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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by messadivoce on May 22, 2005, at 0:55:41
In reply to Re: Approximate relationship » pegasus, posted by Dinah on May 21, 2005, at 12:48:58
When I read the word "approximate" it really didn't resonate with me. I thought, but my relationship with my T is very specific!! I mean, my T was of psychodynamic orientation so our relationship was obviously the focal point of a lot of sessions. I like Dinah's idea of calling it "different". It's like romance at times, and frienship too, but it's not.
My relationship with my 2nd T was more approximate. Maybe because I didn't get to know her as well, and our relationship didn't have the same intensity that my female-to-male relationship did with my first T. I think it depends on the therapy relationship, that is, how "approximate" it is. A lot of it is up to how close the T will get to the client.
Posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 1:06:40
In reply to Re: Approximate relationship, posted by daisym on May 21, 2005, at 18:59:23
Well, ok, but what is the relationship approximating? A relationship IRL? That seems to be what Dinah's saying.
I think that's where I get stuck. It seems genuine and complete to me, even with the boundaries, which are part of what makes it rich. And I never thought of it as being approximately anything else. Thinking of it as approximately a friendship, or approximately a parent-child relationship seems unhelpful.
Oh . . . ok, so I'm figuring something out as I type. Maybe she's talking about how we sometimes see the T-client relationship as symbolic of other relationships (via transference). So, it's approximating those other relationships for us? At least in part.
Well, maybe I'm making it more complicated than it really is. Maybe she's just talking about how the relationship has inherent, important limits.
pegasus
Posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 1:40:44
In reply to Re: Approximate relationship, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 1:06:40
Posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 9:38:14
In reply to We'll put it on our list of questions? :) (nm) » pegasus, posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 1:40:44
Posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 9:42:01
In reply to Sorry, what list of Qs? (nm) » Dinah, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 9:38:14
in late July.
We could start a list of questions.
Posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 11:27:25
In reply to For Deborah Lott, when she's guest expert, posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 9:42:01
Oh, Cool! I missed that that was going to happen. I *would* like to ask Ms. Lott about this.
And regarding the approximate relationship thing, I've been thinking, and rereading, and what I now think she's trying to say is that the therapy relationship is *more* than it seems, not *less*. I think "approximate" is probably an unfortunate word for it. I think she's saying that the therapy relationship is real, in the sense that we have actual relationships with our therapists. And in addition to that it's also approximating important relationships from the past that we need to work on. That's the symbolic part. So, I guess I'd rather call it a complex relationship with real and symbolic parts.
Not to beat a dead horse or anything . . .
pegasus
Posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 12:00:05
In reply to Re: For Deborah Lott, when she's guest expert » Dinah, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2005, at 11:27:25
You may have it there.
So the real relationship would be the real relationship between us, but he's also my therapist/mommy.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 22, 2005, at 13:55:39
In reply to Re: For Deborah Lott, when she's guest expert » pegasus, posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 12:00:05
I've been struggling with understanding what she means by "approximate", too. Pegasus, I think your explanation makes a lot of sense.
gg
Posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 9:43:41
In reply to approximate relationships...pegasus, posted by gardenergirl on May 22, 2005, at 13:55:39
I'll start with the "golden fantasy", just because I wrote below that my major delusional transference was thinking my therapeutic relationship was close to perfect.
I don't think I mean it in the rescue sort of way she's talking about. I do need for him to be in tune with me, at least to a certain extent, within session, or he doesn't *feel* like him, and I get a bit frantic. Like his body was there but he wasn't and that's scary. But I know he's not there for me constantly. I know his family comes first. I have a pretty good idea how he feels about me, and the limits of that. He would never hang out with me if I didn't pay him. We have nothing in common. But he is fond of me within the context of the therapeutic relationship, in that way you have when you're really familiar with someone and accept them.
