Posted by raisinb on July 17, 2008, at 12:57:15
In reply to Question on Therapy Types (long/sorry), posted by antigua3 on July 17, 2008, at 10:31:31
It's a very difficult balance. The therapist has to attend to all the nuances of the therapeutic relationship, while still keeping the focus on the client's conflicts and feelings. I think the secret is to discuss the transference ad nauseam, but not to leave it there.
I think meme summed up what happened for me pretty well. Eventually, I did realize that much of my intense transference *was* about core beliefs I have about myself. And accepting myself for who I am will coincide with accepting my therapist and our relationship. But she, too, had to accept and work with all my intense feelings about her (which she did well often, not so well other times) before these insights could grow.
But that's me and my conflict. Transference, though it has similar effects on all of us, stems from very individual sources. So maybe your pdoc is doing what's best for you, as he sees it. Or maybe as Dinah says, he's just doing what he wants to do.
I'd ask for a rationale as to why this particular boundary is helpful for *you.* Listen to his answer, and figure out if he's trying to help you or to protect himself.
poster:raisinb
thread:840155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080709/msgs/840178.html