Hi JM,
Sit down, relax, have a cup of tea, I feel a long post coming on.
I think the negative view of transference dates back to before Attachment theory really started to catch on. I think that Attachment theory gave therapists the ability to really understand what was going on when a patient developed these feelings. So instead of seeing it as resistance, which is more common to a psychoanalytic view, more recently I think it is seen as the powerful tool it can be in the hands of a skilled therapist.
quote:
One quote that I absolutely hate from a Psychologist is, “I avoid clients who are just oozing with transference.” That’s probably better for the client anyway, don’t ya think?d
I'm placing bets that the psychologist quoted above doesn't have to run into the problem very often. Who could get close enough to form deep feelings for someone who talks that way about clients. It's so deeply disrepectful.
OK, now onto obsession. I have a number of comments (shocked, aren't you?).
1) Attachment issues come with a great deal of primitive, visceral emotions. When we're children staying with our attachment figure is literally a matter of life and death. We're biologically hard-wired to pursue the relationship at all costs. So as an adult trying to form a secure attachment, very primitive intense emotions are evoked. If we feel our relationship with our therapist is threatened, it can literally feel like our life is threatened. Hence the incredible intensity we have about the relationship and why it looms so important. Would you call a one year old who doesn't want to be separated from his mother obsessive?
2. I totally understand you worrying about it, I know I have. Sometimes it feels like I think about nothing else. If I admitted to all my behaviors (come to think of it I've fessed up about most of them here) it can look pretty crazy. One of the reasons I decided to talk to my T about finding his Grandaughter's blog was that when I found it, I really felt like I was crossing a line reading it, but I couldn't stop myself. I read every single entry, nine months worth, the whole time thinking this is really, really wrong. I can remember being worried I was going to cross the line into stalking and my T would have to send me away. So I decided to talk to him about it. One of the most surprising things he said to me as we discussed it was "How can I not understand you wanting to know more about my life? I really understand people who drive by my home or call my home number." Honestly, his reaction was pretty much "and you're getting upset about a little googling?"
3 So I think the real line that divides the intensity of therapy from a full blown obession is two fold. First, do you talk to your therapist about the behaviors? I haven't told my T everything I've done, but he's knows I've googled him, I told him that I think about him all the time, that it's difficult to make it between sessions because I miss him so much, I want to belong to him in some way, daughter, grandaughter, niece, I'll take anything just to be part of his life. That I really hate his family sometimes because they get to know him in a way I never will. That I am angry that he knows exactly what I want from him (which is a real neat trick because I can't really pin it down) and even why its so important but he still says no. I've actually started crying while shaking his hand at the end of a session and told him it was really hard to leave him. (Now, don't the rest of you feel better about what you've been doing?
) I think that as long as you're talking about the feelings then they're part of therapy and not just a fixation. Which leads to what I think is the most important criteria.
4. Are you still doing therapy? I've known woman dealing with transference issues who have totally focused on the relationship to the exclusion of therapy. Their goal is to move the relationship beyond a theraputic one. They basically go to therapy JUST so they can spend time with their T. (Don't get me wrong, I think one of the positive effects of feeling this way is that it gives you a reason to want to go. Therapy can be painful, difficult and confusing at times; you have to face down your worst fears and sometimes all of that can make you run away. Having these kinds of feelings for your T can pull you towards the therapy. I may not like what I have to do but at least I adore the person I have to do it with.) The therapy has ceased because they're so focused on how their therapist feels about them, and what will it take to get him/her to admit their feelings. If you are respecting the boundaries ( a good example, you have not flown off to wherever your T is
) no matter how frustrating and continuing to work in therapy to get better than I don't think it's an obsession.
From what I can tell, the people who are posting on this forum struggling with these feelings are all actively pursuing their therapy, not their therapists.
Really fantastic question. (Of course, you're probably sorry you've asked it after having to wade through this post!)
As crazy as this can feel, which is pretty crazy, I really think we're fundamentally ok.
Just tightening some screws and cracking some nuts.
AG