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Therapeutic Supervision

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No, no... I don't despise him, not at all. I am just really, really hurt and trying to make myself heard. And I don't want to do anything to hurt him in any way. He's an incredibly kind, caring person. With some big problems. Which he is working on... I just wish he could work on them faster.

Having said that, I tend to stay in bad situations for longer than most people would do because... well, that goes into the gory details of my trauma, and I do realize my perception is skewed. Where most would leave I stick around and keep banging my head against the wall. And keep hoping that the five thousandth time, someone will hear me.

It's possible the supervisor meant what you are suggesting, @Friday. But my gut tells me otherwise. The tone of her e-mail was not friendly. I guess if I've totally misinterpreted she'll get back to me and tell me so.
 
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Benzoids. Benzoids were a good invention.

Okay. So.

You're assuming he'd be totally fine, when I think - no. If that were the case, he'd not be doing the work in supervision to get his own issues back in the box.
I'm mulling that one over. What is his motivation here? He does care. Most of the time, I know that. He was the one who suggested the supervision, actually. He has also been much more humble than most people would be - certainly than I would be - about taking in what I've been telling him he needs to change.

And he is committed to working on himself and growing as a person, not just as a therapist. It's his life path.

He has no shortage of people he could replace me with who would be a lot easier on his stress levels. There's a reason he isn't. He wants to help me.

He feels my trauma acutely, which is part of the problem, but also means his caring is authentic. He can get spacey because he is feeling so much compassion he can't contain it.

So what am I reacting to?

To the past, yes. But more to the feeling of isolation that comes from feeling things so much more intensely than most people. I am thinking right now of someone who said they wouldn't abandon me and then did. I haven't stopped feeling bitter about that, and it was years ago. It's about the sheer intensity of emotions that I am suffering. It's not the same for him. And I wouldn't want it to be. But it's just not the same. He actually has a "rest of his life" to live, while I have just trying to survive.

Don't know how well I explained all that. Benzoids. And bed.
 
I think you've explained that really well. Yes, you might feel things more intensely - apart from anything else you have one T and he has more than one client, and you need his help so of course your emotion is different. I very much doubt though that he'd walk from this and never look back. He has an investment in your relationship too. He sounds like a capable, competent T, albeit out of his depth here, but he's working in it. My guess is that he would feel a huge sense of disappointment, upset and fear at not being able to resolve things with you, and those feelings can be career changing.

I wonder if you can think of the feelings of instability as being natural at this stage? You're going through a huge rupture with your T, boundaries are being redrawn and you're looking at your therapy and the therapeutic relationship in way more depth than would be the norm. So, everything is shifting and its natural to feel unstable, wonder if it'll get back on track and to not be sure what that track will even look like.

I know you feel threatened by his supervisor saying that if she showed what you'd written to her supervisor, she would recommend ending the relationship. That does sound very scary and can leave you wondering what the hell you're putting yourself through this for. I can see why she would say that though because while raising issues that aren't ok, you do need to think properly about what you've gained from this relationshipbefore and what you'd want to keep. Yes there are things that need fixed, but if that's where you focus most of your energy then that's all you'll see, and you need to move forward. Resolving the stuff that isn't ok may be a slow process, if it's been your Ts way of working then he needs to learn new habits, read up on theory, change his process work and that can take time for him to become comfortable in new ways and old habits do die hard.

I need to be clear that I'm not saying you're wrong to identify issues, or that you need to put up and shut up - not at all - but if you can identify what he's done that has been helpful, it gives him a place to work from at rebuilding things. You also need to decide how important it is that he or his supervisor actually says "yes, this hasn't been good", as opposed to working on making it better. I guess what I'm saying is that he needs to be able to see a way back into the relationship that will be ok for you both and give enough wiggle room for him to feel safe trying (and getting it wrong) and for you to be able to say, in the relationship, that something isn't working.

If there are bits that are key, eg working within your window of tolerance (however small that might be) and making sure you're safe before leaving, I might take control of that for a while. I actually wonder whether it's productive of you to be trying to do therapeutic work with him just now rather than spending time with each other rebuilding the relationship. I know for me the sessions where I feel I've not got into hard stuff, spoken about trauma or triggering stuff have maybe felt less productive at the time but have built a very strong relationship with my T. Maybe lay off the stronger stuff just until things feel more stable - remembering that stability is key to any trauma therapy and that means stability in the therapy.

Also have a think about that promise not to abandon you. I really struggle when Ts say that because they actually have no control over whether you feel abandoned or not. Your T doesn't know what will come up in his life that might mean he can't be there for you. So maybe look at it as he wont intentionally abandon you (if you think that's the case) but that endings come for all kinds of reasons. Ending doesn't mean abandonment, it means ending, though it can feel awful. The thing about abandonment is that it puts the cause of the ending at your feet when things do just end sometimes. If you can't work through this and it does end, it's not because of anything you did or didn't do, and not saying anything was wrong would have been a lie, it's ok that you did it and it doesn't mean he'll leave you, though ending might be a natural result if the relationship can't be fixed. If it does end, it'll be hard hard work to get through, but you will be ok. I know you don't think this, but there will be a way through it.

Last thing from me, I have no sense that despise your T or want their career to end, I admire how much thought and work you've put into trying to find a way through this and think you've been pretty respectful in very trying circumstances.

So, I feel like I've written a lecture, as ever, take what's useful and dump the rest.
 
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Quick update: I think things are actually improving. For a while there I wasn't sure, but the last couple of sessions have gone much better. I don't know how much is due to the supervision because I decided to remove myself from the equation to avoid the tangled mess I could sense was starting to form. But I do see some noticeable changes in the quality of our work together. Whatever he's doing, it's working. It isn't an overnight change, but I can sense the difference from week to week.

This has been a hard path, and there is lots still to work on. But I am feeling pretty positive about the process. And that in itself is healing for me.
 
Adding another update several months later: I am so glad I stuck with this. We have both grown a lot in the process. I have learned that it is possible to rebuild relationships when there is mutual willingness, he has made a lot of progress on the issues that were getting in the way, and while I have a long way to go, I am working on the issues that make me so reactive to stuff like this. We are able to be much more open and honest with each other about what those are, and I no longer feel so ashamed of them.

And he has, I think, become a much better therapist. So there's been gain all around.
 
Haven't read most prior responses and realise it's late joining the conversation so probably of no help.

But I did actually direct my T to seek supervision on my behalf. And she did. Told me exactly who her supervisor was, the books she'd written, her expertise etc. I didn't seek any info regarding their discussion. But she wanted me to know that she was utilising all the expertise she could in treating me, and listening to me when she knew I doubted her ability to "handle the oh-so complex one-of-a-kind me"!

I'm glad that you have seen progressive improvements. I think supervision can add great neutral direction. And it also ensures your T is kept on their feet and questioning the appropriateness of their methods / style.

Wouldn't it be great if we could have our very own sort of independent unbiased supervisor to keep us in check?! There have been many times I wish I could have sourced such in my not so rational states!!
 
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