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Humility and other virtues
Sep. 28th, 2005 11:59 amI'm beginning to understand why so many psychologists and psychiatrists always seem so removed, so much a quiet part of the background, always watching, considering and waiting.
The reason I mention it, is I'm starting to do it, myself. There's a strange alienation that begins to set in, where you find yourself watching and running behavioral theories in your head around friends and strangers. You find yourself wondering at their energy model, their motivations, causal relationships to behavior, etc. Part of this, I'm sure, is the need to practice the training and education the classes are providing, but another part is a dynamic shift away from "person on planet" to "psychotherapist".
I've noticed among friends, when asked my opinion of things, I'm relying as much on my personal experience as I am on psychology. Especially where it relates to behavioral theories or cognitive therapy. Still haven't quite decided if either of those is my future philosophy, so I rather think I haven't quite settled upon it. And frankly, I'm more a Jungian analyst in any case.
Friendships are changing and evolving. There's a horrible instinct to automatically start creating interim and tenative diagnosis for your friends, families and acquaintances. Heck, I've even tried to create case studies for favorite literary characters in my head. And all the while, I find my past re-shifting and re-settling into new streams as I begin to form a better understanding of the people involved. Very humanizing until you have the brilliant flash that all your friends are potentially freebie clients who may or may not welcome such a change in your relationship with them. No wonder so many psychologists and therapist live in a slightly removed orbit from the rest of us.
On one hand, I'm sure all this is normal, healthy and a profound step toward my new career.
On the other hand, all this has "recipe for disaster" written all over it.
The reason I mention it, is I'm starting to do it, myself. There's a strange alienation that begins to set in, where you find yourself watching and running behavioral theories in your head around friends and strangers. You find yourself wondering at their energy model, their motivations, causal relationships to behavior, etc. Part of this, I'm sure, is the need to practice the training and education the classes are providing, but another part is a dynamic shift away from "person on planet" to "psychotherapist".
I've noticed among friends, when asked my opinion of things, I'm relying as much on my personal experience as I am on psychology. Especially where it relates to behavioral theories or cognitive therapy. Still haven't quite decided if either of those is my future philosophy, so I rather think I haven't quite settled upon it. And frankly, I'm more a Jungian analyst in any case.
Friendships are changing and evolving. There's a horrible instinct to automatically start creating interim and tenative diagnosis for your friends, families and acquaintances. Heck, I've even tried to create case studies for favorite literary characters in my head. And all the while, I find my past re-shifting and re-settling into new streams as I begin to form a better understanding of the people involved. Very humanizing until you have the brilliant flash that all your friends are potentially freebie clients who may or may not welcome such a change in your relationship with them. No wonder so many psychologists and therapist live in a slightly removed orbit from the rest of us.
On one hand, I'm sure all this is normal, healthy and a profound step toward my new career.
On the other hand, all this has "recipe for disaster" written all over it.
