tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post3719647385431677353..comments2024-01-23T01:25:02.164+00:00Comments on Amanda Williamson Coaching and Counselling Service in Exeter, Devon: Counselling - The Frequency of Therapy and the Question of Client AutonomyAmanda Williamson (She/her)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14685203130859349559noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post-84212855898006713812012-06-11T15:51:36.399+01:002012-06-11T15:51:36.399+01:00Thank you for your input. I agree with you, Sarah,...Thank you for your input. I agree with you, Sarah, that the fact that a client assumes that the therapist knows what is best for him or her, is something to work on in the session.Amanda Williamson (She/her)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14685203130859349559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post-18769377907464283562012-06-09T10:28:46.547+01:002012-06-09T10:28:46.547+01:00Very thought provoking!
When I first started thera...Very thought provoking!<br />When I first started therapy, I was given a starting point of six weeks weekly. It very soon became clear that this was not going to be sufficient and I was lucky enough to be with a therapist who was able to give me unlimited weekly sessions. I was able to explain to the therapist that in myself I would know when I was 'done'. <br /><br />The part that I find interesting is this assumption from people that you have talked to, that they assume the therapist knows best. Why should they know best? Its the client's mind we are talking about here. How can the therapist know the client's mind. The therapist has a bag of tools, they can offer the client the knowledge of the tool and how to use it but ultimately the know-how is up to the client surely? How can a client sit in session expecting the therapist to know best? How can the therapist know best? - something I find difficult to come to terms with: is it not for the client to use the tools that the therpist has to offer, and for the therpist to steer away from fulfilling the idea that they know best?Sarah67https://www.blogger.com/profile/03675639375874033747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post-25938539193277768722012-06-09T10:15:17.554+01:002012-06-09T10:15:17.554+01:00Very thought provoking!
When I first started thera...Very thought provoking!<br />When I first started therapy, I was given a starting point of six weeks weekly. It very soon became clear that this was not going to be sufficient and I was lucky enough to be with a therapist who was able to give me unlimited weekly sessions. I was able to explain to the therapist that in myself I would know when I was 'done'. <br /><br />The part that I find interesting is this assumption from people that you have talked to, that they assume the therapist knows best. Why should they know best? Its the client's mind we are talking about here. How can the therapist know the client's mind. The therapist has a bag of tools, they can offer the client the knowledge of the tool and how to use it but ultimately the know-how is up to the client surely? How can a client sit in session expecting the therapist to know best? How can the therapist know best? - something I find difficult to come to terms with: is it not for the client to use the tools that the therpist has to offer, and for the therpist to steer away from fulfilling the idea that they know best?Sarah67https://www.blogger.com/profile/03675639375874033747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post-31730684449875328622012-06-04T18:15:07.908+01:002012-06-04T18:15:07.908+01:00Interesting question. I think it depends on the in...Interesting question. I think it depends on the individual and the individual's make up and issues. When I was in therapy 30 years ago, I definitely needed the structure to be defined for me. As a pretty unaware 20-something, I had no idea what my issues were, really, or what I needed. I definitely left it up to my therapist to set those parameters. Now back in therapy as a 50-something, I know myself better, know what I need to sort out and at what pace. I'm fortunate to have a therapist who allows me to set the parameters as I move along. We recently moved from weekly meetings to every other week at my suggestion. I feel like I've seen the core issues in our weekly sessions and am now in the transformation phase. I feel the need to just touch base: talk about how I've made strides or back-pedaled regarding my issues in specific situations. It gives me the clarity I need while in this phase.<br /><br />I do believe that some sort of regularity is critical, though, for therapy to be effective. Otherwise, it feels like rambling, at least to me.<br /><br />Here in the US, the health care system pretty much decides the longevity for you, unfortunately. They only pay for so many sessions and then you have lull in therapy while you wait for them to approve more. If they don't, you're pretty much on your own in terms of paying for it. So, unless you are really committed and choose to continue on your own, that decision is made for you.Cathy Helmershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558282122112224582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2518731414526924239.post-18967445002990969132012-06-04T17:09:42.347+01:002012-06-04T17:09:42.347+01:00This is a really interesting survey Amanda. Good t...This is a really interesting survey Amanda. Good to see the results laid out so clearly too. You're right that it's a question worth asking because otherwise I think we'd just go along with one approach or the other without really knowing which is more appropriate for the individual. <br /><br />I've experienced both approaches and something somewhere in between. The first time I sought counselling it was set times weekly for a number of months (although I chickened out and left early because it was too much to deal with at the time). The CBT I was offered was to be on which ever weeks I could fit it in. Which seems to defeat the object of regular analysis etc. But I didn't get on with it so only attended a couple of sessions. Psychology dept at hospital saw me fortnightly for a few set number of sessions as an outpatient. <br />Latest sessions should have been limited at 6-8 but somehow it wasn't mentioned. It's very irregular because the service is so overstretched, can be anything up to 8weeks between sessions. At the end of each session she asks whether I'd like to come back to see her. It's the hardest question every time. I want to say no, but I know I need to keep working at things if anything is really going to change. <br /><br />After all that I'm still not sure what I prefer. <br />Probably some kind of set day for sessions and in this case maybe it's best not to set an end date as such because it's the first time I've ever been able to trust someone enough to be truly honest. <br /><br />Enough rambling from me as usual! <br />Good work on the survey again though! Take care.Laurahttp://www.thinking-about-leaving.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com