8 July 2014
Therapist FAIL
Although the point of therapy is to work with someone who allows room for you to share your thoughts and feelings, someone who (I should hope) works to help you feel understood, it’s not rare—even with the most experienced therapists—to experience moments of miscommunication.
It might be that they neglect to recall aspects of your biography correctly (attributing, say, a sister to you when you only have a brother). Or it might be that they forgot that you went on a well-deserved vacation and didn’t inquire about it.
Indeed there may be a point when your therapist disappoints you, makes you feel misunderstood—at worst, somehow bruised. It’s important to find a way to represent yourself in these moments; after all, as therapists we are often telling you to “be fair to yourself”. What could be more fair than representing yourself with someone who is supposed to be there to help you do that very thing?
A good therapist will receive your feedback without inappropriate objection. There’s a chance that what you have to share might catch them off-guard if, say, they weren’t aware of anything they’ve said being hurtful. But here’s the thing: this is their job, and a good therapist should give you space to talk about anything—including feedback about the therapist and your relationship with them.
One of the best things I can do as a therapist is to help a client represent themselves in the world. If I cannot accept their feelings towards something I might have done then that speaks to a professional issue with me, not with a personal problem of the client’s.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
filed under: choice• failure• general info• psychotherapy• resilience• self• strength
11 June 2014
Therapy: Talking…and Walking
I saw this article in the Lancaster News today, about therapists who take their practice out of the office and onto nearby trails that they can share with clients. I must admit, this is something I’ve given a great deal of thought to over the last few years, and I’m happy I’m not the only one who has considered it.
There are, of course, a number of factors which would need to be worked through before I would ever think of attempting this. One of the advantages of working in an office or clinic is: consistency. Particularly for clients who suffer from anxiety and/or related trauma, a stable environment allows them to focus on their thoughts and feelings and not on flora and fauna, or—lord forbid—uncontrollable variables which may make their focus (and the therapy) less effective (dogs, mosquitos, cyclists).
If anything, the uncontrollable variables presented in a walk-and-talk environment might counteract the progressiveness of the idea. If ever I do contemplate implementing this, it would probably need follow structured (and safe) therapy in a consistent indoor-office framework.
It certainly does give me ideas!
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
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