Posted by madeline on May 26, 2006, at 13:37:17
In reply to Re: frustrated with T..., posted by susan47 on May 26, 2006, at 11:41:32
Good lord knows I have enough shame for other stuff, but I have absolutely no problem (well, anymore) with the fact that my therapist may be attracted to me and may occasionally notice what I'm wearing, or glance at my breasts.
But for me, he is a man. That's what men do. They notice women. Just because he is a psychiatrist doesn't mean he is neutered.
It hasn't spoiled anything or contaminated the space. In fact, that man has helped me more than any other person on this planet ever. I can honestly say I owe him and Larry Hoover my life.
I don't think of my therapist as role model, or a blank slate against which I write myself. He is a man, no more no less. We are two people in that room.
He IS a guide, and my most valuable asset in the journey to wholeness.
And it has taken me YEARS to get to this place and MULTIPLE discussions on how we would define this therapeutic frame, and each of our responsibilites in it.
In fact, knowing that that his attraction to me is there, but that he is controlling it has given so much more confidence around other men. He's not going to attack and you know what? Odds are they won't either. It's bizarrely soothing.
Just my thoughts on the topic.
poster:madeline
thread:648671
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060526/msgs/648915.html