Can't Remember What Therapist Looks Like

[Akoya Dawn]

Hi Everyone -

I have another question... If you read my last post here in this forum, you read that I've been seeing my current Therapist for seven months or so.

What does it mean that I can never picture what my Therapist looks like?? For instance, during the week, I'll be working on an assignment or thinking about something my Therapist said and I'll try and picture her, but I can't bring a picture of her in my head. No matter how hard I try, I don't remember what she looks like. Does anyone know why this is?? I think if I saw her in public, I don't think I'd recognize her... although I do recognize her when I'm sitting in the waiting room waiting for our appointment...
Has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks!

 

[anthony]

It doesn't mean anything. You don't have to be able to visualise every person who's part of your life... I honestly think you're over-thinking this and making it something that it isn't.

 

[Crow]

Hey. This is part of a developmental trauma thing. Google 'object constancy'. It's perfectly normal for people who have had traumatic childhoods not to be able to remember what people look like. If I haven't been around my family in six months and go to a family reunion, I have a hard time identifying my immediate family at first glance. It took ten years before I could picture my therapist in my mind's eye outside of session not to mention the issues I have at church and social arenas. Once I discovered it was a physical issue, I eased up on myself and my memory got better. Good luck!

 

[anthony]

The opposite to this Genia, is that those without childhood trauma experience the same thing. It has nothing to do with trauma as an isolated subject. Some people are visual, others are not. Some can see what a project will look like before its done, often arty oriented persons who have an ability to visualise. Then you have those who just can't... and most don't have childhood trauma.

There simply is no clear distinction in this regard. I know people want to make one, find one... but personality and genetics has a lot to do with things outside of prior trauma.

The medical definition for object constancy is: the ability to perceive an object as unchanging even under different conditions of observation. This doesn't reflect the original subject IMHO.

 

[Jane.l]

I know this is an old thread and you may not even be on here now Akoya Dawn but I have this too and I have it with no one else in my Life. I have seen my T for 9 mths once or twice a week , I even have a picture of him but I cannot recall what he looks like between sessions , have no trouble recognising him when I see him.

I am not saying its a problem but then I don't think you were either , it seems just too much of a coincidence for him to be my trauma T and be the only person I can't visually recall. Just interesting .