Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2002, at 8:06:49
In reply to the rapist, the monkey wrench, and the RR tracks, posted by trouble on February 20, 2002, at 4:04:12
Goodness trouble! I don't quite know where to start.
I WAS referring to power when I posted about inequality. The things I spoke of lead to a tremendous inequality of power. I just left off the "of power" and used "inequality" alone.
My only power is the ability to leave. And you know, it is true that in many cases people "need" their therapist too much to leave. Dependence on my therapist is one of my "issues". I couldn't leave him to save my life. I have nightmares of termination.
That doesn't mean I think my therapist or most therapists are evil and certainly not "rapists". After five years, I developed a large amount of trust in my therapist based on his consistent trustworthiness. It just means that there is an enormous potential for misuse of power. You know, "absolute power..." and all that.
Your student therapist was very wise in her response to you. She showed the calm reasonable trustworthiness that mine shows consistently, although I must confess that I have never threatened him with a lamp. :)
Nor was I suggesting that caring therapists don't ruminate about the quality of their work or lie awake at night sometimes worrying about their patients. I'm sure most professionals do that from time to time. Although I'm pretty sure that my therapist doesn't give me a thought between sessions.
Finally, as a white upper middle class woman moralist, I must say that I don't think I'm quite the demon you make me out to be. :)
Sorry if I didn't answer all your points or somehow missed the point of your points when answering. My poor head is spinning. I get rather easily overwhelmed sometimes.
Best wishes,
Dinah
Oh, I'm still reviewing the verbal abuse site. And I have to admit that I like the "rights" section less well than the other parts. But I think you might be reading them a bit too literally. And the italics don't mean anything in particular. Every other "right" is italicized as a way to let you know one has stopped and another has started.
poster:Dinah
thread:18481
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020214/msgs/18566.html