Posted by DaisyM on September 28, 2003, at 18:41:03
In reply to Re: Using Sessions Better - Need Advice » DaisyM, posted by fallsfall on September 28, 2003, at 10:38:24
Thanks for the nice words and encouragement. It really helps to hear about other people's experience.
I guess I don't FEEL like I'm doing all that well...but now at least I feel like I'm "doing" therapy the right way...if there is a right way. It is interesting to think about how much time and energy all of this takes. I was in a curriculum planning meeting for a new mental health certificate at our local college and one of the committee members, who is an MFT, stated her very strong opinions about short-term therapy. She felt that "if it is taking longer than 5-6 months see a lot of progress and reach goals, then the client isn't working hard enough outside of the sessions." She went on to say more, fostering dependency, blah, blah, but I was pretty upset by her views. So, of course, I took my concerns to my next session, to inquire exactly what I should be doing between sessions (YOU KNOW, needing to be the perfect client/student). My therapist basically said, "As much or as little as you can, and breathing is good too"...what a smart<<<! :) It has taken me this long to begin to trust and tell my "real" story. I guess I'm glad I'm not that MFT's client. She did, however, show up in a nasty therapy nightmare.
I think the hardest thing is that I get whomped with these really painful, confusing emotions after sessions but I need to keep things as normal as possible for everyone else around me. I guess that is universally true to most of us in therapy. I do worry about those boundaries, I can't (feel like I shouldn't?) call every time I'm feeling like the world is caving in. I had one morning where I literally dialed 9 times and never left a message!
I guess that is why I've started posting here. It feels good to ask questions and get feedback without "bothering" anyone...no one has to answer. Does that make any sense? *sigh*
Again, thanks for the feedback. And, Dinah...no I don't live in...never mind! :) -D
poster:DaisyM
thread:263778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/264085.html