What role do you see your therapist in?

[Eagle3]

My T in my former city (who I still consider my primary T) I see as a professional, a spiritual mentor, and the model of relationality I never experienced growing up. Sometimes he's a father figure, sometimes he's a mentor on our shared spiritual pursuits, Senpai in the Martial Arts, usually he's the teacher of emotions and their corresponding sensations, and he's one of the first relationships in my LIFE where I've felt this safe. The way I see him typically depends on what we're working on at the moment.

Right now he's taking 6 weeks or so off from his practice to take care of health issues, but he'll be back when he's feeling better. I'm hoping to move back to that city so I can take up working with him in person again. I discovered I really need to work through all this attachment.

 

[Stephernovas]

Oddly enough, I thought of this today. I don't like thinking of people as 'professional', because that puts them in a position to have power over me. Instead, she is another person who has to earn my trust like anyone else. I like her as an individual though, because she has proved to me she is smart and knows what she's doing. I don't really know what to classify it as...she's herself.

 

[MyWillow]

@Stephernovas isnt it interesting how different we all are! I see my T purely as a professional because I relate to her as one professional to another. That makes me feel comfortable. Odd I know!

 

[Still Standing]

First and foremost, I see him as a professional; a psychologist. Then I see him as an authority figure, to some degree. I also see him as a person to talk to; someone who can help me learn not to panic and who can teach me a more balanced way of seeing people besides that of "good" and "bad'. To see him in a more friendly manner would jeopardize my recovery, because I would want more from him than what he could professionally give. If he were to be a friend, then I would be open to being hurt or offended if he had to take a stern stance or correct me in a more firm way. I know me...I would see him as betraying my trust in him, as a friend, and I would bail and run. So, for myself, I have to keep him in a professional role and at arm's length.

 

[shatter eyes]

Like my bro without the afro.
My soul i allowed him to know.
Help me find equilibrium when my life is a yoyo.

I am very fortunate to have found someone I trust.

 

[Hope1969]

I see mine as an authority figure..I don't know why. I have been to traditional therapy before and didn'...

The last T was a figure of authority. She was very analytic and smart and talked a lot about psychological theories. I was afraid of her and admired her.

The present T - I don't think of her at all.

 

[Scarlet13]

My current T seems or feels like a trauma extractor. It feels like she gets inside of me and works from the inside out.
I will project maternal issues onto her in a therapy context.
She always has this look of approval or even love in her eyes, but it is like a validating love.
Outside of this she just seems like an empowering friend who I really admire.
Sometimes, I imagine being friends with her like back in college.
I feel so much more satisfied, though with her as my doctor.

 

[zebbidee]

I primarily see mine as a professional, who is great at her job but also seems like a very nice person. I don't assume to really know her as I know virtually nothing about her personal life. i wouldn't call her a friend because its a professional relationship and i respect the boundaries. but she has a friendly easy going manner, and is genuinely a caring person, who I greatly respect and like in the context of her being my therapist. i feel comfortable with her. even though I end up crying every session, we always have a bit of a laugh as well.

she just resigned and, after the initial shock and upset, I have accepted it and wish her nothing but the best. we were both quite upset to be ending the relationship, but as she said to me, therapy is a process, and you shouldn't feel as if your progress is solely dependent on the individual providing it (obviously the partnership has to work though). its funny because when i first met her I was so disappointed that she was young, much younger than me. i was thinking how the hell is this baby going to help me or have a clue about my particular trauma? as it was, it didn't make any difference, and was actually a good fit. i had one therapist who was a much older male and it did not work at all, he was terrible for me and I quit on the 3rd session. He reminded me of a pretentious school teacher. No thanks.

 

[Rose White]

She always has this look of approval or even love in her eyes, but it is like a validating love.

^^^This! I am in the same boat. Currently projecting maternal feelings onto T mostly.