My T tells me that I am not whole and that we need to start figuring out who I am. This ought to be interesting, I guess. It's kind of exciting but more anxiety producing. What If I figure out that I'm someone I don't like, LOL?

So far, we've figured that I am analytical and empathic when it comes to working with children and figuring out what is going on with them. I am currently a teacher but don't like all of the paperwork entailed. I'm thinking about becoming a guidance counselor.

I guess only time will tell . . .

[unpredictable]

The first thing I thought of when you said, "What if I don't like who I am?" was: That's okay your T can help you like yourself too

But I'm sure when you know who you are you'll like yourself too

I bet when I've been doing therapy longer I'll hear the samething from my T and I'll have to figure out who I am, so I'll be interested to hear how things go for you.

[Perna]

You are who you are, you just have to discover who she is. It will be "you" so you're kind of bound to like yourself :-) Only things we don't like are our behaviors, not our true Selves. How exciting and interesting a journey for you.

[Fuzzybear]

soli.. i think you will find that you very well may not like who you are - at first.. i think it's like seeing our profile reflection or hearing our own voice.. it seems so foreign to us.. you have a big and scary task ahead.. but its a matter of seeing it through i think. Committ yourself to it and you will be ok in the end.

"it is not finding the truth that is difficult, it is not running from it once we have found it"

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Only things we don't like are our behaviors, not our true Selves.Only things we don't like are our behaviors, not our true Selves.

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i think this is a really loaded idea, just the concept of "true self" alone. It could be reasonably argued that one never knows one's true self. There are aspects of ourselves we cannot know because they form what others see and perceive for example. All our best efforts cannot entirely reveal the unconcious as it is not a static historical document, it is an ever-changing living part of us.

i think the like vs dislike has much to do with psycho-social development... a case of trauma for example... a child in younger years will have a damaged sense of self..

soli.. much love to you doll.. you'll be ok.. T will be there

[ECHOES]

How interesting and fun to be doing, Soliaree. I think you are probably a great teacher and would also be a great guidance counslor if you chose to do that!

I can't imagine in therapy NOT finding some thing(s) about ourselves we don't like... but in the discovery, the awareness, comes the opportunity to make changes.

[pachyderm]

> What If I figure out that I'm someone I don't like, LOL?

In my first "therapy" I thought I had started to find out who I was and liked that person very much. My "therapist" did not.

[chaotic13]

Soliaree,
When I started therapy, it wasn't to find out who I was. I was fairly confident that I knew who I was. Somehow over the course of 8 months, I've somehow lost that confidence and seem to have divided into two people. Now I'm trying to discover Who WE ARE :-)

The experience has certainly been interesting but I'm not sure I can call it fun yet.