Posted by Penny on December 18, 2003, at 11:57:31
In reply to Re: Feeling during therapy, posted by Karen_kay on December 18, 2003, at 11:44:27
> Well, for a while I was so resistant that he let me drive for a while. I controlled everything. And we didn't talk about much. But, it allowed me to learn to trust him. And it gave me time to slowly begin to talk about my relationship with my father. That was the turning point in my therapy. The time where I thought we weren't doing anything. The time where we were just chit-chatting, which lasted for about 3 months. I set the pace. And I controlled the conversation. I began to open up. It made all the difference to me. That time was really important to my therapy. It gave me a break. I got my anxiety under control. And my memory started to improve. But he didn't hassle me or push me. So, even though none of my sessions cause me to feel anger or sadness, most of the material now involves all of these elements. But, if it wasn't for the time I had with the small talk, I wouldn't be able to now talk about the important stuff!
I see your point...I was in therapy with my former T for 3 years and it didn't take me long to open up to her, and I guess I was in crisis a good bit of the time, so my visits were typically emotionally charged...but I've been seeing my current T for a year now, and I feel very comfortable with her and I've told her some fairly intimate details about myself, but find myself avoiding what I tell myself are the 'real reasons' I'm in therapy. Instead, I talk about the book I'm reading, or something at work, or whatever is happening at the time. Because I don't particularly want to dredge up the emotional stuff that surrounds my childhood, my issues with men (which I've done a mighty fine job of suppressing), etc., I just don't, and she doesn't push me to. Perhaps I should ask her to push me a little more? I dunno...Does any of this make sense?
P
poster:Penny
thread:291244
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031213/msgs/291299.html