Posted by Noa on May 18, 2001, at 16:40:57
In reply to Re: Seeing my therapist on the street - Mindriot, posted by JennyR on May 17, 2001, at 16:27:33
I think a lot of people feel uncomfortable seeing their therapist out in the world. It is awkward. For me, I think I have all kinds of wishes about the therapist--that he be part of my life, etc., so if I were to see him on the street, it would be uncomfortable because it would stir up the discomfort about all these wishes,etc. The wishes are contained if I only see him in his office, where we have a very established routine and protocol of how we relate. Suddenly seeing him out in the world could, I suspect, stir up awkwardness about how to interact outside of that regular protocol. And, it reminds me that he has a life outside of being my therapist (which of couse I understand intellectually, but not at some deep emotional level), and that I am not a part of that life.
BTW, Ellen Degeneres did a great job treating this issue in her sitcom. She took it to an absurd degree: not only what is it like to encounter your therapist out in the world, but what would it be like if you saw her doing something that was incongruent with your image of her as your therapist? I bet the writers had fun discussing the possibilities for this one. In the episode, Ellen is in a restaurant parking lot and sees a woman hike up her dress and squat to pee--in full view of other people--only to recognize a moment later that it is her therapist!
poster:Noa
thread:6026
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010511/msgs/6060.html