Posted by Mark H. on May 12, 2000, at 21:21:21
In reply to How Well Do You Know Your Therapist?, posted by Kay on May 12, 2000, at 15:47:06
Kay,
My therapist happens to be a good friend of long-standing with whom my wife and I socialize three or four times a year. However, he is crystal clear that on Wednesday nights between 6:30 and 8:00, he is my therapist and most decidedly NOT my friend, and because he has 33 years of counseling experience, he is even better about maintaining that boundary than I am.
Therapists are people and have their own problems and interests. Some are not conscious enough to do a good job of monitoring their own behavior. If your therapist can get paid $25 to $95 an hour for you to listen to her/his interests and concerns, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal. If one of the issues you are working on is your manipulation of others to avoid talking about yourself, then this therapist simply does not have the skill level to do you much good.
You are responsible for your half of the relationship. If you are getting your money's worth and/or believe that it's OK for you to pay someone for their friendship, then there is no problem. Right?
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:33299
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/33322.html