| Therapy happens in stages. People find this
hard to believe. Some people think there is some kind of magic to therapy. It is a science
and while it is inexact, there are some markers that occur with regularity from one
person's therapy to the next. |
Stage One - The Honeymoon |
Your helper seems perfect to you. You try to
absorb every idea they communicate to you. |
| This is the fun phase. |
Stage Two - A Working Alliance |
You feel supported and listened to. Full speed
ahead! |
| Therapists are listening for specific patterns
in what they hear. They know that everybody has certain problems. That's what life brings
to each of us. |
Stage Three - Questioning, Wondering |
You've talked about almost everything and now
you notice feelings you wish you didn't have. |
| Therapists are trained to try to maintain a
neutral appearance, not talk about themselves and not give opinions. They have to be still
so that your feelings stand out. |
Stage Three - Does My Therapist Really
Like Me? |
You begin to feel the therapist may have
questionable feelings about you. You're sure the way she looked at you, meant something
that may not be so good. You begin to feel a little bit critical. |
| The therapist will try to help you hang in
there so that you can get through these fears and feel stronger as a result. |
That's the first half of the therapy stages.
The stages you go through, mirror the stages you go through in all your
relationships. If you meet people, usually like them at first and then begin to wonder if
they like you, or if they're trustworthy, or whatever - that's what you'll feel towards
your therapist as you continue to meet with him or her. |
(to be continued.....) Back to
top |
