Posted by shrinking violet on April 17, 2006, at 18:21:15
I have no idea where I'm going with this, just to warn you all in advance.
I had a rather upsetting session today with the new-ish T (it's been a few months now, at least....is she still new?). We somehow migrated into talking about my former T (very difficult/painful topic) and I totally lost it and ended up sobbing in my car, where my T came out and asked me if I was okay, etc. I told her I didn't want to schedule another appointment. :-/
Anyway, during our conversation about former T (for those of you who remember: possible entwined relationship, very close with her, blah blah) my current T asked something and in my response I mentioned that no hard-and-fast rules or laws exist about post-therapy contact or relationships, just guidelines (the 2 year rule, etc). My T disagreed, said at least for psychologists (my former T was a social worker) that there are explicit rules/laws that forbid any post-therapy contact or relationships, and she said she was pretty sure that some form of rules/laws exist for anyone practicing clinical therapy. I didn't disagree right then, but made a mental note to research it online. I have, a bit, but have only found ethical rules that forbid sexual contact between current or former therapists, but nothing that explicitly states that a former client and therapist cannot form some sort of relationship outside of the therapy realm if the two are agreed.
Now, being stubborn and proud, I'd love to find evidence to the contrary of what she says and bring it in to show her lol. But, for now, for my own learning, does anyone know whether rules or laws exist that explicitly state that there cannot be post-therapy contact or relationship (non-sexual) between a former T and client? I've sent my former T cards and letters (as she said I could write to her), although she's never responded. So, it's okay for her to hear from me but not vice versa (that's not very fair, lol)? Plus, I guess if there does turn out to be a rule/law forbidding this sort of thing, then maybe I'll have to give up hope and face the fact that I'll probably never see or hear from my former T again. :-( Not sure if I'm ready for that, but anyway.....
Then, of course, just saying all of this makes me feel like some huge stalker, or something. Is there something wrong with me? What's wrong with not wanting to give up hearing from someone who meant something to you? I personally think life is too short to shut people out of your life for silly reasons. Would meeting for coffee once or twice a year, or her sending me a letter every Christmas really get her into that much trouble, if she ever decided to do so? Seems illogical to me.....
Oh, and I think I've decided I hate my former T for doing this to me. :-( Except for the times I really miss her, which is a lot, too. *sigh*
Thanks,
sv
poster:shrinking violet
thread:634248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060406/msgs/634248.html