I think I mean it that I know he'll never reject me. He might abandon me by moving (which is a whole different part of this chapter) or retiring or getting sick or dying. But there is nothing I could say or would do that would cause him to reject me. We may and will fight from time to time, and there will be misunderstanding, resentment, annoyance and anger on both our parts. But I know our relationship can withstand it.
I've told him everything that's happened in my life and in the relationship so far, and he's been accepting and has never run off screaming out of the room (one of his favorite, and sometimes annoying, expressions). And we've dicussed enough about things that happen here for me to know there's nothing I *could* say that would make him reject me. If such a thing were to ever happen, I could tell him I loved him romantically, I hated him, I was sexually aroused by him, and he'd be ok with it. Ok enough at least that he wouldn't end the relationship.
I think I mean it's perfect in that he accepts me and feels affection for me and finds me funny often enough to remind me of Daddy.
So that's my idea of a perfect relationship. I dont' know if that qualifies as the golden fantasy she talks about.
Posted by pegasus on May 23, 2005, at 18:13:37
In reply to Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention., posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 9:43:41
You know, Dinah, that doesn't sound like the golden fantasy to me. It sounds like a very reasonable and realistic therapy relationship. So, maybe your fantasy and reality are the same, lucky you. ;)
For me everything in this chapter strikes true. That's what's so great about this book. It's incredibly validating. In my first major therapy relationship, everything that happened was hugely important, and I had such dependency, and fantasies, etc.
We talked about it later after therapy (via email). He told me that he thought it was so intense relative to my current therapy relationship because it was the first time I'd talked about a lot of secret stuff. So, I'd needed to do a lot of relationship testing before we got into the big secrets. Once I'd done the testing and telling, the relationship was just really important and special.
So, here's a question: why does that happen in one therapy relationship but not in another? The way Ms. Lott describes these intense feelings and fantasies, they're just inevitable because of the therapy scenario. But I've experienced it with some therapists, and not with others. And all the therapists involved seemed warm, empathetic, and skilled. Am I just in a different place wrt my issues with each therapist?
pegasus
Posted by alexandra_k on May 23, 2005, at 18:18:06
In reply to Re: Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention. » Dinah, posted by pegasus on May 23, 2005, at 18:13:37
I haven't been reading the thread...
But I'll start reading and join in any old day now...
:-)
Posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 19:58:35
In reply to Re: My copy just arrived :-), posted by alexandra_k on May 23, 2005, at 18:18:06
It's actually been sort of quiet.
Posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 20:03:32
In reply to Re: Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention. » Dinah, posted by pegasus on May 23, 2005, at 18:13:37
> You know, Dinah, that doesn't sound like the golden fantasy to me. It sounds like a very reasonable and realistic therapy relationship. So, maybe your fantasy and reality are the same, lucky you. ;)
That's what I think. But I wonder what my therapist would say. I wonder that a lot. I wonder if he sees our relationship anywhere near how I see it. You know therapist speak.
>
> For me everything in this chapter strikes true. That's what's so great about this book. It's incredibly validating. In my first major therapy relationship, everything that happened was hugely important, and I had such dependency, and fantasies, etc.Yes, this is the chapter that hits on soooo many things.
>
> We talked about it later after therapy (via email). He told me that he thought it was so intense relative to my current therapy relationship because it was the first time I'd talked about a lot of secret stuff. So, I'd needed to do a lot of relationship testing before we got into the big secrets. Once I'd done the testing and telling, the relationship was just really important and special.Also it might have been your first experience with that level of intense intimacy. Or you may be subconsciously guarding yourself now.
>
> So, here's a question: why does that happen in one therapy relationship but not in another? The way Ms. Lott describes these intense feelings and fantasies, they're just inevitable because of the therapy scenario. But I've experienced it with some therapists, and not with others. And all the therapists involved seemed warm, empathetic, and skilled. Am I just in a different place wrt my issues with each therapist?
