Posted by mair on February 20, 2004, at 22:49:10
In reply to Re: therapists's reactions to termination » mair, posted by fallsfall on February 20, 2004, at 20:34:50
I'm so impressed. I mean you obviously went about this in a very systematic and thorough way.
I'm afraid it's never really occurred to me to be a saavy consumer. A few decades ago, I ended up with my first psychiatrist because he was the only shrink I knew. This was pretty much true of my second one as well. I wasn't much better about choosing my current therapist either. She was recommended to me by pdoc #2.
I've never really second guessed how I got to each of them to begin with, because really given the shape I was in, it's amazing enough that I got it together to get any help at all. It's been a little harder not to second guess my decisions about how long I stuck it out; it's hard not to think about what might have been with a different choice. Who wants to conclude that a ton of time with a "bad fit" therapist was a waste? I'm pretty loyal (and basically a chicken) so I would be more likely to drift away than to actually terminate a relationship.
Your gender comment is interesting. My current therapist is the first woman I've worked with, and i really do think I've made more progress with her and been more committed to the process as well. I have a great deal of difficulty opening up, and I just seem to have an easier time talking to her about things I was reticent to discuss with my male therapists. (although to be honest, it's all a matter of pathetically small degrees - there's tons of things I have great difficulty being able to talk to her also) I think she feels that gender makes a difference too. She asked me recently if I thought I might have done better with my last therapist. I told her I didn't think so. Her comment was something to the effect of "I don't think so either given all of your issues with your father."
Mair
poster:mair
thread:315969
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040218/msgs/316270.html