Posted by Solstice on November 17, 2010, at 22:24:49
In reply to Re: an eternity, posted by Annabelle Smith on November 17, 2010, at 20:39:42
> I have told my therapist that I feel as if therapy is the "meta-situation" of my life; thus, all of the intensities and frustrations that normally center in other areas of my life, manifest themselves in therapy.
Yep! That's exactly how it's supposed to work. That's why we feel so vulnerable, too.. because before it's over, things you never expected are likely to show up. My therapist saw things I could have never guessed. I just recently told T that it's like therapy has been this little microcosm of 'life' for me where I've figured out all kinds of things - and have had many of my earliest (pathetic) relationship experiences replaced by experiences in our therapeutic relationship that have built a platform for me that didn't exist before. When that very 'young' emotional dependence first emerged, I was very confused and afraid. I fought against it. But the attachment my therapist facillited would become powerful when things happened in my life that made me feel I'd lost my moorings. I would feel so very humiliated by the vulnerability I felt.. but my T welcomed it, and never made me feel ashamed of it. Experience after experienced, I learned T would 'be there'.. every time. It completely reshaped my relationship functioning.
> I used to be nervous when I would meet with a authority figures for lunch or a chat. This is true with on individual in particular at my university. When I started meeting with my therapist, it was as if all of this authorial anxiety centered upon him and moved away from its intense focus on others. I met with this said minister a number of times last spring and was able to have meaningful and connected conversations with him-- but my anxiety centered on that therapeutic relationship.:) I know what you're talking about. I've had 'authority-anxiety' issues myself. I'll never forget them time that I, for the first time, felt completely at peace in confronting an issue with a particularly 'scary' authority figure. When I told T about it, T asked what I thought about it - what happened that made it work. All I knew was that in that moment, while having that discussion with the 'scary' authority figure, I did not felt alone. I told T that I felt 'surrounded' by our therapeutic relationship. It was empowering for me. I felt like I had a voice, and could use it without fear. It was very cool.
> Because so much is focused and dependent upon this relationship, it makes it very difficult and scary to know how to manage.Annabelle.. You've been getting some good stuff here from emanuel, obsidian, etc. I think it sounds like things are going like they are supposed to go for you. You really do need, though, to talk to him.. tell him what you're telling us. and let us know how it goes!
Solstice
poster:Solstice
thread:970565
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20101115/msgs/970652.html