Posted by Dinah on December 5, 2007, at 9:42:55
In reply to Reiki, posted by sunnydays on December 5, 2007, at 8:44:19
I'm reasonably sure that if touch became a part of my therapy, I'd find the touch so distracting that the therapy would go out the window. My need for personal space is huge.
And although I do not have romantic or sexual feelings for my therapist, I'm thinking it might stimulate such feelings. Attention, rapport, empathy, and touch? Brutal combination to resist. Perhaps especially if there was an energy feel to the touch. I know that all those things are a part of the parent/infant relationship but they're also a part of the relationship of courtship.
On the other hand, the occasional hugs my therapist and I both feel comfortable with don't stimulate any feelings in me other than mild surprise that they aren't more emotionally laden. They mostly feel awkward.
Does the idea appeal to you? Does it appeal too much? Are you ok with being a guinea pig? If you're interested and excited and think it will be helpful, great! But therapists are also people we want to please and that we like and want to help. It's hard to sort those feelings out from the feelings that come from our own wants I find. I guess it's part of what makes therapy work, in general. But there are also times when it could be a drawback.
poster:Dinah
thread:798889
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20071204/msgs/798906.html