Posted by wittgensteinz on September 26, 2010, at 3:38:23
In reply to with closed eyes..., posted by twinleaf on September 26, 2010, at 0:41:28
The awareness of being watched by the other, albeit with ones own eyes closed, is an important part of it, I think. While meeting eyes is very intimate, closing the eyes altogether is also a very vulnerable position to adopt.
That Skype therapy makes use of cameras is very important, I imagine (even in the case when the client doesn't get to see the therapist only vice versa). In telephone therapy, neither can watch the other.
In my therapy, the chairs are arranged at 90 degrees from one another - not facing directly. So if I sit straight in the chair and stare directly ahead, I don't see my therapist, and he not me. As far as I'm aware (from when I do look across), he tends to turn his head/body and watch me, but there are also times when we both just sit looking straight ahead.
I'm guessing this chair arrangement is a take-off from the Freudian school. Do any of you have the same arrangement with your therapists/analysts? I quite like it as it gives me the choice - either I can just sit straight or I can turn my head slightly to look at him. I don't have to actively turn my head away from him so as to avoid contact - seeking contact is an active process. It also means I know he is actively looking at me.
Witti
poster:wittgensteinz
thread:963801
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20100831/msgs/963807.html