Posted by llurpsienoodle on August 8, 2008, at 23:42:56
In reply to Re: What is my T doing? » llurpsienoodle, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 17:55:30
> ((((llurpsie))))
>
> I do understand how you feel.
>thanks Dinah, hugs are golden
> Did you tell him how you were hearing what he was saying? It may be that he didn't mean it the way it sounded.
I kind of smiled and nodded. It wasn't until afterwards in the car that I started to unravel. I was even forced to do an emergency babblemail to get the sh*t off of my mind so that I could get my face ready for work.
>
> Although I think you've mentioned before that he is strength oriented, and less likely to be with you in the way your female therapist was? If I'm remembering correctly, which I'm not at all sure I am.Oh, you're GOOD! I've been trying to put things together. Why they they have both helped me (I'm less depressed right now than in the past 4? years) and yet, how their approaches could be so different. I was struck by the difference in their personalities. FemaleT (oldT) was able to let the fragile part speak her mind for large chunks of the time, and work on strengthening HER up, giving my weak side specific strategies for dealing with troublesome life circumstances. A lot of classic trauma-based therapy with moments of psychoanalysis thrown in. I knew that my time with her would only last 9 months, so my analysis was kind of hampered by being in perpetual crisis. hmmm.
CurrentT is very much oriented towards helping me discover, appreciate and learn about my strengths. Giving me courage to follow dreams, even when I'm falling apart. He has always brought a lot of his own experience into the room, helping me get oriented to the area after I just moved, and suggesting fun day trips to distract me from my depression. Telling me about restaurants to try (okay, I know I'm sounding shallow here) but the main point is that I appreciated how AUTHENTIC he was. Essentially a flawed, moody (I haven't seen evidence for this, though) human being whose 30 years of experience could be summed up in simplicity "well, we're going to talk about things, and a lot of people feel better". He's a very savvy therapist, and has been able to GET things with very very few cues from me.
It takes two to tango. I've been giving him mixed signals. Blame my strengthened ego, perhaps.
-Ll
poster:llurpsienoodle
thread:845004
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080727/msgs/845083.html