As I mentioned recently, I’ve been spending some time sorting out my RSS feeds. I’ve also cleared out all the WordPress blogs I follow and shipped them over to “The Old Reader“. It’s amazing how many client and therapist blogs I follow that I’ve not read in ages because WP reader is just bad.
As a result, I’ve also been able to catch up on a ton of blogs. I’m pleased to see how many client-side bloggers have given up MH blogging or started new blogs about other subjects because they’ve found themselves in a happier place. I’m also pleased to see so many of my favourites are still writing about their own processes and making progress!
Interestingly, one thing that hasn’t changed over the 2.5 years (really?!) that I’ve been drawing this cartoon is the main client-side challenges and topics that people talk about on blogs and forums.
1. Falling in love with/obsessing endlessly about one’s therapist.
2. Wondering how long therapy will take and if one “will ever feel/get better”.
I actually think the second question is the harder to deal with because the answers depend on so many variables on both sides of the relationship:
- Is the therapy time-limited (i.e. by insurer or state healthcare service)
- What is the type of therapy being undertaken and what are the implications of that?
- How complex are the client’s needs and challenges?
- Is the therapist competent and well-trained?
- Has the therapist worked with the client to define goals and objectives (with review dates)?
- Is the client able to communicate what “better” would look like and can the therapist help them find that?
- Are treatment goals documented, agreed and regularly re-visited?
- Is the therapist in full command of their own needs (financial, narcissistic etc)
(this is just off the top of my head.. any I’ve missed please feel free to whack them in the comments)
Ultimately feeling like a snail at some point during the process is fairly standard and from what I’ve read and discussed it’s a feeling experienced by both therapist and client. Just watch out for the emergence of slime because that’s probably a bad sign.
Also.. Happy 400th Cartoon!
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