[thephysacist]

Anyone ever been to one? I've had therapists but they don't cut it for me. I have a psychiatrist as well.

I want to know a little more about certain things I do and why I do them.

Any insight?

[MissCharlotte]

My T is psychoanalytically trained. He is also humanistic/psychodynamic but generally I feel as though I am in psychoanalysis. This approach fits me quite well as I am analytically inclined myself. I always want to know WHY things are happening. I like to scratch beneath the surface. Analysis is interesting and offers the opportunity to exchange ideas (as many other therapies do). But in an analytical approach the T offers interpretations. You have to be willing to be flexible, though. Sometimes...often...my T is dead on. And sometimes he is off the mark!

I hpoe this helped a little.

[kim_johnson]

No. I haven't been to one. I'm not sure whether you are interested in undertaking a course of psychoanalysis in particular (thats about 5-7 years of 5-7 days a week) or more interested in undertaking a course of psychodynamically oriented therapy (typically once or twice a week for less time than that).

[ECHOES]

My T is analytically trained, psychodynamic. We explore to learn and to resolve. There are many layers to explore and it is very interesting. Little fears and worries and expectations are snuck into things you don't realize.

I don't know if you research or read, but here is a site I liked when I was looking for information about therapy and therapists: www.guidetopsychology.com.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by rudicollis

I want to know a little more about certain things I do and why I do them. Any insight?

My insight would be that you don't need to go to a psychoanalyst to obtain this. I work with a therapist who is not a psychoanalyst (or psychodynamic) and we explore deeply. I have learned a lot about myself and the origins in my past of who I am and why I am like the way I am. I am very analytical, so his approach and willingness to go deep with me are a good fit. My therapist is eclectic, but his main approach is humanist and family systems. Unlike a psychoanalyst, he does not offer a lot of interpretations but accompanies me on a journey to make my own interpretations. Once in a while he will offer up an interpretation. Sometimes it fits, sometimes not. More often, I make the interpretation and he learns more about me so he can help me better. Anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that the right therapist might be able to provide what you are looking for in therapy without having to be a psychoanalyst.

[Mouse_]

Originally Posted by rudicollis

Anyone ever been to one? I've had therapists but they don't cut it for me. I have a psychiatrist as well.

I want to know a little more about certain things I do and why I do them.

Any insight?

Donald winnicott says....""...it is only in recent years that I have become able to wait and wait for the natural evolution of the transference arising out of the patient's growing trust in the psychoanalytic technique and setting, and to avoid breaking up this natural process by making interpretations. It will be noticed that I am talking about the making of interpretations and not about interpretations as such. It appals me to think how much deep change I have prevented or delayed in patients in a certain classification category by my personal need to interpret. If only we can wait, the patient arrives at understanding creatively and with immense joy, and I now enjoy this joy more than I used to enjoy the sense of having been clever. I think I interpret mainly to let the patient know the limits of my understanding. The principle is that it is the patient and only the patient who has the answers." (from "The Use of an Object and Relating Through Indentifications," 1969) "

[MissCharlotte]

from Mouse's post (Winnicott)

I think I interpret mainly to let the patient know the limits of my understanding.

I love this!!!! From one of my sessions:

Me: "Sometimes I think you think I know more than I do."

T: "Sometimes I think you think I know more than I do!

LOL

When I mentioned that the T offers interpretations I will tell you that with my T these are FEW and far between. I have spent many a session seemingly BEGGING for answers (not directly but in other ways). T has flat out stated at times that I what I am experiencing are his limitations. It took a long time before I started looking within within more often than not.

Thanks!

PS I also recall telling T that I didn't think of him as an object................

[ECHOES]

My T offers her thoughts on connections, associations. Sometimes we do "wonder" together. I wonder....

That is our way of exploring sometimes

Originally Posted by Mouse_

It appals me to think how much deep change I have prevented or delayed in patients in a certain classification category by my personal need to interpret. If only we can wait, the patient arrives at understanding creatively and with immense joy, and I now enjoy this joy more than I used to enjoy the sense of having been clever."

I love this and it is so, so true!

I often am amazed at how PATIENT my T is, waiting for me to work through my stuff and come to my own conclusions/interpretations/etc. He has total trust in the process. I think I would have a hard time not jumping in and trying to steer me in a certain direction.

Thanks for posting this quote, Mouse

[sunrise]

Mouse, that Winnicott quote is fabulous. That sounds pretty much like what my T does.

I really liked this part: If only we can wait, the patient arrives at understanding creatively and with immense joy, and I now enjoy this joy more than I used to enjoy the sense of having been clever.

This is truly one of the great and profound joys of psychotherapy. Do you know the moments I mean? One of the most overt for me was when I came to a particular realization and explained it to T. And then I just sat there and beamed and said to him, "I am so happy." And he beamed back and said, "I share your joy." I figure it must be moments like this that made them go into psychotherapy in the first place.

And I agree on a main purpose of the interpretation to be letting the client know the limits of the therapist's understanding. My T uses them infrequently, and often for clarification, making sure he has understood me correctly or challenging me to help him understand better.

Mouse, what do you think of that phrase you highlighted: "in a certain classification category"

Do you have an idea what category Winnicott means?

[Mouse_]

Sunrise, No I'm not sure completey what was meant by the "certain classifcation catogary" I'm thinking those with scizophrenia would not be able to self reflect, but those with more strong ego states can, perhaps?

[Mouse_]

This is what Winnicott had to say about his own analyst under james strachley..

"I would say that strachey had one thing quite clear in his mind as a result of his visit to Freud: that a process develops in the patient, and that what transpires cannot be produced but can be made use of. This is what I feel about my own analysis with strachey, and in my work I have tried to follow the principle through and to emphasize the idea in its stark simplicity. It is my experience of analysis at the hand of strachey that has made me suspicious of descriptions of interpretative work in analysis which seem to give credit to the interpretations for all that happens, as if the process in the patient had got lost sight off."

I love the last line, feels very inclusive and warm and welcoming.

[thephysacist]

thanks guys I'll just spend my time searching for a good therapist, but I've tried before and it's hard to do - but I'll get back to trying.

I appreciate your thoughts and insights! Thanks again!