Posted by Dinah on October 7, 2003, at 23:10:49
In reply to Re: Please read...Code of Ethics For=== ALL, posted by jay on October 7, 2003, at 22:50:29
No, I'm afraid I *don't* understand you.
I have been on this board for I don't know how long. Trying to help people to see that it is perfectly ok to feel however you feel towards your therapist. That your therapist will not reject you (if he is halfway competent) for expressing your feelings. You said on the other board that clients have to be taught the difference between behavior appropriate to friends and that appropriate to strangers and/or therapists. How on earth can you equate a therapist with a stranger?
This is an important subject to me Jay. And I am not going to let it drop with an "I honestly think folks don't quite understand the intricacies of therapy. The line between a casual relationship and a professional one is quite distinct for those who have practiced social work." Give me a bit of credit, Jay. I may not be a social worker, but I understand transference.
Of course there is a line between a casual relationship and a therapeutic one. The main one being that a therapist must concentrate on the client's wellbeing not his own. So you feel uncomfortable with the tranference. You're going to abandon the client?
Not only am I hitting that send button, because if that is the position of your organization, I think clients have a right to know to choose a different sort of professional than a social worker. But I am also going to send out a blanket invitation to any mental health professional who will hear me to come weigh in on this topic.
I have been urging people to be honest with their therapists. Not to keep their feelings hidden. That there is nothing wrong with feeling strong feelings for your therapist and admitting them. If I've been giving out lousy advice I want to know it so that I can tell people to lie through their teeth so as not to make their therapist feel uncomfortable. Heaven forfend!!!!
poster:Dinah
thread:266267
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/266597.html