Posted by messadivoce on January 9, 2005, at 14:51:20
In reply to There are things I'm reluctant to tell therapist, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2005, at 4:32:17
Hi Dinah,
I feel like I can speak to this topic. I come from a very conservative Christian background which was something I wanted to separate from my identity when I went to therapy. My parents were very concerned that I wasn't seeing a Christian therapist, and I basically told them I didn't care WHAT he was because he was the most kind, compassionate, understanding person I had ever met, and once more, he was helping me.
I was about 3 months into my therapy when I was complaining to him that people from my background are taught to be suspicious of people like him (psychologists) and he told me that a lot of psychologists have to reconcile their faith with their profession, and that is an individual process. And then he told me that he too was a Christian!! I almost fell off the couch when he told me, because he was so understanding and non-judgemental towards me.
As my therapy progressed, it was nice to know that we had that shared faith and understanding. It made me have to explain less. He was not afraid to discuss sexuality openly and matter-of-factly with me even so. It was the most delicate balance of professionalism and faith.
I guess my point in all of this is, give him a chance to react to what you have to say to him. Is it possible he may surprise you? I hope so.
Voce
poster:messadivoce
thread:439667
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050105/msgs/439782.html