Judith, therapy and therapists

[Guest guest]

Hi Judith

l liked what you said here- especially about being the powerful one. That

is the kind of therapist I have had for the most part. It was very helpful

to have someone help me find what I believed,and what I wanted to do with

that information. I have also had the kind that want to feel like they are

imparting some kind of special wisdom....like they are doing the work. There

is a vast difference between the two.

The first helped me to believe I was strong, capable, and able to make

decisions for myself. The second always seemed to have some hidden aganda. I

always sensed they had huge blind spots about themselves. It was always

important that they be allowed to approve or disapprove of any decision or

thought process I was going through. The women therapists I gained the most

from were ones who were open about their own struggles and acknowledged that

they didn't have all of the answers.

That is one of the things I hate about AA. I think it encourages

dependency and self-doubt.

Rebekah

Church of the Divine Rebekah

http://home.earthlink.net/~goddessofsantafe/

To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can

learn. That learning process comes easiest to those of us that teach who

also believe that there is an aspect of our vocation that is sacred; who

believe that our work is not merely to share information but to share in

the intellectual and spiritual growth of our students. To teach in a manner

that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are

to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and

intimately begin. bell hooks

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>To: 12-step-freeegroups

>Subject: more on emotional shutdown

>Date: Tue, Feb 1, 2000, 10:12 AM

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>I guess I thought back then that the point of therapy was to become...I

>don't know, more obedient? more conformist? Now I think the therapist is

>there for *me*. In fact, I have paid out of pocket for most of the therapy

>I've done in the last year, because I wanted independent practitioners who

>wouldn't jam some HMO or institutional philosophy down my throat. It's

>really important to me to be the powerful one in the therapy relationship.

>

>Anyway, I'm not trying to push anyone into therapy who doesn't want to do

>it. Just sharing my experience, where therapy can be helpful as long as

>it's not the therapist telling me who I am. Pretty much how Pete described

>it, someone to talk to along the way.

>

>Judith

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