BLOG-Power in Psychotherapy: Is the 'Inherent power differential in psychotherapy' a myth? Or how powerful psychotherapists and counselors truly are? en-us Nucleus CMS v3.41 Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss /nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#173
One practitioner was blatantly contemptuous, employing threats and shaming, quashing my attempts at feedback and hostilely "diagnosing" me as I traumatically broke from his care. But a second "kinder" clinician was harmful in her own fashion, leading me to see her as a rescuer and encouraging wallowing in my narrative of a harsh, piteous past.

I doubt either therapist had the slightest awareness of the dynamics they created. I'm left with the feeling of being charmed, then swindled, playing helpless damsel in my doctors' delusional storybook as "magical" healers.

If I could design my own healing model, I'd discourage all client idealization and transference, substituting the reality-based framework of one flawed adult offering some connection and guidance to another.]]> Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#173 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:18:25 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#149
The key, I think is to recognize the type of power at play in our therapeutic relationships.
Further, I think it is relevant to appreciate the dynamics between our credentialed power and the personalities of our patients/clients.

Typically, I find, most therapy clients have the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) INFP or ENFJ type. I have also found it helpful to assess our clients' MBTI type and to know our own so that we can be more attuned to the dynamics stemming from the credentialed power differential, from our MBTI personality type, and from our patients'/clients' MBTI types.

It is a significant matter at hand, as others have written, to appreciate the power differentials at play during the process of psychotherapy.]]> Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#149 Mon, 3 May 2010 21:24:38 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#139 Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#139 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:50:56 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#101 Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#101 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:26:42 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#88 Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#88 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:38:00 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#81 Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#81 Thu, 3 Sep 2009 11:17:13 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#80 I wonder how many people in the U.S. in general, let alone therapists, might genuinely be described as "dedicated to seeing and understanding power imbalances? Also, there seems to be an assumption--unless I misread- that the therapist's "seeing and understanding" will necessarily be healing for the client's particular experience. I recently came across a quote from the American Indian Poet John Trudell: "When I go around in America and I see the bulk of the white people, they do not feel oppressed; they feel powerless. When I go amongst my people, we do not feel powerless; we feel oppressed. We do not want to make the trade...we must be willing in our lifetime to deal with reality. It's not revolution; it's liberation. We want to be free of a value system that's being imposed upon us. We do not want to participate in that value system. We don't want change in the value system. We want to remove it from our lives forever...

I would suggest that any effective therapy with indigenous, third-world, female, LGBT or 'oppressed' people (please note that this constitutes the majority of people and therefore of the majority of potential clients)requires an inextricable link between "analyzing power differentials" and generating solutions with the client. This is less a western model than a shamanic model. It's said of shamanism that 'the patient gets better as the doctor gets better."
Lesley Gray, Ph.D.
http://www.woodfish.org]]> Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#80 Tue, 1 Sep 2009 16:34:26 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#68 Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#68 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:53:20 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#67
The base from which to start demands that a therapist apply their art first and foremost in the best interest of client. For the therapist, “know thy self” is an unavoidable imperative, as the therapist’s internal dynamics are always in play and must be analyzed and managed. Where counterproductive dynamics interfere in the client’s process (the unconscious sees all), they must be acknowledged as real events in the room and brought to light through the eyes of the client’s unconscious perceptions.

In the complex and dynamic healthy therapeutic relationship the client’s “vulnerability” is always, unless derailed by premobid or psychotic process, within the client’s control. A client’s ego and defensive functions rarely allow for unfettered access to psychic vulnerability that risks psychological decompensation. The challenge for the therapist is doing a “good enough” job in earning and maintaining the trust of the client to allow the deep wounds of neurosis to be witnessed by another, correctly interpreted and reflected upon. Only then can the client let go.]]> Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#67 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:38:13 -0500 http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#64
I am currently in my favorite therapeutic relationship to date - as a patient - with an intern who is fantastic. I'm young-ish, and have been with older PhDs in the past. Seeing someone my age, a gifted healer who is interactive by training (holistic school), gives me the opportunity to grow IN a relationship.

This stands opposed to the feeling of being "treated" because I am "broken" and need a big professional to heal me. In those relationships, I did feel a power difference and had the feeling of being "saved" which I outgrew as I entered my mid twenties.

Horray for interaction. One of my favorite aspects of therapy with my current therapist is that when I tell an intense story, she responds! I have never seen this before, I always wondered what happened to my stories once they reached the other end of the room. It's great to see them experienced, helps me stay present too.

If she were concerned with putting herself above me, I doubt she would be as experimental and expressive as she is. As it stands, we both bring something - ourselves - to the table :)]]> Power http://www.zurinstitute.com/blogs/index.php?blogid=8#64 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:27:46 -0500