Posted by Dinah on August 4, 2004, at 11:38:25
In reply to Re: amazingly strong! JenStar, posted by Susan47 on August 4, 2004, at 9:56:51
I think you might mis-take the position towards therapists on this board. Therapist bashing is a prime hobby - our own mainly I admit.
What you might be seeing is a reluctance on most of our parts to interfere in a therapeutic relationship unless it appears grossly abusive. Because after all, this is an internet bulletin board, we don't have the full story. I don't think we're shy about suggesting that people bring concerns to discuss with their own therapist or to obtain a consultation with a third party. But we may be reluctant to engage in therapy-interfering behaviors unless the therapist is clearly violating professional ethics, just as we would probably be reluctant to engage in marriage-interfering behaviors unless there was abuse involved.
My therapist has been extremely annoyed with me in the past, not for discussing my therapy with others, but for allowing others who have no familiarity with how long term therapy works to shake my trust in him or the process without discussing it with him. Of course, I generally do discuss it with him, even if it takes a while. I've also had one outright consultation, and several adjunct therapies where my therapy was discussed. Most outside "authorities" thought we had a very good and healthy therapeutic relationship. One didn't, but as I didn't think much of his technique in general, that didn't surprise me overmuch.
My therapist has been criticized, and I've agreed with the criticism sometimes, and other times not.
I don't think therapists get a free ride here. We're generally informed consumers who demand a lot from our therapists and know when they're falling short.
poster:Dinah
thread:372818
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040728/msgs/373964.html