Posted by Dinah on June 27, 2008, at 17:25:53
In reply to Can A Therapist Really Be Objective?, posted by Rigby on June 27, 2008, at 13:12:22
Did she give a reason why she thought you would benefit? Does that reason seem compelling to you?
I don't know that anyone anywhere is *completely* objective. Therapists who believe in one type of therapy or another might visualize a client's problems in terms of their own training and beliefs. A therapist who doesn't believe in short term therapy might define a client's progress in such a way as to believe that therapy objectives have been met and the client is ready to leave. While a therapist who believes in long term therapy might define a client's progress and remaining work in a completely different way.
In addition to training, theory, etc., therapists are people with needs of many sorts, and tendencies of many sorts. It is possible that a client may push a therapist's buttons in such a way that they may be quick to believe that a client is ready to leave therapy. Or they may find their needs met by the client in such a way that they might have their professional judgment clouded in favor of rationalizing encouraging a client to stay. Hopefully *this* sort of bias is something that therapists scrupulously watch for. It certainly is something she has considered, if you consider that she has integrity and is competent, since you did bring it to her attention.
There are so many ways that any therapist might not be objective about anything. Does this particular aspect of her possible objectivity have special meaning for you?
I think clients have to retain some control with even the most trusted and respected therapists. Clients need to do regular evaluations themselves. In the end it doesn't matter as much why she thinks you could benefit from more therapy so much as it matters if you think you can benefit from more therapy.
poster:Dinah
thread:836788
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080616/msgs/836838.html