This blog is designed to give you glimpses into the themes that come up during that magical 45 minute dialogue that takes place in the sanctity of the therapy room. Please join in with your own thoughts and questions.
Why do I use the word dialogue? Do I mean that therapists should talk about their own problems? Of course not. However, if all you need to do is have a monologue, you could sit in front of a mirror and save the cost!
The ability to dialogue is one of the things that makes us human. It allows us to learn and share – to create and recreate our understanding of the world and ourselves. It is an expansive experience rather than a constrictive one.
In the process of therapy dialogue we learn the cadence and rhythm of interaction – the balance of listening and talking. As we practice these interactions in therapy, we experience our interpersonal skills improving in our daily lives.
As children our world is one of needy “narcissism”. Our hunger for attention – our need to be the center – is part of the process of growing up. Ideally, that need is met and we progress into our adult lives with the ability to share the spotlight gracefully.
In reality, most of us grow up either deprived of attention or over attended and left with a distorted sense of giving and receiving. We suffer from this distortion – continuing to be needy and hungry for healthy, balanced love and attention.
Think about your own growing up. Were you given the degree and type of attention you needed?
What do you think about your own ability to interact in a productive give-and-take with the people in your life?
Please share your own thoughts about this topic.
About Me
- C.Shapiro M.A. C.H.T.
- In private practice since 1973. Trained at the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Washington, DC. Educational background in Cultural Anthropology, Art and Education. I grew up as a Military Brat living in Spain, Japan and the US. I created a Bereavement program for NCJW which I ran for 10 years. I work with individuals, couples and groups.
