Posted by Noa on February 13, 2001, at 15:31:51
In reply to Re: Woman therapists, pdocs, posted by willow on February 13, 2001, at 14:26:32
My first therapist, in another city, was a guy. It was a publicly funded clinic, so I had little choice (I would have had to wait a while for a female therapist). But it worked out really well--I worked with him for a number of years, and made a lot of progress.
When I moved here, I decided to try a woman therapist. It didn't work out so well. In some ways, I liked that she was able to offer me what a male therapist wouldn't have, but in other ways, I wasn't that comfortable with her. I don't know if it was because she is female, or certain idiosyncracies about her--her office was in her home, and one time I came 5 minutes early, and she answered the door in a towel, having just stepped out of the shower--that made me very uncomfortable. In any event, I had gone to her for short term work anyway.
So, a couple of years later when I decided to find a therapist, I thought about it and realized that I think I am more comfortable with a male therapist, perhaps because I have so many issues with my mother. Growing up, my father was rather benign to me, though quite absent and unavailable emotionally. My mother, tho, was more intrusive and critical toward me. So, I think I feel safer with a male therapist. Of course, perhaps working with a woman therapist would have forced me to address some of my issues with my mother, but at this point, who cares. The therapy has been helpful and I needed to feel that safety.
poster:Noa
thread:4601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010209/msgs/4616.html