>
> pegasusI know I've read some books that explore that. They all seemed to have the same style? Because I can clearly see a difference in the mental health providers I've seen, and I can point to the exact qualities that are in this relationship, but not the others. If all other variables are the same, it must have something to do with you...
But maybe they just feel different, or the chemistry is different.
Posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 20:05:08
In reply to Re: Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention., posted by Dinah on May 23, 2005, at 20:03:32
Posted by annierose on May 23, 2005, at 22:14:08
In reply to Re: Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention. » Dinah, posted by pegasus on May 23, 2005, at 18:13:37
Pegasus-
I think it's a combination of the T's orientation, and your combined personality styles and general "connection" that foster (or doesn't) those powerful feelings.
My current T is the one I have had the longest relationship with and hence the strongest feelings. I have seen 2 other therapists and never had developed any of these feelings. But all 3 had totally different theraputic orientations. My current T is psychodynamic and fosters those feelings. I see her 3x per week, and feel sad when I go on vacation or when she goes away. With my other T's, I was never fazed by their absence. Hmmm. It's curious. I just feel that this T is with me. So I miss her when she's not physically here too.
Posted by pegasus on May 23, 2005, at 23:05:54
In reply to Re: Chapter 2. Too many buttons to mention. » pegasus, posted by annierose on May 23, 2005, at 22:14:08
Yeah, it's probably because of differences between their styles and some subconscious holding back on my part. All of my therapists have been psychodynamic (except one CBT), so they haven't been much different. But there are always personality differences, etc. I guess my point is that in the book, she doesn't really explore that at all. Which is fine, because it covers a lot of more important ground.
Ch. 2 says so many important things that I haven't seen discussed anywhere else. In explaining why these fantasies, dependencies, sensitivites develop, she makes such a good case for it being reasonable and expected. So, I find it curious that sometimes it doesn't happen, even when all the ingredients she mentions are there.
pegasus
Posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 16:56:48
In reply to Re: My copy just arrived :-), posted by alexandra_k on May 23, 2005, at 18:18:06
I haven't read the thread yet because I'm trying to get caught up. I am getting through the first chapter though... Wow... It is really good. Now I'm going to be doing minimal work all week :-)
I like her take on things. She ties it together into a narrative - but: don't be fooled that she is just 'telling the womens stories' without being in the grip of a theory herself... There isn't any such thing as an a-theorietic stance.
What I like about her stance is that it seems common-sense, demystifying, and charitable. I like her thoughts on transference etc.
:-)
I think I like it for fairly much the same reasons I'm into Linehan. A non-judgemental stance.
That was interesting about Anna O. I have read a fair bit about her... At least I thought I had... I didn't know about the phantom pregnancy... Don't know how I managed to miss that...
Posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 18:31:56
In reply to Re: Wow..., posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 16:56:48
Okay... So I've read the stuff on the first chapter... Though I'll have to think about 'approximation' a bit...
Have been thinking about Bruer...
Was it really a phantom pregnancy?????
She was institutionalised around then...
Just a thought.I guess the situation would have been pretty terrifying for him as well... I mean, he didn't have anyone to normalise his counter-transference feelings either.
I know that therapists are supposed to be able to put their needs / desires aside in order to do therapy properly... I know that they know that. But I'm sure that they get some situations (when people want to go deeper) and / or some clients where they are unsure whether they CAN do that. Even though they know they should - they are human after all...
Hmm...
Was the 'approximation' stuff about an approximation of love, an approximation of a relationship with friends or a lover or parents?
(Sorry if I'm missing the point there)The template idea sounds to me a lot like schemata (schemas).
I like it how she doesn't have transference based solely on the past - it is also an artifact of the present interrelation.
And the nature of therapy...
The nature of therapy...I like her dilemmas
The power imbalance
The dilemmas of paying for caring etc etc
They do make it hard.I have been thinking about what she was saying about therapy with respect to Babble as well...
Not just with respect to us being like the coffee group but...
Well...
This place IS my therapy.
