Posted by raisinb on August 7, 2008, at 18:53:10
In reply to Wanting to be similar to my therapist, posted by onceupon on August 7, 2008, at 15:21:02
What a good topic. My feelings on this issue are extremely complicated. I used to feel sad, alone, and angry because my therapist and I are so different. Like you, I felt she'd never experienced what I go through. All this time, *she* felt we were very similar, so we had to negotiate through those opposing views. I guess I realized that I tend to look for reasons others might reject me, rather than looking for common ground--which would make more sense if I want the human connections I'm missing. I suppose in that respect she gave me a good model.
In many ways, I actively want to be different than her. It's similar to an adolescent's feelings about parents, I think. You want to rebel simply to define yourself as a person.
I guess I don't know if I actually want to be like her. There are qualities in her I love and value very much. But it's more appreciation and affection than wanting to be like--or no, wait, I think the affection actually *leads* to wanting to be like sometimes.
Hm, can you tell this is something I haven't worked out for myself?
poster:raisinb
thread:844805
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080727/msgs/844841.html