Posted by pegasus on May 27, 2005, at 10:27:07
In reply to termination continued - sad, posted by Shortelise on May 26, 2005, at 20:27:54
Interesting termination technique. I know for a fact that not all terminations go like this. An approach that I personally think is more helpful is to work on all the issues that the idea of termination brings up, and just be very frank about the loss and grieving, etc. But keeping the nature of the relationship as supportive as ever. It's the attachment theory idea: if we attach to our therapists, then they become a safe home from which we can go out and try new things. And eventually you just need to check in with that safe home less and less often as you grow.
Taking away the sense of a safe home seems like it would cause insecurity and clinging, rather than the independence successful termination requires. The approach of weaning you off of your dependency on him by actually changing the nature of your relationship sounds really painful. Too bad he can't let you continue to see him as a safe home that you just don't need to go back to so often anymore.
Well, anyway, what I mean is that I'm really sorry, and I understand how this would be very painful.
(((ShortE)))
pegasus
poster:pegasus
thread:503352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050521/msgs/503623.html