So I guess this kind of makes you guys my therapists in a sense...
Not that you have a professional obligation to me or anything like that...
But it is an approximation of a therapy relationship in the sense that I bring stuff here that most people would take to their therapist.So how much is Babble (when viewed as an approximation of therapy) subject to the same dilemmas, and how much is it not????????
Hmm....
There isn't just ONE person like therapy - because here there are many Babblers.
I don't pay anything for caring
But I do think the caring I receive (or at least the extent of it etc) is dependent on the caring I give
(But that is more an approximation to real world relationships than MONEY which is an issue in therapy)And transference...
Whats up with that here???
I have found that I do get particularly attached to particular posters.
And I have had Babblemails which indicate I'm not the only one.Interesting...
Posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 18:44:17
In reply to Re: Wow..., posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 18:31:56
I think...
I think the notion is that when people say they have a relationship with someone they are usually talking about the following sorts of things:- partner / lover
- children
- parents
- family
- friendsThese are the people that we tend to have strong ties to and strong feelings for.
But strong feelings arise in therapy...
So... What sort of relationship is that.
It isn't friendship (though it might seem like your therapist is your best friend - there are important differences - so therapy is an approximation of friendship)
It isn't that the therapist is your parent (though it might seem like it etc.)
And so on...
And one thing... One thing that is different is reciprocity. That is inherantly lacking in a therapy relationship (but not on Babble...)
I think she wants to say that the feelings are real - but also wants to acknowledge some of the important differences between these RL relationships and a therapy relationship.
My understanding of the symbolic nature...
Is that the therapist kind of becomes a symbol for 'humanity' and how everyone will relate to you if you do / disclose certain things... You tell your t your 'deepest darkest fears / secrets' and how your t handles that becomes the limits on how much other people will be able to accept you.
I mean, if your therapist can't accept you in all your glory, then who can???
But I think there is more to it than that...
The schemas you use as a lens through which to see your t mean that you see your t as a symbol as well. A symbol is something that REPRESENTS something else. A t can represent your child (whether you actually have any or not) your parent your lover etc.
Everyone... everyone in RL that you could potentially have a relationship with and everyone who you have had a relationship with.
But I am taking pseudoephedrine for my cold... and so maybe I'm talking out of my *ss...
:-)
Posted by Annierose on May 24, 2005, at 21:39:34
In reply to Re: Approximate relationships, posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 18:44:17
That's makes perfect sense ... good cold medication or not. Hope you feel better soon!!
Posted by Dinah on May 25, 2005, at 0:25:24
In reply to Re: Approximate relationships, posted by Annierose on May 24, 2005, at 21:39:34
But I think you made some good observations I'd like to comment on.
Not least of which is my curiosity over any transference you might have towards me. I used to remind someone of their Aunt, I think. :)
Posted by alexandra_k on May 25, 2005, at 3:50:32
In reply to Brain too fried to think, Alexandra, posted by Dinah on May 25, 2005, at 0:25:24
... I thought I was still in Chapter one.
The bit about the golden fantasy struck me too.
I didn't think I was much of an idealiser...
Rational me knows better than that...
But rational me aside
Yeah.
That really struck a chord with me...
That lady who talked about fantasising that her family would be killed... Well... That used to be a fairly standard and recurrent fantasy of mine when I was a kid. About my mother anyway. Sometimes my Dad would get me. Sometimes a teacher. I don't think it mattered really... Just someone... Anyone...But when we are really small
Before we gain a theory of mind
(the ability to see that other people have beliefs and desires)
When everything revolves around us
And (theorietically) our needs are just met as they arise (sort of...)
Well...
Who wouldn't long for that?
But you realise it is impossible once you realise that other people have needs too.
But part of you doesn't see that...
And just wants to be loved in the sense of someone being there to meet ones needs on demand in a way that is impossible in the real world. And you know that... But...
And that is me, of course.
But yeah, I get that.Then the other lady...
Or maybe it was even the same one.
