Posted by Adia on October 7, 2003, at 10:32:33
In reply to Re: confused about what is good...may trigger*****, posted by jay on October 7, 2003, at 8:37:27
Hi..
just wanted to say that I don't think letting out emotions and catharsis is wrong...maybe at some time it doesn't work with a particular patient, but I don't understand how denying or holding your emotions inside could help. If I don't let them out, they stay inside of me and I am isolated and alone with them..
I find it so relieving when I am able to show emotions and cry or talk about things which I've kept secret all my life.
I understand we are all different and have different needs and different things work for us...
But i don't think it is wrong to let out emotions...I even want to be able to do that and let go, instead of holding it all inside, it doesn't disappear and it doesn't go away just because I don't address it. Everything is there and it affects the way I live.
Maybe in some cases it can be triggering..but I have found that it was better to go through the pain, instead of keeping it inside and living in denial...just my feelings...sorry if I am wrong...
Adia.
> > on tuesady i talked with my social worker about the past..
> > lots of childhood si...
> > now i cant stop thinking about si..i was real confident i was getting better..
> > could talking about it be triggering me?
> > i am picking at my head...noticing the knives i am putting away after meals...
> > i am so very hurt that this seems to have showed its horrible head ...again..
> > ?
> > confused about going forward with weekly visits..
> > any help..
> > i am lost as to who to ask for advice??
> > jyl
> >
>
> JYL:
>
> Sorry to hear...really! That sounds like unacceptable therapist behaviour. Catharsis (letting out emotions) is rarely productive in therapy. In fact, it can lead people to feeling "stuck".
>
> What I would highly recommend (as a fellow Social Worker...even if I am f***ed up...heh) is focusing on the "here and now". This is much like Person-Centered counselling, Brief-Treatment, with some CBT thrown in. Think of it this way:
>
> -Goal directed (i.e. short and long term)
> -Try to develop a 'contract' (I will put up an example if anyone wants)
> -Goal setting/implementation strategies (this is a bit tougher than it sounds...so focus on both short and long term *realistic* goals, which can be part of your contract. If they don't pan out, it's not your fault, it just means they may need to be adjusted.)
>
> The counsellor is likely/should be equipped with all of the excellent latest tools in empathy, interviewing skills, body language, etc.
>
> So, maybe take some of this info to your counsellor, and explain in very concrete ways what you are looking for. The older psychotherapeutic/cathartic therapies have been proven not be very useful, and they are rarely even offered now in training in college/universities.
>
> Please let me know what you think.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jay
>
>
poster:Adia
thread:265278
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/266326.html