Posted by Dinah on September 29, 2003, at 13:05:02
In reply to Total meltdown from last session, posted by Tabitha on September 29, 2003, at 2:37:15
Tabitha, I'm not sure your perceptions are all transference. It sounds as if she has a lot invested in this group working out for you and may just be pushing a bit harder than is right for you. And her actions might be bringing up some old feelings in you.
I agree with the others. Please call her. Apart from all else you've got group before your next individual session, right? You don't want to go into group with all this baggage.
Give her a call and let her know how you perceive her actions, and what feelings they are bringing up in you. You've had a long and productive relationship and I'm sure you can work it out together. My therapist and I were just talking today about all the obstacles we've worked out (or hammered out or fought out) in our relationship, and how in the end it makes it stronger.
But this brings up an interesting topic of it's own. Is group with the same therapist as your individual therapist some sort of dual relationship? She *has* to be concerned with the group as an entity as well as you as a client. And you probably also have some juggling to do with her as both group leader and individual therapist. There are all those other clients that we all have some ambivalent feelings about, sitting right in front of you! And you're supposed to be friendly! And at times you probably will all want to join together against the authority figure.
I'm not saying it can't be helpful. It probably can. I just think that all parties need to be aware of conflicting priorities and loyalties, and monitor their behaviors extra closely. And it probably wouldn't hurt to monitor each others' behaviors as well.
On the other hand, what I'm saying is that you should in no way feel she's taking sides against you with the other members or that she prefers the other members to you. It's the group as an entity that she is responsible for and that is also a source of revenue to her that is your "rival" for her loyalties, not the individual group members.
poster:Dinah
thread:264180
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/264234.html