About how her drama teacher seduced her...
And how her therapy went.
OMG
Thats me.
I went along with the story to a point...
Then thought OMG is that whats going on with me (horror)
Then it was resolved ok (phew)
But then what???
What of life after therapy???Too many buttons to mention...
Posted by pegasus on May 25, 2005, at 11:10:01
In reply to Re: Approximate relationships, posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 18:44:17
Yes what you say makes a lot of sense. I especially like the part about how a therapy relationship is like a friendship but not really, and like having a parent but not really, and like having a lover but not really . . . And then your point about reciprocity is right on. Is it a relationship as we usually define them IRL if there is no reciprocity? And then what if one therapist does talk about themself and accept/expect caring from a client, while another doesn't. Is one therapy relationship more approximate than another then?
I am really looking forward to asking Deborah Lott about this. I don't think she was very clear about what she meant. On the other hand, it's been interesting and useful to hear all of our thoughts about how the therapy relationship is approximate.
pegasus
Posted by Tamar on May 25, 2005, at 16:21:44
In reply to Re: Approximate relationships » alexandra_k, posted by pegasus on May 25, 2005, at 11:10:01
I thought the idea of therapy relationships as approximate was interesting. I’ve tended to think of my relationship with my ex T as something completely unlike all other relationships, rather than something approximating to other relationships (although I know there’s been some of that too).
I was very struck by the part under the heading Love, where she says,
‘The therapist’s love is always limited – no therapist can sustain a therapy relationship in which she loves freely because to love freely is to want something back, and to want back is to jeopardize the therapy. Love between two adults requires a two-way relationship, a negotiation of needs, a meshing of realities.’I wonder if all this is necessarily true. Is it true that to love freely means to want something back? Is it even possible to prevent oneself from loving freely? I always thought that love was something outside our control. Also, is it wrong for a therapist to want something back, even if that something is that the client makes an effort to engage with the therapy?
I loved Renee’s Story, at the end of the chapter. And I think it’s significant that Lott says Renee ‘could safely allow herself the vulnerability of loving him and feeling loved.’
Is feeling loved also an approximation? I guess it must be... so why doesn’t it *feel* like an approximation?
Posted by alexandra_k on May 25, 2005, at 23:32:22
In reply to Re: Approximate relationships, posted by Tamar on May 25, 2005, at 16:21:44
> I wonder if all this is necessarily true. Is it true that to love freely means to want something back?
I think so. At the very least it needs the love to be reciprocated. Otherwise it would die. Therapy wouldn't work out very well if our therapists needed us to love them as we need them to love us. It would be reciprocal - but it wouldn't be therapy.
To love you want to spend time with the person. Tell them stuff. Whats on your mind. Whats worrying you. But t's aren't supposed to do that. The love they show is limited...
> I loved Renee’s Story, at the end of the chapter. And I think it’s significant that Lott says Renee ‘could safely allow herself the vulnerability of loving him and feeling loved.’
I worry about that sense of 'feeling loved'. One feels loved because of the nature of the therapy relationship. They are supposed to focus on you for that time. Emotionally hold you etc. But RL isn't like that... It is more reciprocal. I worry that therapy teaches us the wrong messages about the nature of love and caring and about the nature of human relationships.
I worry that it fosters desires along the lines of the golden fantasy. That once those desires are fostered all you have done is made that person dependent on therapy relationships to get those desires met.
I'm not sure whether it is good for RL relationships... I'm not sure...
> Is feeling loved also an approximation? I guess it must be... so why doesn’t it *feel* like an approximation?Whether it is an approximation of love or not kind of depends on how one defines love - I would say.
Can you buy love?
Can you buy the 'love' of a therapist?I would say 'no' to the first and 'yes' to the second. IMO therapy would therefore be an approximation of love.
Not that the feelings are any the less real...
But just that RL love isn't one sided.
It isn't in measured weekly doses.
It isn't dependent on the payment of a fee.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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