Posted by Penny on January 14, 2004, at 11:36:45
In reply to Ranting and Ranting and Ranting, Oh My!, posted by fallsfall on January 14, 2004, at 11:05:49
Oh dear...I only have a moment as I MUST get back to work, but wanted to comment briefly, if I can gather my thoughts...
You have every right to be angry about this, falls. At least in my opinion. Who is he to tell you to not talk about therapy outside of therapy? And you are exactly right in telling him honestly that patients don't tell their therapists everything - and if he thinks otherwise then he is being quite naive. I mean, really, as you said, even if we wanted to, sometimes it's just not pertinent to the matter at hand, and most of the time there's just not enough time, even if you're in therapy twice a week like we are! What does he expect?
As for what you discuss outside of therapy and with who (or is that whom? I can never remember - sorry!), that is your business. If it was truly harming your therapy, then perhaps I could see him recommending (which he didn't even do, right?) that you reconsider what you choose to share with others outside of therapy about therapy. But as long as you're getting positive support, I don't see how he can be bothered by that. Both of my Ts have been glad that I had babble and online friends, as they know from my telling them that I've had a hard time find anyone in my face-to-face dealings with people who truly understands how I feel as well as the babblers. I know you have some close face-to-face friends who also support you in your dealings with depression, and for that you are extremely lucky, and I think whatever you say to them, or to us on babble, or whoever you want to say something to about therapy - that's your right, just as it's your right to not share whatever you don't feel comfortable sharing.
For me, I get a great deal of good constructive feedback on therapy issues when I share things with folks who understand, and it helps the therapy along. There are people I have learned to not discuss therapy things with, and then there are people I can discuss therapy things with, and for that I am most grateful! I don't know what I would do sometimes without babble and some of my other online friends who 'get it.'
Anyway, as I said, I really need to get back to work, but I wanted to let you know my thoughts on this - don't know how helpful it will be, but I do think you have a right to be angry about it, and I'm sorry you're having such a rough time right now. I wish I could do more.
Take care.
((((Fallsfall))))
P
poster:Penny
thread:300607
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040110/msgs/300624.html