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Questions |
[After about six months of psychotherapy] I had a dream [in which my psychotherapist was shown to be indifferent and uncaring]. My therapist trivialized the dream, as she does with most dreams that I tell her about. I have stopped telling her my dreams in fact. Ever since this dream, I seem to be getting nowhere in therapy and feel as though I am wasting my time. I tried to talk to her [about all of my feelings] as transference, and she got annoyed with me. . . . She made me feel very foolish. . . . When I told her I wanted to terminate with her . . . I asked for my file. She said that . . . she had no file, but rather notes on pads in different places. This stuck me as very odd. I have to wonder where these notes are lying around, and who is reading them. Do you find that odd?
It seems clear to me that your dream most likely was the result of your unconscious perception that your therapist lacks the ability to treat you properlyand I mean that both humanly and clinically. Her inability to interpret your dream, and her inability to respond clinically to your attempt to discuss transference both point to her being one of those bad therapists I mention on this website. Its to your credit that you perceived this fairly early on in the relationship.
I say the following
about clinical records on my page about
confidentiality
in clinical psychology:
Her lack of clinical records is therefore absolutely appalling and, depending on the laws of your state, could be considered both an ethical violation and clinical negligence. You dont say what sort of therapist she is. If shes a psychologist, you could contact the Board of Psychology and file a complaint. If shes an MFT or an LCSW, then you would have to contact the appropriate agency for those licenses. (In California, the website for the Board of Psychology lists the addresses of the other licensing agencies.) Heres a link to find the Board of Psychology in your state: Roster of Member Boards of Psychology. As for choosing a new psychotherapist, I have a page on that subject on this website; I can add here that you might look specifically for someone who practices psychodynamic psychotherapy. Of course, maybe thats what this questionable therapist claims to practice. In addition, then, you could ask if the psychotherapist has had experience in dream interpretation. You can also ask about the persons own psychotherapysomeone who has been in psychoanalysis is more likely (but not guaranteed) to be sensitive to dream work and transference issues. And then, use the very first session to determine how that person treats you; that is, does he or she give honest, non-defensive answers to your questions? Does he or she show a balance between listening and taking the lead to guide you? And, the best test of all is whether you leave that first session feeling that you have been both challenged and supported and that you have actually learned something new about yourself. Then pay attention to your dreams!
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