Posted by molly_a on August 1, 2005, at 1:47:40
First off, I'd like to say hello. I'm brand new to Babble and all of you seem great.
Now I have a question:
I am 14 years old, and have been seeing a (male) therapist for about 7 months. I love him, which, from what I've gathered here, is very normal and okay. But he has also told me that he loves me, that he often wishes I was his own child, and that I'm special and not just an ordinary client. He hugs me and occasionally holds my hand. When he does these things, it makes me feel so good, and I feel like he is being what my father should've always been. But sometimes I wonder if the things that he does and/or says are genuine, and not just some "technique" that he is using to help gain my trust; or if they're caused by countertransference on his part. (Mind you, he has a daughter who just left home for college.)
Also, is our relationship ethical, or is it the starting grounds for an unhealthy theraputic alliance? Everything we do is very innocent, and it doesn't seem to be harming the theraputic relationship thus far. But I guess that I'm just worried, because of everything I've read about boundaries and the likes. The truth is that I'm scared to death of losing him, and from what I've read, any therapy with physical contact and therapist self-disclosure just doesn't work out. I really would just like you're opinions.
Thank you for listening to me. I know I'm young and naive, but I'll try my best to help others here on Babble.
poster:molly_a
thread:536274
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050725/msgs/536274.html