Intimacy - How Open To Be In Therapy?

[Magnet]

I have felt afraid to show my more vulnerable or embarrassing feelings to a therapist in the past, I think it was that thing of holding everything together by "impression management," the survival strategy is making sure I was more burdened than anyone else in the room, that I shouldered most of the responsibility.

I think what has largely changed that for me is going to 12 step meetings, and hearing all kinds of really honest, vulnerable stories from so many different kinds of people. Secrets and shame and vulnerability stopped seeming like the bogeyman to me, once I was around people who regularly let the light in. It helped me by osmosis to be less terrified to speak my truth.

 

[Martin Taylor]

I'm finding that being open works better than censoring myself. Being open with my therapist forces me to be honest with myself. She finds the values in the little things I may babel and finds a new thread. But as was said above, everything in its time. I think I have a good one.

 

[Vcircle]

I rang the T's office last week and really needed help and support. I left a message and said "Nah, it doesn't matter". It did matter a lot - of course - and I needed urgent support and my other support people weren't hearing my calls for help. The T told the office people that if they ever get a call from me that the T is to be told immediately. I felt supported and listened to after that.

It is amazing how different places have different attitudes.

 

[Martin Taylor]

Yup.