Posted by lucie lu on October 18, 2008, at 16:52:19
In reply to I'm not sure what to do, posted by Dinah on October 17, 2008, at 18:48:41
Dinah,
I don't have much experience with phobias other than school, claustrophobia and agorophobia, which all somehow to me seem different than what is under discussion here. I do have a colleague whose young daughter, when she was in kindergarten, had an unfortunate experience with a sick classmate on a school bus. This traumatized her so much that she ate NOTHING but white bread for an entire YEAR! Her parents were frantic. Eventually she got over it, I don't remember whether it was with therapeutic assistance or not. So obviously this phobia is no joke.
So I don't have any personal experience with phobia treatment apart from what I've read. But I do know something of your long history with your T and know how important it is to you. Given that, my suggestion is that you both (individually) seek consultation with other professionals, to minimize the risk of anything happening to your relationship during the process of treating your phobia. It may seem like overkill, but since you expect such treatment would last for a long time, it seems worthwhile to try to foresee things as clearly as possible. I think consultation can be really helpful under such circumstances, help to eliminate or at least identify potentially problematic biases, expectations, or misapprehensions. Basically, just bouncing ideas off a different wall.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but you are in my thoughts (where I'm giving you a big hug of encouragement).
Lucie
poster:lucie lu
thread:857976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20081018/msgs/858144.html