judgemental? I don’t think so, my gut told me not to open up to her because a basic sense of safety wasn’t provided- regardless of her weight.
  #28  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 07:54 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Body weight and the credibility of psychologists | The Psychologist
  #29  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 07:55 PM
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Under*Over Under*Over is offline
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Next month? Wow. I mean. Shes a therapist not a psychiatrist right? Its weird of her to see patients that infrequently and I wouldnt think it would be very effective
Thanks for this!
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  #30  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 08:04 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Here is another interesting article about transference and the therapists image:

Weighing the Possibilities: Transferential Weight Issues in Therapy
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  #31  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 08:09 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Originally Posted by Under*Over View Post
Next month? Wow. I mean. Shes a therapist not a psychiatrist right? Its weird of her to see patients that infrequently and I wouldnt think it would be very effective


I know, right?
My attachment part said hell no.
I can’t trust this gap and no support in between, how can I build an alliance with someone with that long in between our first and second session.
To me it was minimising and judging my needs based on what she interpreted from what I told her. To me that’s pretty unethical since I disclosed I had been referred by my doctor because I was suicidal.
I just didn’t think she was that bothered and was trying to be cool or something by saying “ oh well you have managed with these thoughts for so long now you can manage another month!”
  #32  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 08:17 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Originally Posted by susannahsays View Post
I kind of agree with you weaver beaver about everybody judging and having a right to judge therapists and make whatever assumptions we want to evaluate their suitability, except I hate the expression "speak my truth."


If you're going to fixate on her weight and if it's going to trigger you, it really doesn't matter why she's fat or if she's a good person - in the context of if she's the right therapist for you personally at this time.


Can I ask why you hate the phrase “speak my truth”?
I am curious New t
  #33  
Old Aug 22, 2019, 08:43 PM
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coolibrarian coolibrarian is offline
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What works for you is fine, WB. I just didn't particularly like being told that everybody judges everyone else. I was raised with an incredibly judgemental mother, and as a result of that and other bad parenting, I try VERY hard not to judge others and make assumptions based on those judgements.
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  #34  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 12:41 AM
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susannahsays susannahsays is offline
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Originally Posted by weaverbeaver View Post
Can I ask why you hate the phrase “speak my truth”?
I am curious New t
It rubs me the wrong way because it originates in that awful book, I forget the name of it, but it's for people who experienced CSA. I take exception to the idea that saying that somebody sexually abused me is speaking MY truth. The MY part is what bothers me. There is no such thing as a "my truth." There are sometimes different perceptions and different opinions, but then the expression should be "my opinion" or "my perception," not "my truth" as if a "truth" where I was not the victim of CSA can also exist.

But again, I mostly take exception to the phrase because of its origins and to the idea that saying I was sexually abused is speaking my truth instead of speaking THE truth. Reminds me of so-called "alternative facts."
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  #35  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 02:28 AM
Amyjay Amyjay is offline
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Weaverbeaver, it definitely seems like that T is not the T for you. Have you got other options?
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  #36  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 06:19 AM
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junkDNA junkDNA is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by weaverbeaver View Post
No I wouldn’t want it but it’s what we all do, we judge people based on looks, intelligence, weight, appearance, in the first five seconds we meet someone at least one judgement based on their appearance comes into our heads. It’s not just me we all do it!
This seems to be triggering a lot of people
I relate to you and your comments about a therapists weight affecting you

I've actually made a post here about this topic and it got closed!
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  #37  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 03:22 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by junkDNA View Post
I relate to you and your comments about a therapists weight affecting you

I've actually made a post here about this topic and it got closed!


Really? That does not surprise me as I felt I upset a lot of people talking about it!
  #38  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 03:23 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Originally Posted by Amyjay View Post
Weaverbeaver, it definitely seems like that T is not the T for you. Have you got other options?


I could try another one but I would prefer to go back to my old t! This one will definitely not work out!
  #39  
Old Aug 24, 2019, 03:30 PM
weaverbeaver weaverbeaver is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by susannahsays View Post
It rubs me the wrong way because it originates in that awful book, I forget the name of it, but it's for people who experienced CSA. I take exception to the idea that saying that somebody sexually abused me is speaking MY truth. The MY part is what bothers me. There is no such thing as a "my truth." There are sometimes different perceptions and different opinions, but then the expression should be "my opinion" or "my perception," not "my truth" as if a "truth" where I was not the victim of CSA can also exist.


But again, I mostly take exception to the phrase because of its origins and to the idea that saying I was sexually abused is speaking my truth instead of speaking THE truth. Reminds me of so-called "alternative facts."


I see what you mean. I didn’t realise it was used in that context. I know it from a religious aspect but as I am not religious it doesn’t do any for me in that context either!
I like it because when everyone has their own truth, it might differ from another’s but doesn’t mean either is wrong.
When it used to question another’s version of events then I could say how it would be condescending.
Thanks for this!
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